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CH2M HILL safely repositioned more than 900 cesium/strontium capsules to redistribute the heat generated by their highly radioactive contents.

Operations at the Hanford Site left behind a legacy of hazardous waste that CH2M HILL plans to stabilize and disposition, including treatment and disposal of more than 15,000 legacy containers of radioactive waste, retrieval of 5,400 cubic meters of transuranic (TRU) waste, treatment of more than 130 million gallons of liquid waste annually, management of 2,300 metric tons of spent fuel and interim storage of 1,936 cesium and strontium capsules.

Retrieval

Key elements of the CH2M HILL’s waste and fuels management include overseeing the operation of several waste facilities and managing low-level waste disposal, mixed low-level waste treatment and disposal, and TRU waste retrieval. TRU waste is a synthetic byproduct of the nuclear weapons program that remains radioactive for thousands of years and today, CH2M HILL is using a range of innovative technology and equipment to safely retrieve, repackage and prepare the waste for shipment.

Repackaging

CH2M HILL is responsible for treating, packaging and shipping waste to reduce the inventory of stored materials and reduce potential impacts to workers and the environment. CH2M HILL provides the resources and operates the facilities necessary to safely and compliantly store, treat and dispose of a variety of solid and liquid waste and nuclear material.

Sludge

CH2M HILL is responsible for the radioactive sludge located in the 100K Area. CH2M HILL’s Sludge Treatment Project is currently one of DOE’s top national cleanup priorities. The thick, radioactive sludge, which now resides in the K West basin, resulted from the corrosion of spent reactor fuel and other debris left from equipment, sand/dust and operations. Sludge is highly radioactive and must be treated and disposed of before the K West Basin can be demolished. Together, DOE and CH2M HILL are working to develop a better understanding of what the sludge is composed of and to decide the best approach to treat, package and remove the sludge for final disposition so that CH2M HILL can complete cleanup of the 100K Area.

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