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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Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to the Hanford Site.December 9, 2025
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The Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant has reached another major commissioning milestone, producing more than 20 stainless steel containers of immobilized low-activity waste. December 9, 2025December 9, 2025
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Workers at the Hanford Site have made room for more than 1 million gallons of waste storage, supporting cleanup efforts to transfer waste from older underground tanks to newer, double-shell tanks. November 25, 2025November 25, 2025
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Engineers with the contractor cleaning up the radioactive tank waste at the Savannah River Site (SRS) have developed a 3D-printed tool that can eliminate months from the tank waste sampling timeline. November 25, 2025November 25, 2025