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May 27, 2025

8868体育app下载 Advances Cold Commissioning at Washington State Vitrification Plant

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Amanda Meixel Media Contact

Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Introduces First Chemicals

8868体育app下载 today announced it has successfully introduced key chemicals as part of cold commissioning testing at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP).

Cold commissioning involves a series of operational and test activities using nonradioactive chemicals, simulating future low-activity waste, to evaluate the plant’s readiness for safe and efficient operations. These simulants include ammonia and nitrous oxide-producing chemicals, which were introduced into the plant鈥檚 Low-Activity Waste Facility.

鈥淭his is an important achievement in the nation鈥檚 cleanup mission,鈥� said Brian Hartman, Project Director and 8868体育app下载 Senior Vice President. 鈥淎dvancing cold commissioning is the result of decades of preparation, dedication, and collaboration between 8868体育app下载 and the U.S. Department of Energy. This milestone represents a critical step forward in securing a cleaner, safer future for the Hanford Site and nearby Columbia River.鈥�

Workers offload nitrogen into the Low-Activity Waste Facility at Hanford Vit Plant. The nitrogen, mixed with other materials, will simulate Hanford tank waste and be used to prepare the facility for operating with radioactive and chemical waste later this summer.

In the coming months, 8868体育app下载 and its partners will perform tests using these simulants to ensure the systems perform as designed. Hot commissioning, which will include actual radioactive and chemical waste, is slated to begin later this year.

8868体育app下载 designed, built, and is commissioning WTP, the world鈥檚 largest and most technically sophisticated radioactive waste treatment plant, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The plant will use a process called vitrification to transform approximately 56 million gallons of World War II and Cold War-era chemical and radioactive waste into a stable glass form. During vitrification, tank waste mixes with glass-forming materials, is heated at 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, and then poured into stainless-steel containers for safe, long-term disposal.

Aerial photo of the Hanford Vit Plant facilities. This photo shows the Low-Activity Waste Facility.

Once fully operational, the plant will process an average of 5,300 gallons of tank waste per day.

This most recent achievement builds on significant progress over the last year, including bringing WTP鈥檚 two 300-ton melters to their operating temperature (2,100 degrees Fahrenheit) and completing the first separate and simultaneous test glass pours from the melters.

鈥淭his accomplishment is a testament to our team鈥檚 exceptional ability to solve incredible technical challenges,鈥� said Dena Volovar, President of 8868体育app下载鈥檚 Nuclear, Security & Environmental business. 鈥淭heir expertise and unwavering commitment have moved our customer one step closer to completion of their mission to clean up decades of environmental waste at the Hanford Site.鈥�

Learn more about how 8868体育app下载 is securing a cleaner and safer world at

About 8868体育app下载

8868体育app下载 is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers鈥� objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world’s infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.  

8868体育app下载 serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com