Hanford News Headlines – August 2022 Edition

The Hanford site faces intricate challenges in disposing of the approximately 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical tank waste. The Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) recognizes it as one of the most complex tasks within its...

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...

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?

I was supposed to write a blog post about vitrification this week; but after writing it, scrapping it, and then re-writing it, several times over—I’ve decided that topic can wait. Vitrifying waste is cool and is an accomplishment worth discussing and celebrating—which is why that will be the next blog post. This week, I want to change course a little bit.

The River Corridor, a sprawling 220-square-mile expanse within the US Department of Energy’s  Hanford site just north of Richland, rivals the size of Chicago. Today, this majestic river continues to be a lifeline for thousands of residents in cities and towns downstream from Hanford, propelling modern energy, agriculture, transportation, recreation, and commerce.

Hanford Communities is pleased to share Hanford-related news and updates through the Summer 2023 Newsletter (July – September).

The 324 Building, situated within a mile of the Columbia River and less than a mile from Richland city limits, served as a hub of radiological research from 1966 to 1996. However, it was in 1986 that a spill of radioactive material occurred in “B Cell,” one of the building’s fortified chambers designed to shield researchers from radiation hazards.

This is a joint announcement from the Washington State Department of Ecology, U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This month, we round up the top stories and headlines from the Hanford Site, with updates at the Vit Plant, 324 Building, K Reactor and more.