Hanford Site Resumes Certification Work for Permanent Disposal of Transuranic Waste

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management recently stated that its contractor, Central Plateau Cleanup Company, has resumed transuranic waste characterization and disposal certification work at the Hanford Site in Washington State, preparing for the future shipment of relevant waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico, for permanent disposal.

The Hanford Site had suspended its transuranic waste treatment program in 2011 due to higher priorities for other cleanup tasks, and resumed related work in 2018. According to the plan, the site will resume shipping contact-handled transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant by September 30, 2028.

An official from the Hanford Site Office of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management stated that the certification process is a critical step in ensuring the safe and compliant packaging and transportation of transuranic waste, helping to reduce the transuranic waste inventory at the Hanford Site and ensuring the safe operation of both the Hanford Site and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.

According to available data, transuranic waste at the Hanford Site was primarily generated from past plutonium production missions, including clothing, tools, rags, residues, debris, soil, and other items contaminated with small amounts of plutonium and other human-made radioactive elements. Currently, contact-handled and remote-handled transuranic waste is stored in the Central Waste Processing Center above ground, which holds approximately 11,000 waste containers. Most of the waste has been placed in standard waste boxes or 55-gallon drums that meet Waste Isolation Pilot Plant requirements.

The resumed certification program is being conducted in collaboration with a dedicated team and the Central Characterization Project established by the U.S. Department of Energy. Workers will perform visual inspections and radiological characterization of each waste container, and use specialized equipment to confirm whether the containers meet transportation requirements and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant acceptance criteria.

An official from Central Plateau Cleanup Company stated that the Hanford Site has made progress in rebuilding the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant certification program and is preparing for the future resumption of waste shipments. The restart of the certification process is regarded as a significant milestone in the Hanford Site's mission to reduce long-term environmental and safety risks.