Rep. Dan Newhouse has issued a statement congratulating the Hanford site team on the start of operations at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP). The plant, located in Washington State, began converting radioactive and chemical waste into glass using a process known as vitrification.
“Today is a historic milestone in the Hanford cleanup over two decades in the making,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Congratulations to everyone at Hanford who has worked to bring the DFLAW project online and for your unwavering commitment to the cleanup mission. I have been a proud ally to Hanford through my role on the House Appropriations Committee, and I will continue working to make sure the federal government plays its part in supporting the cleanup effort.”
Bechtel, which is involved with construction and operations at Hanford, announced that WTP had successfully completed its first conversion of waste through vitrification earlier today.
The facility will handle much of the 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored underground at Hanford. Once fully operational, it is expected to process about 5,300 gallons of tank waste each day.
Rep. Newhouse serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, which oversees funding for both the Department of Energy and cleanup efforts at Hanford.
Dan Newhouse represents Washington’s 4th district in Congress after succeeding Doc Hastings in 2015. He previously served in Washington’s House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009 and was born in Sunnyside, Washington, where he currently resides. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University in 1977.
