Washington River Protection Solutions

Washington River Protection Solutions is eliminating the risk to the environment posed by Hanford’s 56 million gallons of highly radioactive and chemical waste stored in 177 underground tanks.  We are the Department of Energy Office of River Protection prime contractor responsible for safely managing the waste until it is prepared for disposal. 

The waste is stored in 149 older single-shell tanks and 28 newer and safer double-shell tanks that are grouped into 18 farms near the center of the 586 square-mile Hanford Site in south-central Washington.  The tank contents include waste from years of World War II and post-war production of material for nuclear weapons and account for 60 percent by volume of the nation’s high-level radioactive waste. 

These aging tanks are just a few miles from the Columbia River.  Eliminating the environmental risk posed by this waste and preparing it for treatment are critical parts of the ongoing mission of Washington River Protection Solutions.