The Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program at the Hanford Site integrates individual projects, facilities and infrastructure upgrades, with involvement from all of Hanford’s contractors. Click here to view the full size of this image.
The Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program at the Hanford Site integrates individual projects, facilities and infrastructure upgrades, with involvement from all of Hanford’s contractors. Click here to view the full size of this image.

EM federal and contractor leadership from the Hanford Site provided an in-depth look at the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program, and progress made toward immobilizing tank waste in glass through the process of vitrification during the 2021 National Cleanup Workshop.

Brian Vance, EM Office of River Protection and Richland Operations Office manager, led the panel discussion, which was conducted virtually. Vance introduced the DFLAW Program and the leaders who are working together toward the start of the tank waste treatment mission through teamwork and a collective commitment to excellence.

“In addition to completing construction on the facilities that support DFLAW, the One Hanford team is continuing to shift our site mindset towards an operations-based culture, ready for 24/7 operations,” Vance said.

The DFLAW process starts at Hanford’s Tank Farms, where the waste delivery system will feed treated tank waste to Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). John Eschenberg, president of Washington River Protection Solutions, explained Hanford’s Tank-Side Cesium Removal system and how it filters undissolved solids and cesium — which account for 99.9% of the radioactivity — from the low-activity tank waste before sending it to WTP to be vitrified for safe disposal.

Valerie McCain, Bechtel National, Inc. WTP project manager, reported that her company has completed all construction and startup testing at the plant. She also highlighted progress made on hiring, training and qualifying workers who will operate the facility. Every DFLAW facility has been handed over to the commissioning and plant management teams, which will place components and systems into service and demonstrate the facilities are ready to treat the first tank waste by the end of 2023.

Office of River Protection and Richland Operations Office Manager Brian Vance delivers an overview of Hanford tank waste treatment during a virtual session of the 2021 National Cleanup Workshop.
Office of River Protection and Richland Operations Office Manager Brian Vance delivers an overview of Hanford tank waste treatment during a virtual session of the 2021 National Cleanup Workshop.

The safe disposal of the vitrified waste canisters marks the end of the line for the waste. Scott Sax, president of Central Plateau Cleanup Company, described Hanford’s Integrated Disposal Facility as a site that currently includes two disposal cells engineered to protect the environment. Workers will monitor and collect runoff that reaches the liner at the bottom of the facility for safe treatment and disposal.

Throughout the process, essential services are critical to successful operations. Bob Wilkinson, president of Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, highlighted infrastructure that keeps the mission moving forward. Water, power, information technology and emergency services are just a few of the interdependent systems that support Hanford cleanup in a fundamentally different site operating environment.

David Reeploeg, executive director of Hanford Communities, works with legislative and community members to ensure the success of the Hanford cleanup mission. He emphasized how important it is, from the community’s perspective, to be moving forward with tank waste treatment. The One Hanford philosophy has guided DOE and contractors in working together to successfully begin the tank waste cleanup phase of the Hanford cleanup by the end of 2023.

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