The Waste Sampling and Characterization Facility, also known as WSCF, was completed in 1994. WSCF is a full service laboratory serving a number of customers at Hanford.

 

The facility conducts work associated with many cleanup projects from groundwater and soil remediation to characterizing the materials in solid waste samples. Scientists also do work associated with tank farms, transuranic waste, liquid wastes, and monitoring of potential contaminants.  WSCF conducts analyses on air, water, soil, vapor, sludge, and other miscellaneous samples.  In addition, staffers analyze industrial hygiene samples from a variety of Site projects to ensure the work is being done safely by field personnel.  The laboratory is accredited by the Washington Department of Ecology and the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

 

WSCF is located in the middle of Hanford’s Central Plateau, just outside the entrance to the 200 West Area. Besides the sampling work done at the main 40,000 square foot analytical laboratory, nearly a dozen buildings at the complex also provide services including sample archiving, data management and canister cleaning.