Hanford Site Emptied 25th Radioactive Waste Tank
The Department of Energy has begun removing 385,000 gallons of hazardous saltcake waste from a 1950s-era tank.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Nuclear
Live Poll
Should federal agencies prioritize speed in cleaning up hazardous nuclear waste sites?
Workers at the Hanford nuclear site have initiated the cleanup of Tank A-103, marking the 25th single-shell tank to be emptied. The project aims to address a portion of the 56 million gallons of radioactive waste stored at the facility.
Why it matters
Reducing waste volume in these aging tanks is a central step in mitigating long-term environmental risks to the region. This operation aligns with federal agreements to clear specific storage units by 2040.
Tank A-103 contains approximately 385,000 gallons of saltcake, a solid form of radioactive and hazardous chemical waste. To date, 24 of 149 total single-shell tanks at the Hanford site have been emptied to regulatory standards.
The players
Department of Energy
The federal agency responsible for the management of the Hanford nuclear site and the long-term containment of radioactive waste.
The details
Cleanup crews use water to dissolve the saltcake waste into a slurry, which is then pumped through risers into more secure double-shell tanks for temporary storage. This process removes hazardous material from aging, high-risk infrastructure constructed in the 1950s. Officials plan to shift the site's primary focus to constructing new infrastructure and pretreatment systems in the 200 West Area.
Timeline
1950s: Tank A-103 was constructed at the Hanford site.
January 2025: The Hanford Site Holistic Agreement was finalized.
2027: Completion of waste retrieval from Tank A-103 is expected.
2030: Scheduled start for emptying the 26th single-shell tank.
2033: Deadline for required high-level waste treatment to begin.
The Tech Race
The retrieval operation follows the regulatory timeline established by the Hanford Site Holistic Agreement. This effort represents the transition from simple waste storage toward the infrastructure development needed for the mandated 2033 treatment phase.
This project specifically targets the removal of hazardous waste from aging tanks that pose a long-term environmental risk to the Columbia River. Residents in the area should expect that operations will transition focus to the 200 West Area as the project moves toward its 2040 mandate.
The takeaway
The successful emptying of these tanks is a critical precursor to the high-level waste treatment required by federal consent decrees. Observers should track progress on the 2033 high-level treatment start date and the potential $12 billion in savings proposed through the grouting of remaining waste.
What happens next
The Department of Energy has indicated that after the completion of Tank A-103 in 2027, there will be a pause in tank retrievals for several years while resources are directed toward pretreatment infrastructure.
Further reading
For broader updates on the containment of legacy hazardous materials, visit the Nuclear section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Bellingham Herald.
Live Poll
Should federal agencies prioritize speed in cleaning up hazardous nuclear waste sites?
