Inside the $8 Billion DOE Nuclear Waste Cleanup Program: Steve Moore on Veolia's Federal Services
The U.S. Department of Energy spends roughly $8 billion annually cleaning up nuclear waste from Manhattan Project-era sites like Hanford, Washington and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. On this episode of the Environmental Transformation Podcast, host Sean Grady sits down with Steve Moore, president and CEO of Veolia Nuclear Solutions Federal Services Group, to discuss the agency's most pressing environmental liabilities and innovative remediation technologies.
Moore describes the scale of the challenge: 56 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste currently stored in above-ground tanks at Hanford alone. He explains how Veolia's patented GeoMelt vitrification technology transforms reactive metals and radioactive waste into stable glass, and discusses the company's operations of two of the largest radioactive waste landfills in the nation.
The conversation covers emerging opportunities to revitalize federal sites as data centers and advanced reactor facilities, the "competetition" model where contractors collaborate on complex projects, and why the nuclear remediation field offers meaningful careers for young professionals seeking challenging environmental work.
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We all have responsibilities in
light of that, but in the end
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these are complex problems.
These are not stuff you wake up
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in the morning and say I can
take care of 56,000,000 gallons
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of high level radioactive liquid
waste.
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So you have to understand that
it does take collaboration and
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it takes a lot of really
talented people with a lot of
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lot of different perspectives.
Welcome to the Environmental
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Transformation Podcast, where we
bring you interviews with
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industry leaders, climate
champions, sustainability
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practitioners, EHS and hazmat
professionals making an
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impacting their businesses
today.
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Each leader solving complex
challenges and delivering
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solutions within their areas of
expertise.
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I'm your host, Sean Grady, and
thanks for joining us today.
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Before we jump in, make sure to
follow us on your devices and
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Now let's get started.
Welcome to the Environmental
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Transformation Podcast.
I'm your host, Sean Grady, and
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today's guest is Steve Moore.
Steve, the President and CEO of
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Veolia Nuclear Solutions Federal
Services Group.
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Steve, welcome to the show.
Thank you on it is a mouthful.
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It's not the easiest thing in
the world to say, but I'm really
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happy to be here.
We've worked together for a
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little while.
This gives us an opportunity to
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maybe die in a little Prince.
The work that the Federal
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Services Group does, in
particular with our primary
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client, the Department of
Energy, that's heavily focused
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on nuclear waste, which I think
is a topic that your listeners
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bullhenge boy, but it's also
your taxpayer dollars in action.
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So keep that in mind when we
talk about how much money gets
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spent.
Absolutely.
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A little painful.
No, this is going to be a good
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conversation.
Excited to talk with you today.
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So, Steve, you know, tell us a
little bit about yourself, how
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you got started in the business
and, you know, how you became
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the president, CEO of Veolia's,
you know, Nuclear Solutions
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Federal Services Group.
Very good.
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So, yeah.
So my background, I've got a
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chemistry undergrad.
I'm an attorney kind of worked
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through a lot of the traditional
government sites that people
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think of when they think of the
Department of Energy.
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I spent a lot of time at the
portable side, the the where
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they enriched uranium in Ohio
built the relationship with the
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different companies and there's
a lot of players that get
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involved in in this business.
So over time I kind of grew into
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I work with Lockheed Martin at
the time and and got advanced my
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career through there, started to
work with a small business, had
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an opportunity to become an
owner of a small business when a
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gentleman retired.
So I had a business that that I
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grew pretty significantly in, in
kind of 2006 to 2015.
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So and we continue to grow.
We had an opportunity to really
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look at the ways that we could
give more people opportunities
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as we continue to serve this
primary client and we reached a
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point where growth was really
organically challenging.
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So we decided let's look for an
acquisition and long, Long story
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short with a lot of different
offers and opportunities.
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I, I got connected with Veolia,
which is, you know, as you know,
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one of the largest environmental
companies in the world sold to
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them in 2018.
Part of that process was then
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used to create their business
here in the US, in particular
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for the government, U.S.
government.
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There's a lot of complexities
when you're a foreign owned
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company and how you try to work
for the US government.
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We were able to do that through
my acquisition and then I stuck
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on and help them continue to
grow and have been working
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through that process ever since
and it's been a lot of fun.
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Tell us, Steve, if you could a
little bit more about the waste
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symposia.
We're here in in Arizona.
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This is a big conference,
probably 1 of the largest
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conferences I've been to.
And to be quite frankly, I've
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never been to a conference with
so many DOE contractors and
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service providers that are all
focused on the nuclear yeah,
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business.
Yeah, this is kind of their, I
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think they refer to it as their
Super Bowl, if you will.
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But so the Department of Energy
has a conference in in Phoenix
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once a year.
And what we really are focused
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on, a lot of people don't
realize is, you know, the US
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government, through the
Department of Energy's
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Environmental Management Group,
they spend about $8 billion a
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year cleaning up.
Really it's, you know, for lack
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of a better term, it really is
the Manhattan Project.
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So I tell people, if you've seen
the movie Oppenheimer, you
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understand our places like Oak
Ridge, TN, Los Alamos, NM,
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right, Hanford, Washington,
places where we did a lot of the
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research, rather a lot of the
testing and everything
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associated with that, enriching
the uranium, enriching the
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plutonium, and the things
necessary to make that happen.
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So the government, you know, was
all full steam ahead and and
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making sure that we had the what
we needed to make that work.
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But the reality is there,
there's a lot of work to do to
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clean all that up.
So it remains one of the largest
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environmental liabilities that's
U.S. government owns.
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This is the symposium once a
year, where we all get together
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and discuss new technologies,
new funding profiles, new things
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that are happening throughout
the complex.
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So when you're at this
conference, do you have
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opportunities to interact with,
say, the DOE directly?
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That's that's the real advantage
of this.
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So there's a couple things that
this is both a, a technical
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conference where there's papers
and, and lots of presentations
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on some of the unique challenges
of if they're waste, how it's
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packaged, how it's handled, how
it's stored, how it's disposed
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of.
But then there's also a lot of
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interaction from the department
themselves.
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They're kind of listing their
priorities as you would expect
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with new administrations with.
Different.
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Things that that are important
to different, different parts of
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the government, the opportunity
for them to be here kind of say
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here, here's my top five things
for this year, here's what we're
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worried about on the funding
side.
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So it gives us that real
collaboration opportunity.
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And and you just, you know, when
you get a concentration of
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people together one time, it's
you got to take advantage of
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that because it's just, we're
all busy.
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Absolutely it doesn't happen.
Well, so why is this so
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important for BNSFS to be here
here?
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And what do you plan to
accomplish by coming to this
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event every year?
Well, I think part of it too is
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there's a lot of this industry
is pretty mature.
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There are a lot of companies
that that are larger AE firms
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and different things that are
really focused on helping solve
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this problem for the government.
So for us in particular, this
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gives us an opportunity
obviously here with a client,
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but also to work with our notice
others to say, you know, develop
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those solutions, spend time with
with people in more of a
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networking environment where we
can really look at specific
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problems and specific ways to
try to solve those.
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Lots of follow up meetings and
stuff come from this.
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But anytime you get an
opportunity to get a bunch of,
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you know, really talented people
together, you take advantage of
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it.
And for us, we're really trying
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to hear or listen to the client,
but at the same time, you know,
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engage with our partners and
others to figure out what's the
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right priority for us.
So you mentioned that there's
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opportunities to sit through
trainings, education, but talk a
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little bit about some maybe
maybe the opportunities where
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our people with B and SFS has to
present to the audience about
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what their key experiences are.
And so maybe technologies that
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we offer talk A.
Little bit about that.
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So I mean we do a lot of things.
Again the old is one of the
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largest environmental companies
in the world.
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So we have a lot of depth and
breadth of capabilities.
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Not all of those obviously are
focused on on nuclear waste, but
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in reality, a lot of the same
type of waste issues that that
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people have rather it's landfill
operations or it's treatment
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technologies for stabilizing
hazardous ways.
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The technologies are are still
applicable to what what we do in
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the nuclear world with this just
it also happens to be
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radioactive.
So for us, we've got folks that
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are giving presentations on, you
know, everything from how
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efficient ways of managing
landfills and the leach aid and
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everything associated with that
to, you know, vitrification
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technologies that can turn a, a
chunk of, of radioactive waste
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into a nice little piece of
glass.
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We just, we're going to talk
about that.
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We are, we're not going to get
that paper weight, not good.
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And then we also do a lot of
things with, you know, as you,
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you would understand from
radioactivity, there's a lot of
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robotics associated with that
remote handle things where yeah,
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you simply can't get that close
to certain materials without,
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you know, exposing people to
health issues, issues that that
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that are not necessary.
So it's kind of the full
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portfolio for us.
And again, we can talk about it
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in in technical sessions, but
then we can also meet with the
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client and and be proactive on
what's the next channel.
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Well, I think it's a great
opportunity to demonstrate our
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thought leadership and our
expertise to the industry
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because, you know, what better
way to talk about what we do
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than present in front of a lot
of people, right?
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And, and that's a huge asset to
our company.
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One of the things I was hoping
to maybe get from you is, you
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know, for the audience, what
type of capabilities
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specifically are, you know, the
BNSF group focused on and, and
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how do they deliver that?
Because I think there's, you
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know, a little some maybe know
exactly how or what you guys
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offer as a service.
So talk about that group.
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So we primarily focus focus on
on on waste management
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activities and you know that
that kind of expertise.
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So if we have the full gamut of
whether it's characterizing the
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waste, it's packaging,
transporting and then we have
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technologies we partnered with
some.
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There are two commercial
radioactive waste disposal
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facilities in the US Most of the
actual disposal facilities for
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nuclear material in the US are
owned by the government.
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So OK, we operate some of those
facilities for them.
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We currently operate the two
largest radioactive waste
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landfills that the government
owns. 1 is in Hanford,
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Washington.
The other is in Portsmouth.
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OH, that we're actually still
constructing part of it.
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So we really have that kind of
expertise.
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And as you know, deep in that's,
yeah.
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And, you know, in your world,
we, you know, Veolia North
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America does a lot of hazardous
waste work.
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They operate a lot of landfills.
Yep.
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So one of the things that we're
really doing is we're partnering
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with some of the other
components of Veolia North
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America and the hazardous waste
group in particular will bring
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in their, you know, subject
matter expertise on landfill
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operations in.
We're sending our folks out.
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And it really is, it's a fresh
set of eyes and it's part of our
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commitment to the client where
we're, we're being it.
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We'll bring in best practices
and there's a lot of stereotypes
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about people doing work with the
government and people don't work
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in a commercial environment.
So what we really want to do is
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blend that together and, and
take, take the best from both.
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So that that's really what we're
focused on is, is kind of that
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those capabilities to kind of
solve some of those unique
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challenges around waste.
Well, I tell you, you know, the
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short period time I've been
here, the capabilities that we
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offer is a full service that's
like 1 Veolia concept.
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Right where it really is.
Where we have water treatment
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capabilities, well, obviously we
have our hazardous waste
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treatment capabilities.
Whether we have, you know, we
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have 3 incinerators, we have a
hazardous waste lamp.
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Oh, we've got 4 fuel building
facilities for alternative
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hazardous waste fuels and other,
you know, by products for
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solvent recovery and things like
that.
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There's so many great things we
do, electronic waste recycling.
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Marrying those technologies and
capabilities to what you guys do
221
00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,320
in the DOE space is a game
changer when you think of the
222
00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,760
full package of federal services
that we can offer any of our
223
00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:07,000
clients in the DOE space.
And I think that's a powerful
224
00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,200
statement to anybody who listens
to what we can do and get
225
00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,080
partnered for so.
I think it's important to what
226
00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:14,800
we're seeing with this client in
particular.
227
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,920
So obviously we're focused on
the environmental stewardship
228
00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,320
and all the things that are
necessary to be the responsible
229
00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,920
stakeholder that we should be.
But what we're seeing from this
230
00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:28,080
client is, is a big focus on
taking these assets, the federal
231
00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,720
facilities and kind of
revitalizing them there.
232
00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,240
There's a big initiative from
this administration rather it's
233
00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:37,920
a data center or it's additional
energy capacity through advanced
234
00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,840
reactors or even through solar
field.
235
00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,760
And I think again, to your point
about 1 Veolia, we can you know,
236
00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,880
even RSIB group when it comes to
commissioning new data centers.
237
00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,000
What we're seeing from this
client is that, that growth
238
00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,120
opportunity where they're just,
and hey, not only do we want
239
00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,600
this stuff cleaned up
responsibly, but we're not just
240
00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,440
going to walk away from it.
We, we want to take these assets
241
00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,480
that we own and we want to turn
them into the next generation
242
00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:06,480
of, of, of productivity for.
And right now the focus is
243
00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,200
certainly on data centers and
whether it's our our water tech
244
00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,920
group or or SIB group, there's
certainly opportunities for us
245
00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,880
to bring that one solution to to
the client.
246
00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,160
So when you're here, do you hear
updates on, you know, the
247
00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:25,840
funding, Yeah, projects from the
the DOE and how that's going to
248
00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,640
happen as part of their
priorities?
249
00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:33,240
So one of my challenges with
communications in in Beolia or
250
00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,240
or really with our staff or
anything else is the never
251
00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,760
ending saga of government may
shut down government may
252
00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,080
partially shut down government
may open government may have a
253
00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,800
budget may not.
And it's, it's we, we joke about
254
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,680
it, but it's the same time it is
challenging and, and I think
255
00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:54,280
anybody who would appreciate
large projects realize that
256
00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,720
starts and stops and
fluctuations funding create
257
00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:00,960
their, you know, their own set
of unique challenges.
258
00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,960
So for us, what we try to do
obviously is, is as be as
259
00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:08,320
flexible as we can for our
clients and see that, you know,
260
00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:09,960
that there's the pluses and
minuses.
261
00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,200
Because it's not uncommon at the
end of a fiscal year to have a
262
00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,680
surge where there was some
planning work that didn't
263
00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:18,720
necessarily happen.
And now the client comes, I've
264
00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,040
got some stuff here.
So you know, we like to have
265
00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:25,120
stuff on the shelf and say, OK,
here's 1-2 or three, right, if
266
00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:26,400
you feel like that's something
you can do.
267
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,360
So for us it really is about, I
know Bob Capitol talks about
268
00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,400
being nimble, agile, right.
And I think that's very much
269
00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,640
what is needed from client like
this.
270
00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,560
And it's just a function of the
government and it has its own
271
00:13:38,560 --> 00:13:40,600
set of challenges.
Rather, you're trying to get in
272
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,760
the line of TSA or, or you're
trying to get rid of some
273
00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,520
nuclear waste, Eileen.
It's still a challenge.
274
00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,400
Hello ET Nation, I want to thank
you for listening to the
275
00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:51,920
podcast.
If you're enjoying the
276
00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,800
interviews we bring you,
consider supporting the program
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by visiting my website at
seankgrady.com and buy me a cup
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of coffee.
Proceeds will go towards helping
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me continue producing timely
content and offset production
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costs.
I'd also like to take a moment
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When you when you look across
the landscape of DOE and their
323
00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,960
types of projects, are there any
particular locations or, or
324
00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,840
projects that are like that is
like the big one?
325
00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,760
You know, that is like a major
going to be here for a long time
326
00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,040
and there's so many
opportunities for so many
327
00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,480
players to support the the
remediation challenges.
328
00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,480
Which ones maybe stick out in
your mind?
329
00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,320
So the one that's the biggest of
the environmental liabilities
330
00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,320
within the CM program is and
again it's a lot of people don't
331
00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,440
realize it, but from again the
Manhattan Project and kind of
332
00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,960
end in the Cold War, there's
56,000,000 gallons of liquid
333
00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,760
radioactive high level waste
stored at Hanford, Washington in
334
00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:09,200
above ground storage tank. 56.
Million 56,000,000 gallons.
335
00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,119
It remains the single largest
liability within the DOE
336
00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,920
complex, the current life cycle
baseline projection, which is,
337
00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:20,520
you know, roughly around the end
of the century, which is kind of
338
00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:24,800
code for us who've been in the
business long time to say that's
339
00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,319
code for we really don't have
any idea.
340
00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:30,520
But in, in all seriousness, it,
it's a real issue.
341
00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,160
We're very much involved right
now with, with that client and
342
00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:37,080
not to, you know, bore people
with too much technical detail,
343
00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,400
but there's, there's grappling
technology, there's, you know,
344
00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:42,960
liquid separation technologies
there.
345
00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,560
There's a big investment that
the government has made with a,
346
00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,000
a waste treatment plant at
Hanford that's been
347
00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,840
controversial because it has
been behind schedule and over
348
00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,000
budget.
So we're looking at, we actually
349
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,720
just responded to a request for
proposal to the client to
350
00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:02,480
provide some alternative routing
technologies to help again, work
351
00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,320
away that in all seriousness,
that's not gonna go away
352
00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,080
overnight.
So it is a matter of kind of an
353
00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,680
all approach to how we can as a
community of contractors work
354
00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,600
that down.
But that's the biggest single
355
00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,480
liability that they have out
there, right?
356
00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,520
Now, so does the DOE have an end
game strategy for the final
357
00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:24,360
disposition of a lot of this
nuclear waste that's out there?
358
00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:29,160
I mean, Yucca Mountain was Swan
there for a while, but now is
359
00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,760
there other alternatives that
they're evaluating that's being
360
00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,480
hey, we're going to go this
route or to some others, I mean,
361
00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,880
is there?
So, so, so it's probably not as
362
00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,200
concrete as some people would
like it to be, but this
363
00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,840
administration came out a few
months ago with a request for
364
00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:48,240
information on a concept of
basically, and I'll might mess
365
00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:51,200
up the terminology.
It's kind of energy campuses or
366
00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,400
innovation campuses, or they're
really looking at these, again,
367
00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,280
federal assets, these facilities
and they're looking at a variety
368
00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,960
of different additional support
services, consolidated waste
369
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:06,880
storage spent for recycling.
And then put as you make, you
370
00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,840
know, you, you recycle as much
as you can.
371
00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,960
Then you get to the point of
where are we are looking at
372
00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,560
repository, the repository
disposal.
373
00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,680
And that may be part of the
equation too.
374
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,600
It's a real issue.
Or, you know, Finland is the
375
00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,160
host country here this year.
We always sponsor a, a, a
376
00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:29,240
country to present and they are
gonna go operational with their
377
00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:34,200
the repository for storage, for
storage later this year.
378
00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,120
Really.
So it's, it's not A and not the
379
00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,440
again, sound political, but it's
not a it's really not a
380
00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:43,400
technical issue.
It is a it is, you know, there's
381
00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,640
gotta be willing communities and
there's gotta be that kind of
382
00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,960
stakeholder involvement for
people to understand, you know,
383
00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,680
this is not something that's
that's going to go away tomorrow
384
00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,520
if you're committing to do that.
But I think the technology is
385
00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,320
there.
I know the technology is there
386
00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,280
to do it responsibly, but I
think that's kind of the next
387
00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:01,400
step.
I know this current
388
00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:03,400
administration has aspirations
for that.
389
00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:05,920
But to answer your your other
question just a little bit.
390
00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,480
So most of the sites
individually, they do try to
391
00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,920
work a lot with the stakeholders
to understand.
392
00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,640
Do you want this to become?
In the Greenfield, do you want
393
00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,960
this to become right a new
nuclear power plant do you want
394
00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,320
you know and really looking at
the assets in the context of the
395
00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,520
communities cuz.
They're like huge brow builds
396
00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,400
essentially, but much more
complex.
397
00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,280
Much more complex, you know,
from an operation standpoint,
398
00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,680
they're also huge employers and
Oh yeah, right.
399
00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:35,720
Community.
Grow up around.
400
00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,480
Correct.
So what's the right answer for
401
00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:39,200
each one?
It's you know, it's.
402
00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,600
It could be different.
Wow, yeah, I can imagine.
403
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,400
I mean, the complexity of trying
to address all of these
404
00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,760
concerns, it's not easy, but you
know, I think there are a lot of
405
00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:52,280
really smart engineers and
scientists that are here working
406
00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,920
to all really pull the same
direction to help DOE solve
407
00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,600
these problems.
When you're here, you know how
408
00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,880
important it is for us as a
company and you to develop
409
00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:08,480
partnerships with others that
can deliver the full service of
410
00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,200
maybe a particular scope
because.
411
00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:12,800
We may be limited.
In one aspect of our business,
412
00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,280
but you know to fulfill a full
scope, we need a partner,
413
00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,120
correct.
What is, how important is that
414
00:21:18,120 --> 00:21:20,720
for you and and what's our
strategy around that?
415
00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,040
So I have.
Not, I have not copyrighted
416
00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,600
this, but there's a term we all
say in this industry called
417
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,240
competimates, competimates.
So we certainly have
418
00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,360
opportunities to your point
where our technologies and
419
00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:36,520
services align with another
company's capabilities to solve
420
00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,000
this solution and we partner and
we do that.
421
00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,680
There are other times when you
know we can do this and they can
422
00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,480
do this and we compete.
But I think this industry has
423
00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:48,000
matured over the years to where
the committed competitive a
424
00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,360
concept it really is true.
We we all understand and we all
425
00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:54,040
have, most of us are publicly
traded companies and we all have
426
00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,120
responsibilities in light of
that.
427
00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:58,800
But in the end, these are
complex problems.
428
00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,800
These are not stuff you wake up
in the morning and say I can
429
00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,880
take care of 56,000,000 gallons
of high level radioactive liquid
430
00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:06,800
waste, right.
Yeah.
431
00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,720
So, so you have to understand
that it does take collaboration
432
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,720
and it takes a lot of really
talented people with a lot of a
433
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,640
lot of different perspectives.
Yeah, I just, yeah, I'm just, my
434
00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,520
mind's still kind of reeling on
56,000,000 gallons of, you know.
435
00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,160
Or, And remember, it's your tax
dollars that are going to
436
00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,880
actually make that go away.
So yeah.
437
00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,480
When come April 15th, realize
what you're what what what, what
438
00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,000
you're signing up for there?
Yeah, actually, I mean, yes,
439
00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,280
it's kind of no different than,
you know, in the in the
440
00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:36,360
hazardous waste business.
Or.
441
00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:40,640
Solid waste business, each
company can't really deliver all
442
00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:42,600
the services.
They can deliver a lot of the
443
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,160
services.
And you know, we have channel
444
00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,160
partners just like you guys have
channel partners to do, you
445
00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,400
know, deliver on service.
And you know, we work together
446
00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:54,560
to satisfy and and meet the
demand of our clients.
447
00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:58,120
And it's a great partnership
when it's all working and
448
00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:00,800
communication is good.
We need good communication with
449
00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:02,920
all our partners.
And so we all know our lanes,
450
00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:04,800
what we can do.
That's real important.
451
00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,760
If you could, Steve, talk a
little bit about the actual
452
00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:11,840
capabilities that Viola has in
this space and the types of work
453
00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,680
you're doing for the DODDOE
industry because I don't think
454
00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,240
you know everyone understands it
completely and and so.
455
00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:18,880
Be happy to.
That's it.
456
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:20,440
This is maybe a little Segway to
this.
457
00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,400
So just one technology we have,
we have a lot, lot of patented
458
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:25,320
technology.
This is a vitrification
459
00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:29,280
technology that really focuses
on obviously radioactive waste,
460
00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,960
but in particular waste that
have reactive metals, sodium,
461
00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,400
lithium, those kinds of things.
You certainly in your hazardous
462
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:41,440
waste background know the
challenges of of of reactive
463
00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:45,480
metals and at the same time
throw in some radioactivity and
464
00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:46,800
it really does make it
challenging.
465
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,600
So we have a patented technology
called Geo Melt.
466
00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:53,240
We have a couple of facilities,
We have one in located at the
467
00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,200
Hanford Site and we have another
one with a partnership with
468
00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:00,240
waste control specialist in
Andrews, TX at their commercial
469
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,640
radioactive wasteland.
And what this technology does is
470
00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:07,080
it takes high level or, or low
level waste that is also
471
00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,120
reactive and essentially
vitrifies them in the glass.
472
00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,840
These are electrodes that are
sacrificial.
473
00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,360
And you typically see a
combination of, you know,
474
00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:19,320
there's recipes with a
combination of the waste and
475
00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:23,960
then surrogate material and then
also the sand and the things to
476
00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,680
make glass.
And then this is typically in
477
00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:32,320
the, you know, 1500° C range.
It it, it's impressive, super
478
00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:36,960
hot and you end up with a nice
big, a nice glass and then with
479
00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:41,320
that facility, then it goes to
the land disposal in which it's
480
00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:42,880
no.
Longer it's encapsulated.
481
00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:45,720
And it's the longer reactive
metal it'll, it'll continue to
482
00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:50,520
be radioactive of course, but
the the reactive nature of the D
483
00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,680
double O3 characteristic is is
gone.
484
00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,520
So that's an example.
We're looking at this at the
485
00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,680
multiple sites.
We use this with waste from Oak
486
00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:03,880
Ridge, TN with, with raised
waste from the Idaho National
487
00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,880
Lab right now and are really
looking at it similar to my
488
00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,400
earlier comments.
You know, these are, these are
489
00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,480
unique solution providers and
for us we're looking at those
490
00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:16,440
targeted things.
The the waste, for example,
491
00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:19,640
we're doing in Oak Ridge, it,
it's the sodium shielding that
492
00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:26,560
was used over 50 years ago to
actually test the opportunity to
493
00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:31,360
build a nuclear powered Airfrag.
So, so again, those are the
494
00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:34,160
things you get into and you
realize there's something that's
495
00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,960
been in storage for over 50
years and now all of a sudden,
496
00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,960
you know, we have a safe,
regulatorily compliant solution
497
00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,040
for that.
And let's figure out a way to
498
00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,640
work that image way down.
You know, I think this is such a
499
00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:51,680
great example to showcase the
technology for somebody just
500
00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:56,120
coming by the booth or just
curious about what is the end
501
00:25:56,120 --> 00:26:00,800
result of a GO Melt product for
the listeners and and those
502
00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,680
watching.
I mean, this is an actual block
503
00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:09,160
of I think concrete here, but
inside is the hot radioactive
504
00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:13,600
material and then it's encased
completely into in a glass
505
00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,800
through this melting Geo melting
technology.
506
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,960
It it's pretty fascinating.
I think it's really great that
507
00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:23,920
this is a a solution that is
eliminating your radioactive
508
00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:29,440
exposure by encasing it in
vitrified type container.
509
00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,760
Is it safe to say though this
like this is our technology, but
510
00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:35,760
there are other companies doing
similar, yeah.
511
00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,880
There are product side delivery,
yeah, a lot of it has to do
512
00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,560
vitification as a technology is
is a common in the hazardous
513
00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:46,000
waste world certification using,
you know, different types of
514
00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,120
material to be heated up and and
encapsulated.
515
00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:52,200
That's what you're doing.
So, yeah, the patent here really
516
00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:56,400
is related to the method and
this is a batch process, not a
517
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,080
closed loop process.
And kind of the way we have
518
00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:03,120
sacrificial electrodes and that
approach, it's a proven
519
00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:04,960
technology.
It's rather robust.
520
00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:09,760
We configure it differently
depending on the size and then
521
00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:12,280
the end state if they needed,
hey, we need this it to be end
522
00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,320
up in a drum, we need this to
end up in a box and we have the
523
00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:19,120
flexibility to do that.
And to your point of there, I
524
00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,320
got I got some engineers who
could they could do 2 podcasts
525
00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,640
on, on on how the well we'll.
Probably talk to the We'll get
526
00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,080
Rob Mitchell out here at some
point.
527
00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,480
They'll leave me behind pretty
quick, right, right.
528
00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:33,200
Really passionate about this
technology.
529
00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:36,240
No, it's, it's really great.
And, and, and to see, you know,
530
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,560
kind of like the actual results
in the, you know, technology
531
00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,520
right here in front of you
really kind of brings together
532
00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,800
the whole concept.
And so it was really good to
533
00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,600
learn that this week for me.
Yeah, as a as a.
534
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:50,640
Partner with you.
The other nice thing we've done
535
00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:54,760
with this to echo your point is
we've taken the DOE client to
536
00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:58,680
the facility and you know, it's
the shows them and models and
537
00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:02,040
and PowerPoints are cool, yeah,
but you stand there and you see
538
00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:04,640
you know this is how it happens
and there's the end product and
539
00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:06,680
and everything else in it.
Again, the other thing I would
540
00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:10,200
say is that was a investment
that Veolia made in a facility
541
00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:13,960
where we didn't actually have a
backlog and a long term
542
00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,800
contract.
We saw the need, we understand
543
00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:18,360
the long term issues of the
client.
544
00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:22,600
So we've proactively developed
this facility and are now this
545
00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:23,800
room where we're doing the
podcast.
546
00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:27,280
We've had half a dozen meetings
this week about how we can
547
00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,440
continue to to solve these
challenges and problems that
548
00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:34,240
that this technology helps.
So how big can these encased,
549
00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,840
you know, GMO products?
I mean, how big?
550
00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:41,760
Can they be, so, you know,
there's theoretically, you know,
551
00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:45,160
lots of different scenarios, the
kind of the, the sweet spot size
552
00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,640
is a 6 by 6 by 8 box.
And that's kind of, that's kind
553
00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,720
of what we've got set up.
Our facility in Texas also has
554
00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:55,320
the ability to have, have two
units and it's rail aligned with
555
00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,520
rail to where you move one box
in, let it cool, move another
556
00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:01,480
box over here and, and be able
to, to configure it that way.
557
00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:03,680
But it is a, it's a flexible
technology.
558
00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:05,800
And we're actually looking at,
one of the things we're looking
559
00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:10,400
at somewhat unrelated to the
kind of the nuclear waste world,
560
00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,040
is that there's a lot of
classified shape or associated
561
00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,080
with weapons programs and things
in the past.
562
00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:20,480
And, you know, what needs to
happen is those shapes need to
563
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,040
be destroyed before they're
disposed of.
564
00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:26,480
And this is something that we've
been in discussions with some of
565
00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,120
the security people.
It's kind of interesting because
566
00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:32,320
we don't know where they are,
how many they are or what they
567
00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:33,920
look like.
But we know they're shapes.
568
00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:36,520
So.
So we're working with the client
569
00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:40,480
to see again, because the
technology makes sense and and
570
00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,680
the application for it would be
again different from a
571
00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,520
radioactive standpoint, but it
is, it's a really cool
572
00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,960
technology that can can do a lot
of different things.
573
00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:54,560
This is, it's, it's, it's great.
You know, when, when you're here
574
00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,400
and you're looking at everybody
and you see all these partners
575
00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:59,080
and there's just so much
happening.
576
00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,880
And then, you know, one starts
to think after you start to
577
00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:04,720
learn about what the DOA
strategies are and things like
578
00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:07,760
that for, you know, addressing
their big challenges, how does
579
00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:12,080
that help you formulate your
growth strategy for our support
580
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:16,120
of the DoD or I mean DOE and and
how we grow our business
581
00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:17,280
throughout the US?
Yeah.
582
00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:20,360
So I think a lot of people don't
necessarily realize, but you
583
00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,680
know, the US government is the
largest single employer in North
584
00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:24,720
America, right?
They have the most facilities,
585
00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:26,720
the most real estate, the most
fixed assets.
586
00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,600
So for us what we're really
wanting to do is our growth
587
00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,960
strategy is really wanting to
focus on how do we bring the
588
00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:37,920
full portfolio of services of
Viola North America to not just
589
00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:41,320
the the part of energy client,
but to the government because we
590
00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:45,320
have that full capability.
And as I mentioned earlier, you
591
00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:48,600
know we have as being a four
known company, there are certain
592
00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:53,160
things that we have to do a
little differently still for the
593
00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,920
US government.
We can do classified work, we
594
00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,320
have clearances, we have those
kinds of things.
595
00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:02,640
And in order to do that, what we
want to do is, is align
596
00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:05,920
ourselves with the government in
general because of the growth
597
00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:08,080
opportunity there.
And like I said earlier, bring
598
00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:11,000
the full capabilities of Veolia
North America to the client.
599
00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:14,200
Some things are going to make
more sense for the Department of
600
00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,560
Defense, some of them make more
sense for maybe NASA or some
601
00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:20,680
combination.
But we really believe we've only
602
00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:25,840
scratched the surface on what we
as a as Veolia can do with one
603
00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:29,360
Veolia with the largest employer
in North America.
604
00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:32,280
Well, I think it's really it's
powerful statement from our
605
00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:35,120
company that really wants to
focus on the growth of our
606
00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,640
federal business.
You know, you mentioned some of
607
00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:40,040
the things that you guys are
doing like you know, you're a
608
00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:43,840
mitigated entity within our own
company so that we can actually
609
00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:47,720
comply with all the FAR
requirements and the CMCACMMC,
610
00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:51,480
you know, cyber security
requirements and cost accounting
611
00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:54,440
and things like that.
And us as a company can work
612
00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,600
with you.
I mean us meeting our
613
00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,880
environment or has waste
business can work with the
614
00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:00,960
federal business under the same
umbrella.
615
00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:02,920
Yep.
That's a that's key because now
616
00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,240
we have the flexibility to
really deliver that full one,
617
00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:10,240
the only approach and so can our
water business and so can yeah,
618
00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,520
I mean it's, it's really, it's
really a great opportunity.
619
00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:15,960
And I think too when you look at
bring up you look the
620
00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:19,280
initiatives that that are so
important to Paris and as we
621
00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:20,800
continue to move forward is
right.
622
00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,920
Again, this is a bit of an
untapped market in that sense,
623
00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,960
right, That the US government
market is, is, I used to joke
624
00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,480
with people, it's the, it, it's
in your 4-O1K, It's, it's the
625
00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:33,400
stable growth fund, right?
It doesn't get you jumping out
626
00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,600
of bed in the morning, but it
helps you sleep a little better
627
00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,760
at night, right?
And, and, and I think that's
628
00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:40,360
what it's a.
Steady, constant, slow.
629
00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:45,360
And I think for for a growth
company like Veolia, I think
630
00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:49,880
some time spent working through
the never ending challenges of
631
00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:52,840
working for the federal
government is probably going to
632
00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:55,400
be worth it in the end.
Well, I, yeah, I agree.
633
00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:58,120
So it's, it's really exciting
times.
634
00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:02,120
I think we're in just a kind of
a new era, so to speak with the
635
00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,760
new administration.
I think it's going to really
636
00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,480
develop new opportunities that
we haven't seen before.
637
00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:12,240
I think there'll be an emphasis
on doing things quicker, yeah,
638
00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:17,440
rather than slower and less
process red tape versus let's
639
00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:20,480
get going and do it.
Have you heard feedback in that
640
00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:22,880
space?
I mean, it's definitely the, the
641
00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:26,160
mantra of this administration
and, and having done this for
642
00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:29,440
over 30 years now, there's a
little skepticism from any
643
00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:33,480
administration change because
again, great ideas and great
644
00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,640
initiatives we all support.
But you know, we like to joke
645
00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,240
that, you know, the, the federal
government, Department of Energy
646
00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,240
in particular, it's, you know,
it's a bit of a battleship,
647
00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:44,320
right?
So moving, moving and in most
648
00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:47,760
cases, administrations have
windows, windows of opportunity,
649
00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,440
but this administration is
clearly committed to the things
650
00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:52,520
you just said.
And we're seeing, we're seeing
651
00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,640
tangible results, right?
The data center developments at
652
00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,680
these sites and the
conversations earlier this week
653
00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,720
where you've got a, a commercial
data center coming in and
654
00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:05,960
they're saying, Hey, I want to
have access to this site by this
655
00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,520
day, right?
And you know, knowing that if
656
00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,639
you, if the department doesn't
say yes, they're going to go
657
00:34:11,639 --> 00:34:14,080
somewhere else, right?
So, so I think we're seeing some
658
00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,440
of that and I think time will
tell.
659
00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,080
I think there's momentum that's
being built that these are
660
00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:23,000
things and, and again and again,
it's always a balance, but with
661
00:34:23,159 --> 00:34:26,520
the regulatory framework, the
decision documents, the records
662
00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:29,639
and decision, the circle of
sites there, you know, there's a
663
00:34:29,639 --> 00:34:33,719
huge environmental envelope of
safety and and care to the
664
00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:37,280
communities that very much
intact, not in any way being
665
00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,239
circumvented.
You know, it's just we're trying
666
00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:42,360
to figure out ways to be nimble
and be flexible while we're
667
00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:45,520
still protect human health and
the environment, and we're
668
00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:48,280
seeing all that happen.
Well, you know, one thing that
669
00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:52,000
I've after we have a bit of some
aging population in our
670
00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,960
workforce.
And what would you would say to
671
00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,680
a young professional just trying
to break into this space who,
672
00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,800
who is attracted to say the DOE
market space?
673
00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:04,360
Because I can tell you from
experience, the DOE market
674
00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:07,960
environmental space is a little
different than the industrial
675
00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,440
commercial environmental Azure
space.
676
00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,520
And so, you know, you're, we're
all working in the same kind of
677
00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:17,160
mission to protect and human
health, the environment.
678
00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:22,120
And, but they're different, you
know, industries in the South
679
00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:24,920
and it's, it's how, what do you
recommend for somebody?
680
00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:29,600
I spend time with with the own
panels with college age kids and
681
00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,360
and others and, and it's you
know, what I describe with this
682
00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:35,760
industry is, you know, it's
complex and I think for people
683
00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:39,960
that really want to be
challenged and really I pry into
684
00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:44,080
the the we are cleaning up the
the challenges of the past.
685
00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:45,520
Right.
And since the past is what A?
686
00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:48,600
Lot of people would say it's a
noble mission and there were
687
00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:50,600
great reasons why we did what we
did.
688
00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:54,200
But I think again, we owe it to
the country and those same
689
00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:58,840
communities that sacrifice to
make all those things happen, to
690
00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:02,920
really do what is right by them.
And and it's a noble cause.
691
00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:07,640
And the other part of that for
younger people is, I don't know,
692
00:36:07,720 --> 00:36:10,560
a market that has as you know,
as many challenges.
693
00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:14,600
So there's unique issues with,
with types of material, with
694
00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,720
waste.
And as as the program matures,
695
00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:19,640
you know, it's only the harder
stuff that's left.
696
00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:22,680
So if you want to be challenged
and you want to really feel like
697
00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:26,400
you're having an impact that is
generational, it's, it's a good
698
00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,920
industry to be in.
It is, it's also what I'm seeing
699
00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:33,040
with this administration is
their ability to then look, cuz
700
00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:35,120
you know, the theory in part was
where you're just working
701
00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:38,160
yourself out of a job, but with
what they're wanting to do,
702
00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:41,320
developing, redevelopment or
something else, you know, you're
703
00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:42,600
just.
You're more jobs.
704
00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:44,040
You're just moving it forward,
right?
705
00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,280
You're bringing in a
modernization approach to
706
00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:48,560
different things, and I think
that's really exciting.
707
00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:50,240
Well, that's great.
That's great.
708
00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:53,480
Well, Steve, really appreciate
you coming on the show today and
709
00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:56,760
talking a little bit about what
you know BNSFS is doing and and
710
00:36:57,040 --> 00:37:01,400
how you are helping clean up the
DOE sites that are around the
711
00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:04,720
the US and really excited to see
what happens in.
712
00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:07,800
That it's the exciting time, but
anytime there's a hint of a
713
00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:11,080
government shutdown, please pray
for me so that that would be
714
00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,960
appreciated, that appreciate the
time and enjoy talking to you
715
00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:14,880
always.
Absolutely.
716
00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:17,000
Thank you, Stanley.
Thanks for listening and
717
00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:19,320
watching the show.
If you enjoyed the show then
718
00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:22,000
please share it with your
friends and Co workers on social
719
00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,160
media and tell somebody in
person.
720
00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:26,520
Thanks for being with us, ET
Nation.
CEO
CEO of Veolia Nuclear Solution Federal Service and been in the nuclear business for over 30 years. Prior to working at VNSFS, Mr. Moore served as President & CEO of, Wastren Advantage, Inc. (WAI) from 2006 until Veolia acquired it in 2018. Under Steve's leadership, WAI grew from a regional firm with less than 50 employees to a national company providing products and services around the globe.
Steve is on the board of several non-profit groups that support economic development, innovation incubators, and health and welfare providers. He is a founding member of the Tri State Angel Investment Group which is a private equity fund established in 2015 to focus on investing in companies in the Southern Ohio region.
Steve has an A.A.S in Plastics Engineering Technology and a BS in Natural Science from Shawnee State University, a Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School, and completed an Executive Education program at Harvard Business School. He is is a member of the Ohio Bar Association.


