CH2M Hill

safety violations, kickbacks, and fraud in Hanford, WA

CH2M Hill is an "engineer-procure-construct" company heavily focused on privatizing public infrastructure and waste systems for local and state governments. It has been criticized for its "contract cities" or "outsourced cities" and its expansive model of privatization of government services. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2012, the company's total revenue was $6.2 billion, and its net income was $93 million.

At the Hanford, WA facility, Large tanks containing radioactive waste are leaking into the nearby aquifers at a reported rate of 300 gallons per day. With many of the tanks holding a million gallons each, this means the United States is producing a massive radioactive waterway on a course to pollute the Colombia river.

Kickbacks: Between 2003 and 2005, CH2M Hill employees made over 200 purchases of substantially marked-up goods from companies owned and run by the employees' spouses, then charged the cost to the DOE. CH2M Hill agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle the allegations.

Radioactive Waste Spills: In June 2008, CH2M Hill was found to have committed nine nuclear safety violations of Nuclear Safety Management and Occupational Radiation Protection.

Radioactive Safety Violations: In March 2005, CH2M Hill was cited for four violations and was required to pay a civil penalty of $316,250.

What's to be done?

Rather than cleaning it up as their contract stipulates, Hill Hanford Group Inc. has been playing games with their timecards.

Hill Hanford Group Inc. has agreed to pay $18.5 Million to resolve civil and criminal fraud allegations.