VPP Star Status

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2008
Media contacts: Erik Olds, DOE ORP, (509) 372-8656, Wendy Robbins, ATL (509) 373-5956; (509) 947-8760

ATL FIRST SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTOR
IN DOE COMPLEX TO RECEIVE VPP STAR STATUS

The U.S. Department of Energy today awarded Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc. (ATL), a prime contractor to DOE’s Office of River Protection, the agency’s Voluntary Protection Program’s STAR status recognition, marking the first time a DOE small business prime contractor has received the recognition. The VPP STAR award is the highest level of recognition available in DOE’s safety program.

The DOE VPP promotes safety and health excellence through cooperative efforts among labor, management, and government at DOE sites across the nation.

“The dedication of partners, such as ATL, in providing a safety conscious work environment is key to accomplishing Hanford’s cleanup mission,” said Brad Davy, Director, DOE Office of Worker Safety and Health Assistance.. “It is noteworthy that the DOE assessment team only identified a single opportunity for improvement. This is a level of performance rarely achieved during a DOE-VPP onsite assessment, and the staff at ATL should be very proud of its accomplishment. We encourage you to continue your efforts to pursue excellence in safety performance.”

ATL provides analytical services at Hanford’s 222-S Laboratory, critical support for Hanford tank waste cleanup and other Hanford Site cleanup activities, receiving, analyzing and reporting results of about 25,000 inorganic, organic and radionuclide analyses.  The analyses are performed on approximately 3,000 highly radioactive and/or hazardous samples received from multiple sources on the Hanford Site. 

“I’m very proud to lead a team of contractors, with the addition of ATL as the first small business prime contractor, who demonstrate their commitment and leadership to working safely,” DOE ORP Manager Shirley Olinger. “I congratulate every member of the ATL team for reaching this goal.”

In January, a team of DOE Headquarters (DOE-HQ) safety and health experts performed a two week onsite evaluation of ATL’s work practices and interviewed employees and managers to assess their overall knowledge of VPP processes.  The team inspected work areas and observed laboratory analytical and testing work with mid- to high level radioactive samples from Hanford tanks, evaporators, cleanup projects, industrial hygiene, and other sample media. That assessment resulted in a recommendation to award ATL VPP STAR status.

“Working in a laboratory with high level nuclear materials poses unique safety concerns and process challenges that must be considered at all times,” said ATL Manager Dr. Jou Hwang. “I am proud to recognize the accomplishment of our team and staff today for not only receiving this recognition, but as the first small business contractor in DOE to receive this recognition. Achieving STAR Status represents a significant accomplishment that reflects the commitment of ATL staff and management to the overall safety, health, quality, and wellbeing of our workforce.”

ATL joins an elite group of DOE contractors who have achieved VPP STAR status. Among 32 VPP sites recognized by DOE across the nation, at Hanford ATL is recognized for its quality performance among eight Fluor Hanford sites, two CH2M HILL Hanford Sites, Washington Closure Hanford, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
In 2005, ATL received the first DOE small business prime contract at Hanford as the Analytical Services Production Contractor providing analytical and testing services at the 222-S Laboratory at Hanford. 

DOE initiated VPP in January 1994. The program also includes coverage of radiation protection/nuclear safety and emergency management because of the type and complexity of DOE facilities. Similar to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's VPP program, DOE VPP provides several proven benefits to participating sites, including improved labor/management relations, reduced workplace injuries and illnesses, increased employee involvement, improved morale, reduced absenteeism, and public recognition. DOE has also formed partnerships with other Federal agencies and the private sector for both advancing and sharing its VPP experiences and preparing for program challenges in the next century.

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ORP 08-008

Erik Olds
Office of River Protection
509-372-8656 work
509-438-0442 cell
509-376-8142 fax

AIHA Accreditation

For Immediate Release: August 20, 2007
Media contacts: Wendy Robbins, ATL (509) 373-5956; (509) 947-8760

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL
EARNS INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ACCREDITATION

RICHLAND, Wash. — Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc. (ATL) has attained American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) accreditation for the analysis of trace metals, mercury, ammonia and beryllium.  ATL, a small, woman-owned business, won the DOE prime contract to analyze samples at Hanford’s 222-S laboratory in 2005.  When an Industrial Hygiene laboratory is accredited by AIHA, it becomes part of an elite group of laboratories recognized for achieving and maintaining a high level of professional performance. 

The accreditation was attained after an extensive review of ATL’s personnel qualifications, methods analysis, and quality of the resulting data and associated documentation.  ATL staff performed and passed all rounds of Industrial Hygiene Proficiency Analytical Testing (IHPAT) for beryllium and trace metals since 2005.  Since results of these analyses are used to determine the magnitude or presence of a problem in the workplace environment, it is vital that the laboratory analyzing the samples be proficient in producing high quality data on which important health decisions will be based.  Accreditation from AIHA is a mark of that capability.  The AIHA Industrial Hygiene Laboratory Accreditation Program (IHLAP) is the largest program of its kind in the world and has been in operation since 1974.  The accreditation better positions ATL to service Hanford site cleanup and closure activities.

For more information about Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc. visit their web page at: www.atlintl.com

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Scholarships

For Immediate Release: May 3, 2007
Media contacts: Wendy Robbins, ATL (509) 373-5956; (509) 947-8760

TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS DONATES FIRST SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR 2008 FRESHMEN

RICHLAND, Wash. — Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International has donated two freshman scholarships to Washington State University Tri-Cities.

One of the $6,000 scholarships is for the 2007 incoming class. The second $6,000 scholarship is the first donated for the Richland campus’ second wave of freshmen — the class that starts in fall 2008.

“Our resources are limited, but we see this as a good value to the community — to the Tri-Cities and to the Department of Energy workforce,” said Jou Hwang, ATL president. His wife, Alice Hwang, is the ATL chief executive officer.

“ATL is looking to the future of continued analysis and broadened horizons in nuclear and technological fields. But we’ll need a resource pool to draw from as our needs for technological expertise increase,” Hwang said. “This partnership with WSU Tri-Cities is a first step in acquiring necessary technical resources for the future.”

Since beginning full operations in 1995, ATL has grown to about 150 employees with offices in Richland, New Mexico, Ohio, and headquarters in Maryland. ATL provides customer support in the areas of health, safeguards and security, safety, environmental compliance and assessment, radiochemistry and radioanalysis, and information technologies.

“This investment by ATL — a small, woman-owned business — is especially noteworthy,” WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Vicky Carwein said. “With applications still coming in for the fall 2007 freshman class, ATL’s pledge of a 2008 freshman scholarship shows forward-thinking and a very welcome commitment to being part of the campus’ future.” 

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For more information, contact:
Jan Gregonis, Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, 509/375-4200 ext. 238, JBGregonis@atlintl.com
Melissa O’Neil, WSU Tri-Cities, marketing manager, 509/372-7319, cell 509/727-3094, moneil@tricity.wsu.edu

Purdue Award

For Immediate Release: November 15, 2006
Media contacts: Wendy Robbins, ATL (509) 373-5956; (509) 947-8760

HANFORD'S ATL PRESIDENT RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS PURDUE AWARD

RICHLAND, Wash. – Dr. Jou G. Hwang is this year's recipient of Purdue University's 2006 School of Health Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award.    The Distinguished Alumnus Award, which first was given in 1989 in honor of Professor John Christian, goes to an individual each year who has distinguished himself or herself in pharmacy, bionucleonics or health sciences.  “We are very pleased to have a person of Dr. Hwang’s capability and accomplishments to honor with the School of Health Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award,” said Dr. George Sandison, PhD, Professor and Head of the School of Health Sciences for Purdue.  Purdue University has one of the most distinguished health physics programs in the U.S.  Many Purdue Alumni have made significant contributions in Richland and the Department Of Energy complex.  In 2002, Dr. Billy D. Shipp, Battelle’s Vice President of Laboratory Operations, received the alumnus award for his distinguished services as the Director of Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. 

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1 Year Anniversary

For Immediate Release: June 26, 2006
Media contacts: Wendy Robbins, ATL (509) 373-5956; (509) 947-8760

SMALL COMPANY THRIVES 1 YEAR LATER AS A DOE PRIME CONTRACT

RICHLAND, Wash. – June 26, 2006 – After one year as the first small business in Hanford history to be awarded a prime operations contract by the DOE Hanford Site, Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc. (ATL) excels in providing high quality analytical and testing services at Hanford's 222-S Laboratory.  The laboratory specializes in highly radioactive sample analysis and testing.

Upon earning the prime contract in 2005, ATL teamed with the Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council (HAMTC) to establish an effective labor/management partnership that accomplishes the goals DOE has set for support of the Hanford Mission.  The partnership and accomplishments benefit HAMTC, ATL, the Tri-Party Agencies, and the surrounding communities by getting the job done and getting it done safely.  “HAMTC is proud to align with ATL and support their efforts for VPP (Voluntary Protection Program) application and continued safety excellence.  Congratulations on your first year of success!”  Dave Molnaa, HAMTC President.

The work performed at the 222-S Laboratory is a critical part of the DOE strategy for retrieving and treating the waste in Hanford's tanks and other decommissioning and decontamination projects that support Hanford clean-up.  ATL maintains the capability to perform more than 175 analytical methods and ensures capabilities to analyze samples from Hanford's underground waste tanks.  Unique analytical capabilities are needed to determine the content of the waste, maintain control of the chemistry of the wastes in the tanks, and prepare for turning the waste into a stable glass form at the vitrification plant.

The 222-S laboratory is one of only a handful of laboratories in the nation that has hot cells to store, test,  and analyze highly radioactive samples.  The state of the art Hot Cell Facility contains seven cells with manipulators for instrument analysis of high-dose rate samples.  The multi-curie section of 222-S contains four cells used to develop remote analytical methods and procedures.  Up to 25,000 inorganic, organic and radionuclide analyses can be performed each year by the ATL staff at 222-S.  Radioactive samples received from multiple sources on the Hanford site may be up to 300 Rad/hr, with a significant part of that from gamma radiation.

In the past 12 months, and under a constrained budget, ATL has improved laboratory turn around times, met sample holding time requirements, increased its sample load, expanded analytical capabilities, and met performance assurance requirements in a timely manner.  ATL has performed this work scope significantly below the initial cost proposal.

The 222-S Laboratory employees were recently recognized for their improvements and recent project successes when ATL awarded them three Silver and one Gold Corporate Performance Excellence Awards.  ATL projects from offices across the nation competed for the awards.  The 222-S Laboratory received the only Gold Award, which is the highest possible award.  Every ATL employee involved in any of the awarded projects received a notable cash bonus.  This was a significant milestone for employees as ATL is the first company in the history of the laboratory to present a significant amount of performance-based cash bonus to all levels of the project employees, including all HAMTC represented staff.  Several employees indicated their appreciation of working for a company that recognizes outstanding performance and monetarily recognizes individual employee contributions.

Since beginning its current operations in Germantown, MD in 1995, ATL has earned a reputation for excellence, service, and value that has enabled it to grow rapidly:  Today ATL has over 150 employees with offices in Richland, WA, Albuquerque, NM, Cincinnati, OH, and Washington, D.C.

For more information about Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc. visit their web page at: www.atlintl.com.

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