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Echoes from the deep: A scuba diver’s ocean footprint and his path to protecting the Columbia River at Hanford

Behind the scenes at the Nuclear Waste Program

In this edition of Behind the Scenes at the Nuclear Waste Program, we sat down with Ben Prueitt, one of our program's Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialists.

A day in the life

Ben has been a part of our Nuclear Waste Program team since 2024. His job as a Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist entails coordinating events with schools, scheduling presentations, speaking at community events, and more.

“Most of my work focuses in educating the public about issues at Hanford,” Ben said. “My favorite part about my job is being able to go into communities and hear what issues and concerns the public has about nuclear waste cleanup.”

He has been able to learn about Ecology and our role throughout the state as well as provide resources needed for people to improve their life and partake in a cleaner environment for themselves and future generations.

While Ben educates communities on a variety of topics, he also gets to teach people about Hanford’s ongoing cleanup and the value of what connects them to the environment and the future of the lands we share.

From marine science to supporting a mission

“My path to this position was a long, windy road,” Ben joked.

His background is rooted in marine science. After getting his environmental science degree, his career took a leap into the deep heart of the ocean — literally!

Ben scuba diving in the Florida Keys

Ben is a professional scuba diver, and some of his past jobs included taking research photos of coral reefs in the Florida Keys and supporting research in other national marine sanctuaries — America’s underwater parks.

Next, the opportunity of working for an oil spill grant broadened his horizons. This allowed Ben to see what it takes to administer a scientific program and communicate that research with the public. That’s how he got into the world of outreach and education.

“I wanted to be a marine scientist like Jacques Cousteau and Sylvia Earle,” he said. “I eventually failed out of graduate school and later realized that if I couldn’t communicate my own research with people, I could help others communicate theirs," he said.

When Ben moved to Washington, he started working for Ecology, where he takes the message of the importance of cleaning up Hanford to thousands of people every year.

“While not something I saw myself doing, it uplifts me everyday,” Ben said.

He said he’s passionate about communicating the value of protecting the groundwater and Columbia River, and the work Ecology does, especially in communities where the message has not historically been shared.

“Talking to communities where I don’t speak their language is important to me. The impacts of our work are huge, it’s vital to empower these communities to actively participate and interact with us,” Ben said.

Today, he uses his background in environmental education to help others understand why cleaning up Hanford is critical — not just for the river that defines this region, but for the generations who depend on it.

Turbulent currents that bring change

Ben at the 2025 Washington Sportsmen's Show

Ben has encountered some challenges along the way. He often deals with comments that spark long and sometimes difficult conversations. His hope is that these dialogues change people’s perspective on the Hanford Site.

“I take this challenge as a way to help people realize the importance of the work that Ecology does, regulating and permitting the Hanford Site in a manner that is safe for the environment and protective of human health,” Ben said.

Ben’s deep understanding of environmental stewardship helps him make complex cleanup work more relatable and meaningful to the public.

“I appreciate being able to speak about environmental justice to our communities,” Ben said.

Washington State passed the HEAL (Healthy Environment for All) Act in 2021, which puts environmental justice at the forefront of decisions that Ecology makes.

“Knowing that the state values the people that are hurt the most by environmental harm is something that really is inspiring. Being able to use environmental justice as another layer of cleanup work brings joy to my job,” Ben said.

For the future generations

2025 Wenatchee River Salmon Festival

Listening and understanding are key in Ben’s position. Being able to address what people have to say and knowing how to respond is key when out in the community and interfacing with different portions of the population.

“Listening is what my job is mostly about. Educating and presenting is just a small percentage. Listening is always key,” he said.

Ben would like to continue **** working on environmental justice and applying its principles to his daily job.

“As I interact with marginalized and overburdened communities, those of which are affected more strongly by Hanford, I make an effort to take their concerns to heart to help bridge gaps and eventually make a difference in their lives,” he said.

Ben’s work reminds us that progress doesn’t happen in isolation. Real time growth happens when people stay engaged and are willing to go to those who need to stay informed.

As the cleanup mission moves forward, individual stories continue shaping the future of Hanford. Stories like Ben’s encourage us to believe that meaningful change always begins with one person choosing to make a difference.

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Annagrisel Alvarez

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