The Hanford site continues to lead the nation in environmental cleanup, achieving milestones that show our commitment to safety, teamwork and environmental stewardship. 

In 2024, the One Hanford team – composed of the U.S. Department of Energy, contractor partners, and thousands of skilled workers – made significant strides across the site, advancing critical projects while building a strong foundation for achievement in 2025.

Our mission is more than just addressing the challenges of today; it’s about creating a safer, cleaner future for the Pacific Northwest while safeguarding our community and the environment. With this purpose in mind, we advanced key initiatives in waste treatment, environmental protection and infrastructure modernization.

Advancing tank waste treatment

The centerpiece of our cleanup mission is the safe treatment and vitrification, or immobilization in glass, of the 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored in underground tanks. Over the past year, Hanford’s tank waste program has seen exceptional progress:

• Finished retrieving waste from the 21st single-shell tank and began retrieval activities at A Tank Farm, where 325,000 gallons of waste have already been transferred to double-shell tanks.
• Heating up the second of two massive 300-ton melters that will vitrify low-activity waste. This step brings us closer to vitrifying tank waste for safe disposal.
• Initiated “cold commissioning” at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant using chemicals that simulate tank waste. 
• Treated 2,000 gallons of waste through a test bed initiative. The technology worked even better than expected by removing 98% of the radioactive material.

Supporting these efforts is Hanford’s Tank-Side Cesium Removal System, which continues to treat and stage waste for vitrification. These combined achievements lay the groundwork for the treatment plant’s Low-Activity Waste Facility to begin vitrifying tank waste during “hot” commissioning in 2025, which is the start of treated tank waste vitrification – a long-anticipated milestone in our mission.

Inside the Central Plateau Water Treatment Facility, workers prepare for its 2025 startup.

| Courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

Landmark agreement finalized

In January the Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington State Department of Ecology finalized a landmark agreement on a realistic and achievable course for cleaning up millions of gallons of radioactive and chemical waste from Hanford’s underground tanks. This agreement, developed through years of negotiations and public input, maintains existing time frames for starting to treat low-activity waste later this year and high-level waste in 2033. It also introduces a direct-feed approach for high-level waste ensuring a comprehensive path for Hanford’s tank waste cleanup mission.

Protecting the river

Protecting the nearby Columbia River is still one of our highest cleanup priorities, and 2024 brought notable successes in risk reduction:

• Workers removed over 1.2 million gallons of contaminated water from the last reactor storage basin and filled it with cement-like grout, stabilizing it in preparation for future demolition. This work significantly reduces risks to the Columbia River, marking a major step in the river corridor cleanup.
• For the 10th consecutive year, we treated more than 2 billion gallons of groundwater, further protecting the region’s ecosystems and water resources. Since the mid-1990s Hanford has treated over 34 billion gallons of groundwater, effectively mitigating the spread of contaminants and safeguarding the surrounding environment.

Workers filled the last reactor fuel storage basin with cement-like grout, stabilizing it to reduce environmental risks to the nearby Columbia River. 

| Courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

Additionally, a surface barrier constructed at U Tank Farm prevents rain and snowmelt from entering soil above the tanks, reducing the risk of contamination migration and further protecting groundwater.

Modernizing infrastructure

Infrastructure upgrades are critical to help ensure the long-term success of Hanford’s cleanup mission. In 2024 we made significant progress on key projects that will support safe and efficient operations for decades to come:

• Our team advanced construction on the Central Plateau Water Treatment Facility, which will begin operations as early as late 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will supply up to 5 million gallons of potable water daily, meeting the needs of our workforce and supporting tank-waste treatment activities.
• Our team developed a new electrical transmission line in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration, and it is on track to energize in 2025. This upgrade will enhance sitewide reliability and help ensure a stable power supply for ongoing and future operations.

Hanford’s infrastructure projects, from road maintenance to the modernization of utilities, continue to support the site’s cleanup mission while enhancing safety and efficiency across operations.

Hanford site workers and stakeholders commemorated progress in December 2023 by signing the first container of test glass produced at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. 

| Courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

A unified team

In October 2024, we completed the recombination of the Office of River Protection and Richland Operations Office into the Hanford Field Office. This organizational change streamlined decision-making, improved communication and strengthened collaboration across our 580-square-mile site.

The One Hanford team exemplifies the power of partnership. By aligning efforts across federal employees and contractors we help to ensure our mission progresses safely, efficiently and transparently. Community engagement remains a cornerstone of our work, with public forums, virtual tours and updates providing opportunities to share progress and receive valuable feedback.

Looking ahead to 2025

As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024, we are excited about the transformative work ahead. The start of tank waste vitrification at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant in 2025 will be a historic achievement, representing years of dedication, innovation and teamwork.

We will also continue advancing risk-reduction projects, modernizing infrastructure and protecting the Columbia River, all while keeping our unwavering commitment to safety and environmental stewardship. By embracing innovation and learning from challenges, the One Hanford team will continue to deliver progress that benefits the Pacific Northwest and ensures a safer, cleaner future for generations to come.

Brian Vance is the manager of the Hanford Field Office. His last day is April 24, 2025.