Hanford completes 20 containers of immobilized waste

The Department of Energy has announced that the Hanford Site's Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) has reached a commissioning milestone, producing more than 20 stainless steel containers of immobilized low-activity radioactive waste.

"Each container represents tangible progress in the mission to protect the Columbia River and community," said Mat Irwin, the Hanford Field Office assistant manager for WTP.

The job: The first pretreated tank waste was transferred to the plant's Low-Activity Waste Facility in early October, when hot commissioning began. Inside that facility's two 300-ton melters, radiological and chemical waste is combined with glass-forming materials and then heated to 2,100 degrees F.

That process, called vitrification, transforms the waste into a stable glass form and seals it in stainless steel containers, each of which is 4 feet wide and 7.5 feet tall, weighing about 7 metric tons when filled. The vitrified product meets the state of Washington's requirements for long term disposal at Hanford's Integrated Disposal Facility, according to the DOE.

"Our team has turned progress into momentum, and we're committed to carrying that forward through continued operations," said Brian Hartman, WTP project director and senior vice president with Bechtel, the contractor leading design, construction, and commissioning of the plant.

Going forward: The accomplishment also represents the beginning of extended hot commissioning, during which the team will build production consistency and establish a steady rhythm of performance for safe and sustained operations, according to the DOE.

Hanford, in Washington state, is home to 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored in 177 massive underground tanks. The waste was generated as part of the nation's efforts to end World War II and win the Cold War.

The plant facilities can be viewed using the self-guided Hanford Virtual Tour available here.