ERDF is known as the “hub” of Hanford cleanup.

RICHLAND, Wash. – July marked 20 successful years of environmental cleanup at one of EM’s largest disposal facilities — the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF) on the Hanford Site.

   Since disposal operations began in 1996, 18 million tons of contaminated soil, debris and solid wastes from the site’s cleanup activities have been placed in the facility, which is specially engineered with a liner and leachate collection system. ERDF covers 107 acres, roughly the same area as 52 football fields. Its operations have supported the demolition of more than 800 facilities and remediation of 1,300 waste sites.  

   “ERDF has been and will continue to be a critical component of Hanford’s cleanup,” said Doug Shoop, manager of EM’s Richland Operations Office. “It’s a key part of EM’s overall cleanup strategy at the site in order to remove contaminated material and provide for its safe disposal as to prevent contaminants from reaching groundwater or the Columbia River.”  

   DOE’s Office of Enterprise Assessments recently recognized ERDF as a best practice onsite storage model, providing significant reductions in costs, schedule and transportation risks.

   In addition to contaminated soil, debris, and solid waste, ERDF receives other hazardous materials, such as mercury, asbestos, beryllium, chromium and lead, which can be treated onsite before disposal. The majority of the waste disposed at ERDF was generated in Hanford’s River Corridor, a 220-square-mile stretch of land that borders the Columbia River. The corridor was home to Hanford’s nine plutonium production reactors, fuel development facilities and hundreds of support structures. Waste from other Hanford projects is also disposed at ERDF, which is currently managed by contractor Washington Closure Hanford (WCH).  

   “The ongoing success of ERDF operations can be attributed to the efforts of a workforce committed to working efficiently and working safely,” said WCH President Scott Sax. “Their safety performance is truly outstanding.” For example, ERDF truck drivers have logged nearly 30 million safe miles (approximately 1,200 times around the earth) since the facility began operations.

   A permanent cap will be placed over the facility when the Hanford cleanup is completed, or ERDF is no longer needed.