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, Schedule, and Cost Report is out, and well… the road just got a bit longer. According to the report, active cleanup is now projected to run through 2086—eight years later than the last estimate. The total cost?
Somewhere between $364 billion and $589.4 billion.
Yes, that’s a big number. And yes, it’s a little later than anyone hoped.
But if you’ve followed Hanford for any length of time, this isn’t entirely surprising. This is one of the most complex environmental cleanups in the world. It’s not a quick fix—and it was never going to be. Timelines shift, projections change, and the challenges are real.
Still, that doesn’t mean we have to keep doing things the same old way.
A Marathon—But Can We Pick Up the Pace?
Hanford’s cleanup is a marathon, not a sprint. But even in a marathon, you want to make smart choices. You want good shoes, water at the right times, and a course that makes sense.
Right now, much of the tank waste at Hanford (both high-level and low-activity) is planned to be vitrified—essentially turned into glass. It’s a process where radioactive sludge is mixed with glass-forming materials and melted into a solid block. It’s a proven method for stabilizing high-level waste. But it’s also expensive, time-consuming, and—let’s be honest—slow.
There’s another option that’s already being used elsewhere: grouting. This method mixes waste with a cement-like material to lock it in place. It’s faster. It’s cheaper. And according to the Government Accountability Office and other experts—it works. Safely. We also recognize that high-level waste (HLW) will need to be vitrified. That’s a non-negotiable part of a responsible cleanup strategy.
Here at Hanford, grouting is now part of the plan for some of the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) thanks to last year’s Holistic Negotiations Settlement Agreement. The agreement’s plan to grout waste from 22 tanks is a huge step in the right direction, andwe fully support this approach—in addition to, not instead of, the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) vitrification effort. Both have an important role to play in getting the job done.
While it is extremely encouraging that the decision to pursue grouting for some of Hanford’s LAW has already been made, much more will need to be done to reduce the long-term costs and timelines for cleanup. The Settlement Agreement sets the stage for further collaboration between the Tri-Party Agencies to explore additional ways to speed up cleanup while maintaining safety and compliance.
This is about making room for solutions that work—at scale, on budget, and on time.
A New Success Story in Grouting
The recent success of a demonstration project—where 2,000 gallons of low-activity waste were safely pretreated, shipped offsite, and will be disposed of via grouting—further validates the approach. This waste, after most radioactive elements were removed, was transported in secure containers to disposal sites in Texas and Utah.
DOE and Washington state regulators see this as a major milestone toward accelerating cleanup, improving tank safety, and potentially saving billions. Despite some public concerns about transporting liquid waste, DOE has a long track record of safe shipments.
This initiative proves that grouting is not just viable—it’s already working, and it’s key to building a faster, more cost-effective future for Hanford cleanup.
A Shared Responsibility: Advancing Cleanup with Our Community in Mind
Here in the Tri-Cities, Hanford cleanup isn’t just a federal project. It’s our backyard. It’s our water, our health, and our future. That’s why Hanford Communities continues to advocate for better collaboration, smarter planning, and consistent funding.
The latest report isn’t a reason to throw in the towel—it’s a reason to think harder and act smarter. We have the talent, the technology, and the lessons of the past to guide us. Now we need the courage to embrace solutions that make sense.
Hanford cleanup will always be a big job. But it doesn’t have to be a slow, outdated, and overpriced one. Let’s keep the momentum going—and make sure the choices we make today build a better, safer tomorrow.
