Nearly 2,000 Gallons Of Hanford Tank Waste Treated And Shipped For Disposal

Hanford’s Test Bed Initiative could pave the way for future tank waste treatment options

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) announced it has completed two shipments of treated, low-activity tank waste to be solidified in grout and permanently disposed of at Waste Control Specialists LLC in Andrews County, Texas, and at EnergySolutions in Clive, Utah.

“The Test Bed Initiative (TBI) is a demonstration to evaluate a safe, effective and efficient option for accelerating environmental cleanup of the Hanford site”, said acting Hanford Deputy Manager Brian Harkins. “This successfully executed demonstration will provide valuable information options moving forward.”

The approximately 2,000 gallons of TBI waste from Tank SY-101 was treated using an in-tank filtration system to remove 99.99% of the radioactive cesium and other radionuclides. The treated waste was then shipped in U.S. Department of Transportation compliant robust double-walled steel containers.

“Implementation of this technology on an industrial scale has the potential to safely treat low-activity waste from Hanford tanks, solidify the waste in grout, and dispose of it offsite in a manner that would reduce risks to workers, the public and the environment consistent with industry standards”, added Harkins.

In 2017, a TBI demonstration executed in partnership with Permafix validated the approach by treating and solidifying three gallons of low activity tank waste for disposal.

DOE continues driving innovative ways to perform its cleanup mission to ensure the safety of its workforce, the public and the environment.

The Department is responsible for managing nearly 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste generated from the Hanford Site’s national defense role during World War II and the Cold War. The waste, stored in underground tanks on the Site, must be treated in accordance with the federal and state disposal regulations.

About The Department of Energy (DOE)
The Department of Energy (DOE) is engaged in one of the great public works of this century at the Hanford Site near Richland, Washington. Responsible for the federal government’s cleanup of the legacy of more than 40 years of producing plutonium through the 1980s, DOE is transforming the site back into a 24/7 operations mode to treat tank waste from the production era. The DOE Hanford Field Office is responsible for the safe and efficient retrieval, treatment and disposal of the 56 million gallons of chemical and radioactive waste stored in Hanford’s underground tanks. The mission includes building and commissioning the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment plant, which will immobilize the legacy tank waste through vitrification. The DOE Hanford Field Office is also responsible for all remaining Hanford cleanup and is currently focused on stabilizing and demolishing former plutonium production structures, excavating and disposing of contaminated soil and waste, treating contaminated groundwater, and configuring Hanford Site infrastructure for the future, with an emphasis on supporting the tank waste mission. Hanford Site work is conducted by a federal and contractor workforce of approximately 13,000 personnel. For more information, visit www.hanford.gov.