New study reveals long-term impact of Hanford waste disposal plan
The Hanford Immobilized Low-Activity Tank Waste Performance Assessment looks at the long-term effects of disposing of low-level waste from Hanford Site tanks. The waste comes from separating nuclear materials from fuels over 50 years. It will be separated into low and high-activity parts, then solidified by private companies. The US Department of Energy will take the solidified low-activity waste and bury it at Hanford. The high-activity waste will stay at Hanford until a national repository is approved. The report gives information needed for the DOE to allow changes to disposal vaults, filling them with waste containers, and building new disposal facilities. The study will continue to collect data on the disposal sites, facility design, and waste performance. The goal is to ensure the safety of the public and the environment in the long term.