The Hanford site, a 580-square-mile section of semi-arid desert in southeast Washington, was established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project to produce plutonium for national defense. Hanford produced nearly two-thirds of the plutonium used in the US nuclear weapons stockpile, including materials for the Trinity Test and atomic bombs used to help end World War II. Watch the video below to learn more about the Hanford site.
Hanford News
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A new artificial intelligence tool is helping workers at the Hanford Site save time, work smarter and keep sensitive data secure. June 3, 2025June 3, 2025
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The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management is advancing the Hanford Site tank waste mission by introducing key chemicals into the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant as part of ongoing cold commissioning testing.May 27, 2025
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Contractors at the Hanford Site have teamed up to launch a new ordering system that speeds up supply requests while improving security and efficiency.May 27, 2025
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The 222-S Laboratory plays an important role in analyzing radioactive tank waste at the Hanford Site — so when crews needed to shut down the facility’s power for a full week to complete infrastructure upgrades, timing and precision were everything.May 13, 2025
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Hanford’s Test Bed Initiative could pave the way for future tank waste treatment optionsMay 2, 2025
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A key facility supporting the Hanford Site’s tank waste cleanup mission is back in service following a series of repairs, upgrades and training sessions.April 29, 2025
Brian Harkins is the acting manager of the DOE Hanford Field Office. In this capacity, Harkins is responsible for an overall annual budget of $3 billion, and oversight of the contractors and more than 13,000 employees involved in cleanup of the 580-square-mile Hanford site. In his role as manager, Vance is responsible for the safe and environmentally acceptable cleanup of the site, including groundwater remediation; hazardous waste and facilities decontamination and disposal operations; treatment and disposal of radioactive chemical liquid waste; and the design, construction and commissioning of the world’s largest complex of nuclear vitrification facilities, the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
High-Level Budget Information
| Office | FY22 Enacted (in the millions) | FY23 Request (in the millions) | FY23 Enacted (in the millions) | FY23 Request (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY25 Requested (in the millions) |
| Office of River Protection | $1,645 | $1,604 | $1,730 | $1,975 | $1,890 | $2,001 |
| Richland Operations Office | $1,052 | $917 | $1,114 | $1,025 | $1,146 | $1,107 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.