Bechtel Begins Nuclear Vitrification at Hanford Site

Photo: https://www.bechtel.com/press-releases/bechtel-begins-nuclear-vitrification-at-hanford-site/

​Bechtel today announced the start of nuclear vitrification operations at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) at the Hanford Site in Washington state, where the first batch of radioactive and chemical waste from the Manhattan Project and Cold War has been successfully converted into stable glass. This milestone marks an important step forward in reducing the long-term environmental risks of legacy tank waste in the Hanford area.

As the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment facility, the plant’s successful startup represents a crucial achievement at this scale, demonstrating the ability to stabilize nuclear waste for safe, long-term disposal.

“This milestone represents the realization of a vision shared by many,” said Dena Volovar, President of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental business. “It reflects decades of teamwork, innovation, and partnership with our customer to solve one of the nation’s most complex environmental challenges—safely and permanently. Together with the Department of Energy, the state of Washington, our labor partners, local suppliers, subcontractors, and world-class scientific experts, we’ve turned vitrification into a reality at Hanford. It’s an important step forward in protecting the Columbia River, surrounding communities, and future generations.”

Bechtel designed, built, and commissioned the WTP for the U.S. Department of Energy. In the vitrification process, tank waste is blended with glass-forming materials and heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit inside one of two 300-ton melters before being poured into stainless-steel containers for safe, long-term disposal.

In the coming months, Bechtel’s project team will continue feeding waste and glass-forming materials into the melters, filling stainless-steel containers, and transporting them to the Hanford Site’s Integrated Disposal Facility. During operations, the plant will process an average of 5,300 gallons of tank waste per day.
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Learn more about how Bechtel is securing a cleaner and safer world at bechtel.com.