Workers Began Emptying Hanford Nuclear Waste Tank

Operations to clear radioactive waste from Tank A-103 at the Washington site are now underway.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Nuclear

Isometric editorial illustration depicting a heavy-duty industrial piping system connected to an underground storage chamber, representing radioactive waste retrieval. — Crews have begun removing 385,000 gallons of radioactive saltcake waste from Tank A-103 at the Hanford nuclear site in Washington. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Crews have started removing approximately 385,000 gallons of radioactive saltcake waste from Tank A-103 at the Hanford nuclear site in Washington. This marks the 25th single-shell tank retrieval completed at the facility to date.

Why it matters

The project aims to reduce long-term environmental risks posed by aging infrastructure, as part of a massive cleanup effort to address 56 million gallons of stored radioactive waste. Officials are prioritizing the removal process to comply with federal agreements and stabilize the site.

Tank A-103, constructed in the 1950s, contains 385,000 gallons of saltcake waste out of a site-wide total of 56 million gallons. To date, 24 tanks have been emptied to regulatory standards, with 22 more required to be cleared by 2040.

The players

Department of Energy

This federal agency is responsible for the management and cleanup of the Hanford site's nuclear waste legacy.

Hanford Nuclear Site

This facility served as a major plutonium production complex for the U.S. government for decades.

The details

Workers are utilizing water to dissolve the salt-based contents of the tank before pumping the material through risers into a double-shell tank for secure storage. The retrieval process for this specific unit is expected to last until 2027.

Tank A-103 was constructed during the 1950s.
The Hanford Site Holistic Agreement was finalized in January 2025.
Waste removal from Tank A-103 is expected to conclude in 2027.
The Department of Energy plans to begin emptying the 26th tank by 2030.
High-level waste treatment is required to start by 2033 under a court decree.

Deeper Dive

The current retrieval effort follows the specific timeline and regulatory benchmarks set by the Hanford Site Holistic Agreement. This framework dictates the ongoing cleanup pace to ensure compliance with federal environmental safety standards.

This project reduces the long-term environmental threat to regional water sources like the Columbia River by permanently stabilizing hazardous materials. Successfully clearing these tanks avoids billions in potential long-term costs associated with containment failure.

The takeaway

The multi-decade effort to empty tanks at the Hanford site remains a critical component of state environmental safety. Experts suggest that evolving methods like grouting could eventually save up to $12 billion in taxpayer funds during the decommissioning process.

What happens next

The Department of Energy has scheduled the commencement of retrieval operations for the 26th single-shell tank for 2030, with a broader federal mandate to begin high-level waste treatment by 2033.