DescriptionPhoto No. ERDA-68-8391 Office of Public Affairs Photo Office RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE TANKS Huge, million-gallon tanks are used to store radioactive waste materials at the Energy Resources and Development Administration's Hanford Works in South-eastern Washington. Methods have been developed to remove the highly radioactive products from the liquid wastes before storage in the tanks. Valuable radioactive fission products can be removed from existing tanks for possible use. Remaining liquid is evaporated and solid materials are turned into a cake of mineral salts for positive confinement and reduced storage space. This photograph shows the bases of four tanks under construction. A steel liner is surrounded by thick concrete and the entire tank is buried 7 to 14 feet below the earth surface.
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