Disappearing Act: Hanford Team Completes Container Relocation Project

Workers with Hanford Site contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company recently finished relocating more than 130 large waste containers from two outside storage areas, completing a significant cleanup milestone a year ahead of schedule.

RICHLAND, Wash. — Now you see them, now you don’t!

Crews at the Hanford Site have safely moved more than 130 large waste containers from two outdoor storage areas at the Central Waste Complex, completing a significant risk-reduction project a year ahead of schedule.

The relocation project took more than six years and involved crews from contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) to move waste containers weighing up to 50 tons and 19 feet tall. Much of the waste was sent to an offsite facility for treatment and repackaging into containers for safe and compliant shipment and disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national repository for transuranic waste.

“The skillful and efficient handling of these massive containers with no incidents is a testament to Hanford workers’ focus and commitment to safety,” said Scott Green, Hanford Field Office deputy assistant manager for River and Plateau cleanup. “This project not only reduces risk but meets a significant regulatory milestone.”

In 2018, DOE and Hanford’s regulators — the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and Washington State Department of Ecology — established a milestone requirement under the Tri-Party Agreement to remove all containers from the outside storage areas by Sept. 30, 2026.

The containers — made of metal, concrete or fiberglass-reinforced plywood — store a variety of solid waste, such as reactor and laboratory equipment, tools, contaminated clothing and other items used during Hanford’s plutonium production mission.

“The whole team worked safely and efficiently to manage this complex project,” said Andy Drom, CPCCo project director. “The success of this work is testimony to what can be achieved by working together to meet the challenges of our critical cleanup mission head-on.”