The Department of Energy's Hanford Site was established in 1943 to support the production of
plutonium for the Manhattan Project. Occupying about 560 square miles along the Columbia River
in southeastern Washington, the site is now engaged in the world's largest cleanup effort involving
radioactive and hazardous wastes generated during the plutonium production era. Today, many of
the site's facilities and much of its infrastructure have deteriorated and are operating beyond design
life. Further, a number of general-purpose buildings will soon reach the end of their useful lives
unless significant renovations are completed.
