Proposed changes to the Tri-Party Agreement and consent decree on Hanford Site tank waste

This followed mediated negotiations that began in 2020, also known as Holistic Negotiations.

The agencies are holding a 90-day public comment period on the proposed changes to the Tri-Party Agreement and consent decree.

There will be three hybrid public meetings held on July 9, 10, and 11, 2024. See the Nuclear Waste Program public comment page for more information.

Highlights of proposed changes

• Maintaining existing time frames for starting treatment of both low-activity and high-level waste by immobilizing it in glass via vitrification.
• Using a direct-feed approach for immobilizing high-level waste in glass, similar to the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program.
• Building a waste transfer vault and second effluent management facility to support treating high-level waste.
• Retrieving waste from 22 tanks in Hanford’s 200 West Area by 2040, including grouting the low-activity portion of the waste for offsite disposal.
• Designing and constructing 1-million gallons of multi-purpose storage capacity to support tank waste retrievals.
• Evaluating and developing new technologies for retrieving waste from tanks.