ODOE Statement on U.S. DOE Approach to Hanford Tank Waste Transport Through Oregon

Historical photo of the Hanford Nuclear Site.

On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford Field Office released an update on its ongoing plans for where and how to treat, transport, and dispose of millions of gallons of radioactive and chemically hazardous tank waste from the west-area tank farms at Hanford. In its letter, U.S. DOE reports that it has decided to not, at this time, construct the facilities necessary to solidify and grout tank waste at the Hanford site.

This decision leaves open the option for U.S. DOE to ship radioactive tank waste in liquid form through Oregon. We reiterate Oregon’s long-held position that it is unacceptable for liquid radioactive Hanford tank waste to be transported through our state. We also remind U.S. DOE that the waste must be solidified before it is disposed, and encourage the federal government to invest in the facilities necessary to solidify and grout the tank waste, either at the Hanford site, or elsewhere in the Tri-Cities area, before entering Oregon.

The Hanford site is embarking on multiple decades-long waste shipment campaigns, all of which are expected to travel through Oregon, to disposal locations elsewhere in our nation. This will include west-area tank farm waste, transuranic waste, effluent from the waste treatment plant, and even considerations of east-area tank farm waste diverted from the direct-feed low-activity waste treatment vitrification plant. The cumulative risks and potential impacts of these transportation campaigns to Oregonians and our environment must be considered.

Oregon supports the safe cleanup of Hanford, including the offsite disposal of solidified tank waste, and the safety of Oregonians and our environment is and always will be our top concern. Oregon stands by its position that transportation of grouted and solidified Hanford tank waste must be done in transparency and coordination with Oregon state government, Tribal nations, communities, and emergency response personnel.