Hanford Teams Rehearse for First Tank Waste Transfer

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Hanford crews are preparing for the site’s first-ever transfer of radioactive waste from one of its large underground tanks to the Vit Plant.

Contractors on both ends of the waste transfer are coordinating practice runs to prepare for those operations.

Teams from Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure (H2C) and Bechtel National Inc. are working together to verify each step of the transfer process. H2C is focused on preparing the underground tank systems that hold the waste, while Bechtel leads operations at the WTP, where the waste will eventually be turned into glass. Their joint efforts include checking pump systems, testing leak detectors and coordinating procedures between waste tank and treatment plant control rooms.

“Preparing for a first-of-its-kind waste transfer takes more than technical readiness, it takes alignment, communication and teamwork,” said Andy Wiborg, Hanford director for Tank Waste Operations. “These practice runs are proving what’s possible when Hanford teams unite to advance our tank waste treatment mission.”

Practice runs will continue through June as teams align procedures and confirm that equipment is functioning as intended. These coordinated efforts are key to getting the site ready for hot commissioning — the next major step in Hanford’s tank waste cleanup, expected to begin later this summer.

During hot commissioning, the Vit Plant will receive pretreated radiological and chemical waste, combine it with glass-forming materials, and heat it to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. This process, called vitrification, transforms the waste into a stable glass form, which is then sealed in stainless steel containers for safe disposal.