Post-Retrieval Activities Changing Hanford Tank Farm Footprint

RICHLAND, Wash. – A comparison of aerial photos of Hanford’s C Tank Farm highlights the significant progress by EM’s Office of River Protection (ORP) and tank farms contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) to dismantle site infrastructure following the completion of retrieval operations.

   Retrieval operations concluded in November 2017. This past September, WRPS completed the project to put the tank farm in a surveillance and maintenance mode until a tank closure plan is determined.

   Jeff Rambo, ORP project manager for single-shell tank retrievals, noted that detailed planning, strong communication and collaboration, and a workforce committed to safety were key to the successful execution of the work daily.

   “All of the crews should be proud that they left a safer working environment for surveillance and maintenance activities until tank farm closure activities begin,” Rambo said.

   WRPS project manager Garth Stowe said his team removed everything that would require significant maintenance or could be hazardous to crews performing rounds and routines.

   “We disconnected over 70 electrical skids, 31 hydraulic power units and manifolds, and 14 water systems that were used during retrieval operations,” Stowe said. “We also removed camera systems, heating structures, leak-detection monitoring equipment, control trailer signal cables, excess scaffolding, hose barns, and concrete jersey barriers.”

   Retrieval efforts in tank C-105 wrapped up in November 2017. C-105 was the last of the farm’s 16 tanks to be retrieved. During retrieval operations, nearly 1.8 million gallons of radioactive and hazardous waste was transferred from C Farm to double-shell tanks for safe storage until it can be treated at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.