The U.S. Department of Energy has signed off on allowing radioactive tank waste to be introduced into the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) facility at the Hanford site, according to Sen. Patty Murray.

“After unacceptable delays, it’s good that DOE has finally heeded my call to sign the paperwork necessary to move forward with the final step of hot commissioning before treatment of radioactive waste can begin on Oct. 15,” said Murray, D-Washington, who is vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

The only remaining obstacle was the DOE sign-off, which had been expected by the end of August – and finally happened Sept. 17, according to Murray’s office. Her office also noted that the federal Project Management Risk Committee unanimously endorsed moving forward to project completion in July, according to internal DOE records.

Federal, state and local lawmakers along with tribal leaders and government watchdogs demanded answers last week from DOE on reports and statements that Energy Secretary Chris Wright wanted to take a “different direction” on Hanford cleanup and stall the start of transforming waste into glass logs at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, better known as the vitrification or vit plant.

Wright in two statements denied that DOE is changing course. “Although there are challenges, we are committed to beginning operations by Oct. 15,” he said on Sept. 9. “As always, we are prioritizing the health and safety of both the workforce and the community as we work to meet our nation’s need to safely and efficiently dispose of nuclear waste.” 

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, wrote in a Sept. 16 op-ed that it was at his request that Wright sent out statements denying any changes to the cleanup schedule. The Congressman said, ”I unequivocally oppose any delay of hot commissioning at (the waste treatment plant) by DOE, and I will exhaust all options to ensure this deadline is met.”

Work to move waste from deteriorating tanks at the Hanford site to new ones ahead of that waste being processed appears to be continuing.

Workers with site contractor Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure, or H2C, recently transferred more than 430,000 gallons of radioactive and chemical waste from Single-Shell Tank A-101 to a newer double-shell tank for continued safe storage, according to a release. This is the 22nd single-shell tank to undergo waste retrieval. 

The waste will eventually be sent to be vitrified into glass for safe disposal. 

Gov. Bob Ferguson, in a Sept. 12 press conference, said the vit plant becoming operational is a requirement of a court-ordered settlement on the cleanup effort. The state will pursue legal action against DOE to bring the facility online if the agency fails to do so by Oct. 15, he said.