Foreign technologies reduce costs and accelerate hanford site cleanup

Abstract

AbstractForeign technologies are being transferred to DOE's Hanford Site in Washington State to reduce costs and accelerate cleanup. Hanford is the most highly contaminated site in the DOE complex; its cleanup mission is projected to take over 30 years at a cost of approximately $230 billion. DOE contractors are using proven foreign technologies and services to accelerate cleanup and bypass costly technology development.Many of the international activities being funded at the Hanford Site by DOE's Office of Environmental Management, Office of Technology Development (EM‐50), play a key role in meeting Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri‐Party Agreement) milestones that were established among DOE, EPA, and the Washington State Department of Ecology. For example, the purchase of a safe cask system from France meets the requirement for emergency aboveground transportation of liquid tank waste. An Effluent Treatment Facility built by a U.S. company that is wholly owned by Japan Gas Corporation supports milestones related to effluent waste management. Use of British technical services for various phases of the Initial Pretreatment Module supports other important milestones.This article begins with a brief history of the Hanford Site cleanup mission. The major EM technical focus areas, countries that are collaborating with Hanford Site contractors, and specific initiatives are discussed. This article concludes with a summary of 1994–95 international activities that have had the greatest impact on meeting DOE cleanup goals.