Salt Processing Project at the Savannah River Site
August 27, 2002
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August 27, 2002
Salt Processing Project at the Savannah River Site
As a result of Cold War weapons production, the Department of Energy accumulated millions of gallons of high-level waste that now require treatment and final disposal. At the Department's Savannah River Site, there are approximately 38 million gallons of high-level waste, including 35 million gallons of salt waste and 3 million gallons of sludge. To treat the salt waste, the Department originally planned to process the waste through the Savannah River Site's In-Tank Precipitation Facility so that cesium and other radionuclides could be removed. However, in February 1998, the Department suspended operation of the In-Tank Precipitation Facility because it could not be operated safely.