PHOENIX - The Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) is on track to vitrify tank waste as soon as December 2021, Brian Vance, the manager of the EM Office of River Protection, said here last week.
“Our focus now is on the transition from construction to operations," Vance said during the EM “Hot Topics" panel at this year’s Waste Management Symposia. “It’s crucial that our workforce be in the right mindset and feel the urgency of operations."
EM is focused on the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) path that supports a phased mission progression toward the treatment of the low-activity waste (LAW) portion of Hanford’s 56 million gallons of chemical and radioactive tank waste. Addressing the LAW first allows for that most mobile form of tank waste to be immobilized, helping prevent leaks from the single-shell tanks and freeing up double-shell tank space for future operations.
The DFLAW approach will place about 75 percent of the plant into operations, including the support facilities that run the plant, called Balance of Facilities. The resulting operational experience also provides valuable lessons learned to aid startup and commissioning of the remaining portions of the WTP - and it allows EM to begin treatment of tank waste in advance of completion of the entire plant.
A key factor in implementing the DFLAW approach will be the employment of a pretreatment capability to separate cesium and solids from the tank waste and provide feed to the WTP Low Activity Waste Facility. DOE is currently considering the initial use of at-tank capabilities to provide initial feed, according to Vance.
“We are looking at a tank-side cesium removal system based on proven technology being used at Fukushima," he said.
Meanwhile, the Department is currently reviewing the design for the planned Low Activity Waste Pretreatment System (LAWPS), which is intended to be a larger facility to provide feed for the LAW Facility. DOE is reviewing the design with the aim of making it simpler and to identify cost efficiencies, according to Vance.
Vance said contractor proposals were being reviewed for the tank-side system, and a proposal for the simplified LAWPS facility from Hanford tank operations contractor Washington River Protection Solutions is due this week.
“We recognize the urgency of the cleanup mission," Vance said, “And we’re committed to continuing to work with regulators and our other stakeholders to keep making progress and increase confidence in achieving DFLAW operations."
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
