Hanford Leaders Highlight Cleanup Progress and Future Momentum at Waste Management Symposium

Ray Geimer, Hanford field office manager, leads Hanford Site and Washington state leaders in a panel discussion about recent site progress. Panel participants to Geimer’s right: Cerise Peck, panel co-chair manager for Hanford Mission Integration Solutions; Brian Hartman, project director, Bechtel National, Inc.; Carol Johnson, president & program manager, Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure; Mark Hughey, general manager, Navarro-ATL; Amy Basche, president, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions; Bob Wilkinson, president, Central Plateau Cleanup Company; and Stephanie Schleif, nuclear waste program manager, Washington State Department of Ecology.

PHOENIX – Hanford leadership joined industry partners and federal officials at the Waste Management Symposium to discuss the site’s cleanup progress and the path forward for one of the nation’s most complex environmental remediation missions. The panel conversations focused on the scale of work underway across the site, recent operational milestones, and the coordinated efforts required to advance cleanup while preparing for the next phase of the mission.

During the discussion, Hanford Field Office Manager, Ray Geimer emphasized that Hanford is entering a new stage after decades of preparation and infrastructure development. “For many years, this mission was about building the capability to treat waste and address some of the most complex environmental challenges in the country,” he said. “Today we are beginning to see that investment pay off as we move into sustained cleanup operations that reduce risk and deliver real progress.”

Geimer also highlighted several recent milestones that demonstrate the momentum building across the site. The start of waste vitrification represents a major turning point for Hanford, allowing crews to begin immobilizing tank waste in glass for safe long-term disposal. At the same time, crews recently began transferring the first of the cesium capsules from the Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility to dry storage, an important risk-reduction effort that further strengthens the site’s safety posture.

Looking ahead, Geimer noted that Hanford is preparing for the next chapter of the cleanup mission while continuing to accelerate current work. “What you’re seeing now is the result of decades of engineering, planning, and workforce commitment,” he said. “We are building on those successes to move the mission forward, continue reducing risk, and deliver meaningful progress for the region, the community, and the nation.”