The Office of Environmental Management (EM) tank waste program consists of safely storing of 90 million gallons of radioactive liquid waste at the Hanford Site in Washington, the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho and the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina.
EM operates major nuclear facilities to process and dispose of the waste as well as emptying, cleaning and closing the waste tanks. The SRS and ORP waste streams treatment involves separating the highly radioactive fractions and low activity factions. The high activity portion undergoes vitrification while the low activity portion is then either vitrified or grouted.
As liquid waste is processed, the tanks are operationally closed through a process that involves: bulk waste removal, heel removal, cooling coil flushing/annulus cleaning, isolation and residual sampling and grouting.
The EM tank waste program’s goal is to continue cleanup progress in a cost-effective manner that is risk informed, engages stakeholders, applies innovative solutions and provides value to the American taxpayer.
Tank Waste News
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Crews have brought innovations and other improvements to a basin that stores used nuclear fuel at the Savannah River Site. June 16, 2026June 16, 2026
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The FIU News site recently highlighted a junior engineer at Florida International University’s Applied Research Center and her research supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management mission to remediate nuclear waste. June 16, 2026June 16, 2026
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Preventive maintenance may not always be top of mind for your car or lawn mower at home, but it is essential when managing the Hanford Site. June 2, 2026June 2, 2026
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The Hanford Waste Treatment Plant has reached a major commissioning milestone, successfully solidifying more than 100,000 gallons of Hanford tank waste into glass. May 26, 2026May 26, 2026