High-Level & Tank Waste
Coverage of DOE-EM’s efforts to retrieve, treat, and immobilize high-level radioactive tank waste at Hanford, Savannah River, and other sites — including the Waste Treatment Plant and Defense Waste Processing Facility.
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High-Level & Tank Waste
DOE plans for wider-scale cesium removal at Hanford
The Department of Energy briefed residents in the Tri-Cities area of Washington state last month on its plans to expand upon its Tank-Side Cesium Removal (TSCR) technology at the Hanford Site. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management provided a public briefing June 17 at the Richland, Wash., public library on plans to “bring existing modular cesium […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DOE plans for wider-scale cesium removal at Hanford
The Department of Energy briefed residents in the Tri-Cities area of Washington state last month on its plans to expand upon its Tank-Side Cesium Removal (TSCR) technology at the Hanford Site. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management provided a public briefing June 17 at the Richland, Wash., public library on plans to “bring existing modular cesium […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
IWTU solidifies about 400K gallons of sodium-bearing waste at Idaho lab
The Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) at the Idaho National Laboratory has solidified about 400,000 gallons of radioactive sodium-bearing waste, the Department of Energy said Tuesday. During the current processing run, crews have used the IWTU to treat 130,000 gallons of the liquid waste held at Idaho National Laboratory, DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
IWTU solidifies about 400K gallons of sodium-bearing waste at Idaho
The Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) at the Idaho National Laboratory has solidified about 400,000 gallons of radioactive sodium-bearing waste, the Department of Energy said Tuesday. During the current processing run, crews have used the IWTU to treat 130,000 gallons of the liquid waste held at Idaho National Laboratory, DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DOE cleanup office continues work on defense waste recycling demo project
The Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) is making headway on its solicitation for a venture that would demonstrate recycling of defense-related spent fuel to extract high-assay-low-enriched-uranium (HALEU) fuel for advanced reactors. DOE announced the request for applications (RFA) in April for the demo project at the Idaho National Laboratory. An Industry Day […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DOE cleanup office continues work on defense waste recycling demo project
The Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) is making headway on its solicitation for a venture that would demonstrate recycling of defense-related spent fuel to extract high-assay-low-enriched-uranium (HALEU) fuel for advanced reactors. DOE announced the request for applications (RFA) in April for the demo project at the Idaho National Laboratory. An Industry Day […]
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Contracts & Procurement
Expressions of interest sought for Hanford’s West Area Tank work
The Department of Energy’s liquid waste contractor at the Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., is inviting expressions of interest (EOI) for vendors interested in the West Area Tank Farms Risk Management (WARM) construction services work. “WARM is being constructed to supply material for off-site treatment and disposal, supporting compliance with regulatory milestones,” according to the […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
June 17 hearing set on cesium-removal project at Hanford 200 West
The Department of Energy and the Washington state Department of Ecology will hold a public meeting June 17 on a proposed modular system at the Hanford Site’s 200 West Area to remove cesium from tank waste prior to grouting. The hybrid meeting is set for June 17 at 5:30 p.m. PT in the Gallery Room […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
June 17 hearing set on cesium-removal project at Hanford 200 West
The Department of Energy and the Washington state Department of Ecology will hold a public meeting June 17 on a proposed modular system at the Hanford Site’s 200 West Area to remove cesium from tank waste prior to grouting. The hybrid meeting is set for June 17 at 5:30 p.m. PT in the Gallery Room […]
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Contracts & Procurement
Expressions of interest sought for Hanford’s West Area Tank work
The Department of Energy’s liquid waste contractor at the Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., is inviting expressions of interest (EOI) for vendors interested in the West Area Tank Farms Risk Management (WARM) construction services work. “WARM is being constructed to supply material for off-site treatment and disposal, supporting compliance with regulatory milestones,” according to the […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Hanford WTP turns 100,000 gallons of waste into glass form
The Department of Energy and its construction manager for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) said Tuesday the facility has now vitrified 100,000 gallons of liquid tank waste into a solid glass form. “Each gallon of immobilized waste brings us closer to a cleaner, safer environment and revitalized community,” Brian Hartman, WTP project director […]
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Vitrification & Grout
DOE has many details to work out in Hanford grout plan
The Department of Energy has plenty of details to iron out when it comes to grouting low-level radioactive tank waste at the Hanford Site in Richland, Wash, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report Wednesday. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management plans to grout low-level, or what it also calls “low-activity,” radioactive waste, from […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Hanford WTP turns 100,000 gallons of waste into glass form
The Department of Energy and its construction manager for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) said Tuesday the facility has now vitrified 100,000 gallons of liquid tank waste into a solid glass form. “Each gallon of immobilized waste brings us closer to a cleaner, safer environment and revitalized community,” Brian Hartman, WTP project director […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Hanford crews remove waste from 23rd old underground tank
The Department of Energy’s nuclear cleanup office said Friday May 1 that crews have finished emptying radioactive waste from the 23rd underground storage tank at the Hanford Site in Washington state. The work is part of a long-running effort to move waste from old leak-prone single shell tanks to newer double-shell tanks. Hanford Tank Waste […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Hanford crews remove waste from 23rd old underground tank
The Department of Energy’s nuclear cleanup office said Friday May 1 that crews have finished emptying radioactive waste from the 23rd underground storage tank at the Hanford Site in Washington state. The work is part of a long-running effort to move waste from old leak-prone single shell tanks to newer double-shell tanks. Hanford Tank Waste […]
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Vitrification & Grout
WTP early glassmaking to hit full stride by 2028
The Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) should reach full speed for turning less radioactive waste into solid glass form by October 2028, Department of Energy officials told the Hanford Advisory Board Wednesday in Richland, Wash. By that point, the plant should be converting about 2 million gallons of low-level tank waste into glass form […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Savannah River expects to wind up liquid waste work by 2041
Nuclear cleanup managers at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina expect to complete liquid waste remediation sometime between 2037 and 2041, according to an updated federal plan. The DOE Office of Environmental Management and contractor Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), a BWXT-led joint venture, issued the latest update of the site’s […]
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Vitrification & Grout
First vitrified glass waste goes into Hanford disposal facility
The Department of Energy said Wednesday it has deposited its first big batch of glass logs, made from liquid radioactive tank waste, at the Hanford Site’s Integrated Disposal Facility at Richland, Wash. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and contractor Central Plateau Cleanup said in a press release that the Integrated Disposal Facility received the first […]
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Vitrification & Grout
First vitrified glass waste goes into Hanford disposal facility
The Department of Energy said Wednesday it has deposited its first big batch of glass logs, made from liquid radioactive tank waste, at the Hanford Site’s Integrated Disposal Facility at Richland, Wash. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and contractor Central Plateau Cleanup said in a press release that the Integrated Disposal Facility received the first […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Savannah River expects to wind up liquid waste work by 2041
Nuclear cleanup managers at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina expect to complete liquid waste remediation sometime between 2037 and 2041, according to an updated federal plan. The DOE Office of Environmental Management and contractor Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), a BWXT-led joint venture, issued the latest update of the site’s […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Hanford tank work temporarily halted
Department of Energy contractors confirmed Friday morning that a temporary work stoppage occurred Thursday at the Hanford Site’s tank farms in Richland, Wash. The Tri-City Herald newspaper reported Friday April 3 that a labor organization, the Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council, initiated the work stoppage over emergency response concerns following the on-the-job death of a […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
IWTU treats one-third of Idaho’s sodium-bearing waste
The Department of Energy and its cleanup contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory have now solidified a third of the high-level sodium-bearing radioactive waste at the site, DOE said Tuesday. According to a press release from DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and Amentum-led Idaho Environmental Coalition, the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) has processed about […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
IWTU treats one-third of Idaho’s sodium-bearing waste
The Department of Energy and its cleanup contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory have now solidified a third of the high-level sodium-bearing radioactive waste at the site, DOE said Tuesday. According to a press release from DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and Amentum-led Idaho Environmental Coalition, the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) has processed about […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
SRS panel gets liquid waste update; plans for pit waste permit
The Department of Energy’s nuclear cleanup office is on track for substantial completion of its liquid waste mission at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina by 2037 if sufficient funding is authorized, the local field office boss said Tuesday. On March 5, high-level radioactive tank 14 “achieved preliminary cease waste removal status” on March […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
GAO again says DOE could save money by tweaking HLW definition
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the Department of Energy, with help from Congress, could save billions of dollars over time by clarifying how high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is defined in statute. While this is a longstanding issue, GAO urged Congress to set up a Blue Ribbon Commission of experts to tackle the matter, in […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
GAO again says DOE could save money by tweaking HLW definition
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the Department of Energy, with help from Congress, could save billions of dollars over time by clarifying how high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is defined in statute. While this is a longstanding issue, GAO urged Congress to set up a Blue Ribbon Commission of experts to tackle the matter, in […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
SRS panel gets liquid waste update; hears plans for pit waste permit
The Department of Energy’s nuclear cleanup office is on track for substantial completion of its liquid waste mission at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina by 2037 if sufficient funding is authorized, the local field office boss said Tuesday. On March 5, high-level radioactive tank 14 “achieved preliminary cease waste removal status” on March […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Latest Hanford WTP cost estimate $18.5B, not counting HLW
The Department of Energy’s latest cost estimate for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) at the Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., is $18.5 billion – excluding the cost of building and commissioning the High-Level Waste Facilities. The High-Level Waste Facilities at the mammoth plant, to vitrify tank waste into glass, could run another $14 […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Dispose of defense high-level waste first, ECA panel says
The United States should prioritize the permanent disposal of defense high-level radioactive waste over commercial spent nuclear fuel, a group of panelists said during a Thursday webinar. In the Energy Communities Alliance’s (ECA) webinar “Options for High Level Waste and Used Nuclear Fuel”, Matt Bowen, a former Department of Energy official, said that defense high-level […]
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High-Level & Tank Waste
Dispose of high-level defense waste first, ECA panel says
The United States should prioritize the permanent disposal of defense high-level radioactive waste over commercial spent nuclear fuel, a group of panelists said during a Thursday webinar. In the Energy Communities Alliance’s (ECA) webinar “Options for High Level Waste and Used Nuclear Fuel”, Matt Bowen, a former Department of Energy official, said that defense high-level […]






