Hanford completes second tank waste processing campaign
A worker performs maintenance inside the Hanford site’s Tank-Side Cesium Removal System before the start of the latest processing campaign. So far, the system has processed more than 830,000 gallons of tank waste.
Courtesy Office of Environmental ManagementThe Hanford site continues to make progress in immobilizing radioactive liquid tank waste in glass for safe disposal.
The Hanford Field Office and contractor Washington River Protection Solutions recently completed the second waste processing campaign through the Tank-Side Cesium Removal (TSCR) System, according to a news release.
TSCR is a demonstration project that removes radioactive cesium and solids from tank waste and delivers the waste to a nearby underground storage tank. More than 830,000 gallons of TSCR-treated waste are now staged and ready to be sent to Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant for treatment later this year.
“The TSCR System is accomplishing its mission as the first step in treating Hanford’s tank waste,” said Bibek Tamang, Hanford TSCR Program manager. “We’re making great progress toward the start of plant operations in 2025.”
The next campaign is scheduled to begin this summer. Once finished, it will bring the amount of waste available to feed to the treatment plant to more than 1 million gallons.
