Workers continue to make progress on construction of the Integrated Disposal Facility, a key component of the Hanford Site’s Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste program to begin treating tank waste.
Office of Environmental Management
March 23, 2021
minute read time
RICHLAND, Wash. – Workers continue to make progress on construction of the Integrated Disposal Facility, a key component of the Hanford Site’s Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste program to begin treating tank waste.
EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) is preparing the disposal facility to receive containers of low-activity tank waste that will be vitrified, or immobilized in glass, in the nearby Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
“We have seen great progress at the engineered landfill,” said Gary Pyles, RL federal project manager. “Ensuring the disposal facility is ready for 24/7 operations is essential to the success of DOE’s tank waste treatment initiative, one of the highest-priority projects on the Hanford Site.”
Workers with EM contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company are constructing domes, or roofs, for two leachate collection tanks at the Integrated Disposal Facility. When operational, the tanks will be used to manage runoff and dust-suppression water collected from the engineered landfill.
Crews recently completed utility upgrades, including water, sewer, electrical, and communications. Workers also built transportation pallet and trailer inspection buildings, and installed a pipeline between the facility’s two collection tanks for leachate — water from rain, snow, and dust suppression — to optimize disposal facility operations. In the coming year, workers will install domes on the collection tanks, build concrete pads for handling waste, and develop procedures to run the facility safely.
The facility was built with two large, lined areas called cells, and they can be expanded later. To ensure the protection of groundwater, workers will monitor, collect, and treat leachate that reaches the liner at the bottom of the cells.
The facility’s design is similar to Hanford’s Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility, which has safely operated for more than 20 years and disposed of more than 18 million tons of low-level waste from Hanford cleanup activities.
“After years of safely running Hanford’s operating landfill, the team is ready to bring that operational knowledge to the new facility and support the tank waste treatment mission,” said Andy Drom, director for CPCCo’s waste projects and operations group.
To receive the latest news and updates about the Office of Environmental Management, submit your e-mail address.