Walsh Welcomes Energy Secretary to Hanford

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to the Hanford Site last week. 

“I was honored to show U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright the tremendous progress on full display at Hanford,” said Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh. “I congratulate Ray Geimer and his team, our contractor partners and hardworking craftworkers for advancing our critical missions at Hanford. I look forward to building relationships across Hanford, regulators, Congress, tribes, and the community to advance cleanup solutions, unleash economic vitality and unlock potential in the Tri-Cities.” 

Secretary Wright and Assistant Secretary Walsh participated in a comprehensive tour of the Direct-Feed Low-Activity (DFLAW) system that has turned over 36,000 gallons of tank waste into glass since October. Tour stops included the Waste Treatment Plant, the Tank Side Cesium Removal System and the tank farms. Secretary Wright and Assistant Secretary Walsh were also briefed on solutions to accelerate progress including opportunities for solidifying portions of Hanford tank waste into grout in parallel to ongoing DFLAW operations. 

Additional briefings focused on work at the highly contaminated 324 Building that supported research on radioactive materials, the transfer of radioactive capsules from the Waste Encapsulation Facility to safer dry storage, and other remediation priorities as well as land and facilities ripe for potential beneficial reuse to support economic vitality and American energy dominance.