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The US Department of Energy's Hanford Field Office, in coordination with the Washington State Department of Ecology, is advancing a permit change that will enable the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant to process up to 20% more tank waste. This change will allow for solidifying less hazardous secondary waste in grout instead of glass, enhancing operational flexibility and expediting cleanup.

The Hanford Site, primarily a plutonium production site during WWII, is now focused on environmental cleanup, with a recent $3.2 billion budget for FY 2026. Cleanup is ongoing, with significant upgrades including a new transfer pump for waste management and the demolition of Cold War-era structures.