The latest expansion of Hanford’s engineered landfill and work on the high-level waste portion of the Waste Treatment Plant are among some of the latest projects to move forward at the Hanford site. 

Crews recently finished digging the new disposal area for low-level radioactive and hazardous chemical waste at the site’s Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility, according to a release. 

In the spring, workers with contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) will install the engineered liner used to protect groundwater from contamination from stored waste.  

“ERDF has been a cornerstone of our waste disposal strategy for nearly 30 years, and this expansion is essential to provide uninterrupted, efficient and safe disposal for years to come,” said Kelly Ebert, director for the Projects and Facilities Division with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management’s Hanford Field Office, in a statement. 

At the same time as announcing the progress on the ERDF, contractor Bechtel National took a crucial step toward installing the roof for the High-Level Waste Facility at the WTP. Crews used cranes and lifts to install heavy steel beams nearly 60 feet above the facility, cleaning and coating them with a fire-resistant material before installation. 

Once the roof is in place, installation of the facility’s systems that will transform high-level waste into a stable glass form for storage can begin. Low-level waste is already being fed through another portion of the WTP as Bechtel conducts the hot commissioning process.