RICHLAND, Wash. -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu has given Tom Teynor the Secretary's Excellence Award for reducing environmental risk at Hanford.

Chu gave four of the awards this year across the nation to individuals who demonstrated a high level of performance and outstanding leadership that significantly benefited the nation, according to DOE.

Teynor, DOE project director for the K Basins Closure Project, oversaw the removal of used nuclear fuel and knock-out pot sludge from Hanford's K West Basin.

The highly radioactive materials were stored 400 yards from the Columbia River.

Under Teynor's leadership, the sludge treatment project has been transformed into a successful project with strong project management, operations, engineering and safety culture, according to DOE.