ODOE Congratulates U.S. DOE on Important Hanford Cleanup Milestone

The most hazardous liquid wastes at Hanford were pumped into 177 underground storage tanks that hold about 56 million gallons of waste. Over the years, more than 60 tanks have been suspected or confirmed to be leaking into the soil.

The Oregon Department of Energy is excited to learn today’s news that the Hanford Nuclear Site in south-central Washington successfully started up its Low-Activity Waste Facility, which will solidify Hanford tank waste in glass for permanent, safe disposal.

For 40 years, plutonium production for America’s nuclear weapons program created large amounts of radioactive and chemically hazardous waste at the Hanford Site. The most hazardous liquid wastes were pumped into 177 underground storage tanks that hold about 56 million gallons of waste. Over the years, more than 60 tanks have been suspected or confirmed to be leaking into the soil.

The Low-Activity Waste Facility at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant will vitrify the tank waste. Vitrification is a process where glass-forming materials will be added to the waste at high temperatures to form molten glass. The molten glass will be poured into stainless steel containers, where the glass will harden as it cools. The waste will still be radioactive but no longer mobile or able to spread into the environment, and will be permanently and safely disposed at Hanford in an engineered landfill.

“The Oregon Department of Energy congratulates the U.S. Department of Energy, its contractors, and all the parties and individuals who have been involved in planning, designing, and building the vitrification facility at the Hanford site,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner.

“The start-up of vitrification at Hanford is truly a historic moment for the site and for our country,” said ODOE Nuclear Safety and Energy Security Assistant Director Maxwell Woods. “The facility will begin treating some of the most dangerous and difficult-to-manage waste at the Hanford site, and will significantly reduce the risk to the Columbia River and Oregon's environment and people.”

Oregon has a tremendous stake in ensuring the safe and timely cleanup of Hanford. Hanford sits on the Columbia River, just 35 miles from Oregon’s border. From Hanford, the Columbia flows through prime Oregon farmlands and fisheries. Radioactive and chemical contamination poses a potential long-term threat to these important resources. Accordingly, the Oregon Department of Energy’s primary role is to ensure cleanup decisions are protective of the river​.

Learn more about ODOE’s role: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/safety-resiliency/Pages/About-Our-Work.aspx