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What the FY26 Federal Budget Means for Hanford Site Cleanup

What the FY26 Federal Budget Means for Hanford Site Cleanup

On Friday, May 30th, the White House released the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget Request, along with the Department of Energy’s Budget in Brief. These documents provide the first public insight into how federal funds might be allocated for the Hanford Site...

CERCLA versus RCRA

CERCLA versus RCRA

This interview is part of The Role of the Regulators, an ongoing series presented by Hanford Communities. In this series, we speak with key regulatory agencies involved in the Hanford cleanup. In this installment, we hear from the Washington State Department of...

The Tri-Party Agreement: A Framework for Hanford Cleanup

The Tri-Party Agreement: A Framework for Hanford Cleanup

After plutonium production ended at Hanford there was a great deal of uncertainty about the path forward for the Site, including the plan for cleanup.  On May 15, 1989, the plan began to take shape when the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection...

Understanding Hanford: How Did We Get Here?

A farmer, seeking refuge from post-World War I turmoil in Germany, settles into a tranquil life on a serene riverfront farm. A government official approaches him with an eviction letter in hand. Meanwhile, a bustling town emerges from the shadows of the Great...

Winter 2023 / Qtr 4 Recap

Winter 2023 / Qtr 4 Recap

In this issue, we discuss new opportunities for a transition in cleanup, operational successes a long time coming, the loss of two Hanford pioneers, the temporary closure of the great B Reactor and note some of the year end milestones from along the way.  So, get cozy...

From Glow to Glass: The Journey of Hanford’s Radioactive Waste

From Glow to Glass: The Journey of Hanford’s Radioactive Waste

The signature radioactive blueish / green glow. We’ve all seen it in movies, and if you ever have the opportunity to see it in person, it’s eerily fascinating. But when tank waste is treated using a process called vitrification (turning waste into a glass like substance), does it still glow?