Hanford Overview
Hanford History
The Hanford Site encompasses 580 square miles of land in southeastern Washington State. Established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project, it became the site of the world’s first full-scale nuclear reactor and was central to plutonium production during World War II and the Cold War.
Today, cleanup of the Hanford Site is one of the largest environmental projects in the world, overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Hanford’s mission has shifted from production to cleanup and stewardship of the land, ensuring safety for generations to come.
Waste Cleanup
The U.S. Department of Energy is responsible for one of the largest nuclear waste cleanup efforts in history.
Cleanup activities include:
Stabilizing and removing millions of gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored in underground tanks
Decommissioning reactors and facilities once used for plutonium production
Remediating contaminated soil and groundwater
This complex, multi-decade effort is critical to protecting the Columbia River, surrounding communities, and the environment.
“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”
Hanford By the Numbers
~37.3 billion gallons of groundwater have been treated to remove contamination along the Columbia River.
22 underground waste tanks have been emptied and closed.
19.1M tons of contaminated soil and debris have been excavated and safely disposed.
7 of 9 reactors along the Columbia River have been stabilized in Interim Safe Storage (ISS).
832, thousand gallons of tank waste ready for immobilization in glass.
983 facilities have been demolished as part of cleanup efforts.
1,062 waste sites have been remediated.
683 tons of contaminants groundwater.
Community Vision
A safe, efficient cleanup at Hanford ensures that the site will be an asset to the region by protecting public health, supporting economic growth, and preserving the Columbia River for future generations.
Hanford Organizational Structure
The Hanford cleanup effort is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy and carried out by multiple contractors and partners working together as One Hanford, One Mission.