US Hanford Submits Permit Modification Applications to Accelerate Tank Waste Cleanup via "Vitrification + Grouting"
The U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Field Office recently submitted two permit modification applications to the Washington State Department of Ecology, planning to accelerate the cleanup of radioactive waste in tanks at the Hanford site through a dual-track treatment strategy of "vitrification + grouting." The DOE stated that this approach is expected to reduce risks from aging tanks and save taxpayers billions of dollars. The waste primarily targeted by these applications is low-activity liquid waste processed through the Tank-Side Cesium Removal system, which removes more than 99.9% of radioactive materials from the treated waste. The DOE stated that the proposed permit changes would integrate tank-side treatment, grout solidification, and out-of-state disposal into a standardized process to continue advancing the treatment and transfer of some waste beyond the capacity of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
2026-08-11
