EM’s Big Opportunity: Panelists Discuss Hanford’s Tank Waste at Workshop

Panelists included, from left, Jerome Delvin, county commissioner for Benton County, Washington state; panel moderator Cerise Peck, director of Hanford Mission Integrated Solutions Communications and One Hanford Services; Dave Brunnert, chief operating officer, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management; Ray Geimer, manager, Hanford Field Office; and Brian Hartman, project director for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, Bechtel National Inc.

RICHLAND, Wash. — U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) and Hanford Site leaders highlighted cleanup progress and the path forward during a panel discussion at the National Cleanup Workshop.

EM Chief Operating Officer David Brunnert and Hanford Field Office Manager Ray Geimer joined contractor and community leaders to discuss how recent accomplishments at Hanford are creating new opportunities to advance the cleanup mission.

The discussion focused on Hanford’s tank waste mission and the momentum created by the start of waste treatment operations. Panelists highlighted a glass-plus-grout strategy that pairs vitrification and grout as complementary waste treatment pathways, providing opportunities to accelerate tank waste cleanup.

Panelists also discussed the broader evolution underway as Hanford looks beyond individual cleanup projects and toward its future. That shift — from restoration to revitalization — reflects an opportunity to build on cleanup progress, modernize infrastructure and position assets to support future opportunities while continuing to deliver the environmental cleanup mission.

The conversation reflected upon an important inflection point — through the glass-plus-grout approach, continued innovation and a focus on moving from restoration to revitalization, the One Hanford team is building on today’s momentum to accelerate cleanup and prepare the site for the future.