Our Mission

The Hanford As Low As is Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) Center of Excellence is committed to providing a centralized resource for others to gain insight into practical applications of the ALARA approach and to serve as a clearinghouse of ALARA information.

Background

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Site—1,518 square kilometers
(586 square miles) located in southeastern Washington State, United States of America—was established during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project and played a pivotal role in the nation’s defense for more than 50 years.

Currently, the Hanford Site is engaged in the world’s largest environmental cleanup effort with many challenges to be resolved in the face of overlapping, technical, political, regulatory, and cultural interests. The cleanup effort focuses on three outcomes: restoring the Columbia River corridor for other uses, transitioning the central plateau to long-term waste treatment and storage, and preparing for the future.

Over the years, we have learned a great deal in the application of the ALARA approach to daily operations. In 1996, DOE established the ALARA Center of Technology to provide a common resource for Hanford workers in the practical aspects of ALARA.

For questions or comments, please send email to Jeffrey Hunter.