Hanford News & Updates
The $589 Billion Hanford Cleanup and 2086 Deadline Aren’t Sustainable Here’s What Needs to Change
Every few years, we get a new snapshot of where things stand with Hanford cleanup—what’s been done, what’s left to do, how long it’s going to take, and how much it’s going to cost. The latest update is in: the Department of Energy’s 2025 Hanford Lifecycle Scope,...
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...
EPA’s Role in Hanford: Overcoming Challenges and Celebrating Achievements
As part of our "Role of the Regulators" series, Hanford Communities engaged with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss their regulatory role at the Hanford Site. Here’s what they shared. 1. Please introduce yourself, your current role, and how...
Navigating Nuclear Legacy: Insights from Stephanie Schleif on Hanford Site Cleanup and the Role of the Department of Ecology
Introduction and Historical Context 1. Please introduce yourself, your role, and how long you’ve been in your current role. My name is Stephanie Schleif, I am the Nuclear Waste Program Manager for Washington State Department of Ecology. I have been with the program...
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...
As ‘Cleanup to Clean Energy’ initiative moves forward, local community’s voice must be heard
Recent congressional hearings highlight community-led vision for the future of post-cleanup Hanford lands, as well as concerns with the Department of Energy’s current approach In the months since the Department of Energy announced the Cleanup to Clean Energy (C2CE)...
Grout & About: Tackling 2000 Gallons of Hanford Waste
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...
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
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
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?
