Washington Closure Hanford - Projects

Waste Operations Project

The Waste Operations Project is responsible for designating, transporting, treating and disposing of contaminated material generated at River Corridor Closure Project facility demolition and waste site and burial ground clean up and for managing the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF).

ERDF, located in the center of the Hanford Site, is a large-scale, evolving landfill, complete with ancillary facilities. It is designed to receive and isolate low-level radioactive, hazardous and mixed waste. It is authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to receive only waste from Hanford cleanup activities.

The disposal facility is designed to be expanded as needed. It consists of six adjoining disposal cells. Each cell is 70 feet deep, 500 feet long and 500 feet wide. Each pair of cells has a disposal capacity of about 2.8 million tons. The cells are sealed with impermeable covers and equipped with collection systems to prevent leaching of liquid waste into the environment. ERDF is expected to meet the disposal needs at Hanford for the 20-30 years. The facility is monitored regularly and, when closed, will continue to be monitored to ensure that human health and the environment are protected.