Perma-Fix Northwest
2025 BATTELLE BLVD., RICHLAND, WA - (509) 375-5160
Radioactive and Mixed Waste Treatment Facility
Located on 35 acres adjacent to the DOE Hanford Site. Our Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW) facility manages and treats both low level (LLW) and mixed low level (MLLW) radioactive wastes. We maintain two discrete licensed areas, one for LLW and the other for MLLW so that wastes can be managed separately and distinctly. Licenses are issued by the Washington Department of Health (WDOH) and the RCRA permit by the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) and EPA. Perma-Fix Northwest's Quality Management System is ISO 9001 Certified.
Unique Treatment capabilities
Technology and know-how to create a custom solution
We have unique capability and experience in processing large components.
PFNW is the ideal facility for receiving large components, with our large footprint and ownership of a rail spur leading directly into the facility
Our rail spur reduces the amount of waste on public roads facilitating the movement of radioactive wastes directly into the facility, thereby minimizing any health risk to the local community.
We are also able to receive large volumes of high activity waste via rail to support the DOE mission to dispose of these complex waste streams.
Thermal Processing
State of the Art Facility
Our staff operates two Bulk Process Units (BPUs) for thermal processing of both liquid and solid low-level wastes. The BPU is a large, refractory lined oven that is heated to 1800°F. This temperature is sufficient to thermally break down all organic material in the waste resulting in a stable residue suitable for disposal.
One unit is a batch process that is typically utilized to treat LLW solids. This batch process is unique as it allows for complete separability of generated wastes by utilizing a stainless steel burn box for each waste stream. The other unit is continuously fed as is most typically used for LLW liquids.
The BPU provides significant volume reduction ratios of up to 100:1.
Trans Uranic Waste (TRU)
A Challenging Waste Stream
Our PFNW facility is the only commercial facility authorized and capable to manage TRU wastes.
TRU wastes are challenging because they require extreme care in handling for public and worker safety.
Our highly trained employees have developed a very safe and efficient process to handle highly Alpha contaminated material.
For the past 6 years, PFNW has safely performed volume reduction and repackaging of TRU wastes from the DOE Hanford Central Plateau site.
A team of experienced professionals
The PFNW team
Our team at PFNW worked together to provide a safe and productive work environment while contributing to the successful completion of our clients' most challenging projects.
Decontaminated and recycled more than 2,000,000 lbs of metals from an active Nuclear Power Plant.
Treated, sorted and packaged more than 5,000 cubic meters of TRU waste.
Treated and returned 1,000 of cubic meters of international generator waste.
We Maintained a NNSS certification program.
We have and can dispose waste to all disposal sites in the USA.
Our Treatment Capabilities
A Variety Of Waste Streams and treatment options
We can handle a diverse set of waste streams, including:
- Radioactive waters, oils, and sludges
- Transuranic Waste (TRU)
- Corrosive liquids
- Used oil
- PCB liquids and semi-solids
- Debris and contaminated soil
- Stabilization and Neutralization
- Solidification and Macroencapsulation
- Radiological contaminated Elemental Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb)
- Labpack Processing
- PCB Separation
- Thermal and Non-Thermal Volume Reduction
- NORM and TENORM treatment and disposal
- Sort and Segregation
- Solvent Extraction/Debris Washing
