Washington State Department of Ecology - Hanford
@ecologyhanford.bsky.social
News, information, and fun facts on Hanford history and cleanup from Ecology's Nuclear Waste Program.
ecology.wa.gov
ecology.wa.gov
November 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
On Nov. 10, 2015, Hanford became part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park along with Oak Ridge and Los Alamos. #OnThisDay
November 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
On Nov. 10, 2015, Hanford became part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park along with Oak Ridge and Los Alamos. #OnThisDay
Our program offers presentations, educational opportunities, & outreach at different school events #STEMDay. Would you like a guest speaker to present on Hanford for your classroom or organization? We meet in-person or virtually & present on a variety of topics!
ecology.wa.gov/hanford-outr...
ecology.wa.gov/hanford-outr...
November 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Our program offers presentations, educational opportunities, & outreach at different school events #STEMDay. Would you like a guest speaker to present on Hanford for your classroom or organization? We meet in-person or virtually & present on a variety of topics!
ecology.wa.gov/hanford-outr...
ecology.wa.gov/hanford-outr...
The biodiversity at the site is unique!
November 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The biodiversity at the site is unique!
There is a 120-square-mile portion of the Hanford Site called the Arid Lands Ecology (ALE) Reserve. It is an outdoor laboratory for ecological research on a variety of plants & animals. The natural habitat of many animals, birds & fish has been shrinking worldwide because of humans. #ScenicSpotlight
November 6, 2025 at 12:52 AM
There is a 120-square-mile portion of the Hanford Site called the Arid Lands Ecology (ALE) Reserve. It is an outdoor laboratory for ecological research on a variety of plants & animals. The natural habitat of many animals, birds & fish has been shrinking worldwide because of humans. #ScenicSpotlight
Another historic first @ Hanford! Last week, our team was on site when the first containers of vitrified low-activity waste were transported to the Integrated Disposal Facility, an engineered landfill permitted by our agency. These containers will soon be the first to be permanently disposed of!
November 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Another historic first @ Hanford! Last week, our team was on site when the first containers of vitrified low-activity waste were transported to the Integrated Disposal Facility, an engineered landfill permitted by our agency. These containers will soon be the first to be permanently disposed of!
Today is #ElectionDay!
In the 1944 election, thousands of Hanford workers exercised their right to vote.
Don’t forget to get your votes in today!
In the 1944 election, thousands of Hanford workers exercised their right to vote.
Don’t forget to get your votes in today!
November 4, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Today is #ElectionDay!
In the 1944 election, thousands of Hanford workers exercised their right to vote.
Don’t forget to get your votes in today!
In the 1944 election, thousands of Hanford workers exercised their right to vote.
Don’t forget to get your votes in today!
Are you interested to learn more about the Hanford Site?
Our outreach team attends events, gives presentations, and can even meet your group virtually.
If you’d like a presentation done for your group, fill out our request form here: ecology.wa.gov/Outreach-Req...
Our outreach team attends events, gives presentations, and can even meet your group virtually.
If you’d like a presentation done for your group, fill out our request form here: ecology.wa.gov/Outreach-Req...
November 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Are you interested to learn more about the Hanford Site?
Our outreach team attends events, gives presentations, and can even meet your group virtually.
If you’d like a presentation done for your group, fill out our request form here: ecology.wa.gov/Outreach-Req...
Our outreach team attends events, gives presentations, and can even meet your group virtually.
If you’d like a presentation done for your group, fill out our request form here: ecology.wa.gov/Outreach-Req...
Feliz Día de los muertos to all who honor and celebrate their dead family members today!
November 2, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Feliz Día de los muertos to all who honor and celebrate their dead family members today!
Don't forget to “fall back” and change your clocks. (Even the microwave...if you remember how.)
November 2, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Don't forget to “fall back” and change your clocks. (Even the microwave...if you remember how.)
October 31, 2025 at 7:39 PM
🎃This past weekend our outreach team joined hundreds of costumes & families @ the Halloween Boo Bash Street Festival in Kennewick. Thank you to all those who stopped by to learn about radiation in our environment and how Geiger counters work to detect radiation. 🎃
October 29, 2025 at 9:51 PM
🎃This past weekend our outreach team joined hundreds of costumes & families @ the Halloween Boo Bash Street Festival in Kennewick. Thank you to all those who stopped by to learn about radiation in our environment and how Geiger counters work to detect radiation. 🎃
There are +1,400 species of bats on Earth. They can be found on every continent other than Antarctica & use echolocation to get food. They're the only mammals who can fly! Some species of bats are found @ the Hanford Site. These include the brown bat, western myotis, & Yuma myotis. #ScenicSpotlight
October 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM
There are +1,400 species of bats on Earth. They can be found on every continent other than Antarctica & use echolocation to get food. They're the only mammals who can fly! Some species of bats are found @ the Hanford Site. These include the brown bat, western myotis, & Yuma myotis. #ScenicSpotlight
Enjoy a fall image from the Hanford Site!
October 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Enjoy a fall image from the Hanford Site!
Want to learn more about how we’re protecting Hanford's natural resources?
More on this link: ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics...
If you have questions leave us a comment or send us an email hanford@ecy.wa.gov. #HanfordFacts
More on this link: ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics...
If you have questions leave us a comment or send us an email hanford@ecy.wa.gov. #HanfordFacts
October 27, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Want to learn more about how we’re protecting Hanford's natural resources?
More on this link: ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics...
If you have questions leave us a comment or send us an email hanford@ecy.wa.gov. #HanfordFacts
More on this link: ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics...
If you have questions leave us a comment or send us an email hanford@ecy.wa.gov. #HanfordFacts
A Geiger counter is also known as a Geiger–Müller counter. It is designed to detect ionizing radiation, including alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.
It operates using a Geiger–Müller tube, which is filled with an inert gas (such as helium, neon, or argon) at low pressure.
It operates using a Geiger–Müller tube, which is filled with an inert gas (such as helium, neon, or argon) at low pressure.
October 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A Geiger counter is also known as a Geiger–Müller counter. It is designed to detect ionizing radiation, including alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.
It operates using a Geiger–Müller tube, which is filled with an inert gas (such as helium, neon, or argon) at low pressure.
It operates using a Geiger–Müller tube, which is filled with an inert gas (such as helium, neon, or argon) at low pressure.
Today’s #TBT takes us back to a jazz show at the site. The band was the Jan Garber band, a swing jazz band & the vocalist pictured was Liz Tilton.
Jan Garber was an American violinist & jazz bandleader. He had his own band by the time he was 21. He became known as "The Idol of the Air Lanes."
Jan Garber was an American violinist & jazz bandleader. He had his own band by the time he was 21. He became known as "The Idol of the Air Lanes."
October 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Today’s #TBT takes us back to a jazz show at the site. The band was the Jan Garber band, a swing jazz band & the vocalist pictured was Liz Tilton.
Jan Garber was an American violinist & jazz bandleader. He had his own band by the time he was 21. He became known as "The Idol of the Air Lanes."
Jan Garber was an American violinist & jazz bandleader. He had his own band by the time he was 21. He became known as "The Idol of the Air Lanes."
🌼Cryptantha leucophaea, or gray cryptantha, is a Washington state sensitive species & a federal species of concern.
🌼It's a regional endemic from the Columbia Basin.
🌼It's found in sandy areas, especially dunes.
🌼It's a large plant with white flowers & herbage with stiff hairs. #ScenicSpotlight
🌼It's a regional endemic from the Columbia Basin.
🌼It's found in sandy areas, especially dunes.
🌼It's a large plant with white flowers & herbage with stiff hairs. #ScenicSpotlight
October 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
🌼Cryptantha leucophaea, or gray cryptantha, is a Washington state sensitive species & a federal species of concern.
🌼It's a regional endemic from the Columbia Basin.
🌼It's found in sandy areas, especially dunes.
🌼It's a large plant with white flowers & herbage with stiff hairs. #ScenicSpotlight
🌼It's a regional endemic from the Columbia Basin.
🌼It's found in sandy areas, especially dunes.
🌼It's a large plant with white flowers & herbage with stiff hairs. #ScenicSpotlight
Our Nuclear Waste Program office is hiring a Lead Waste Treatment Plant Construction Engineer.
✔who will serve as the department’s lead engineer overseeing the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment & Disposal Facilities during construction.
Full details: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wash...
✔who will serve as the department’s lead engineer overseeing the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment & Disposal Facilities during construction.
Full details: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wash...
October 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Our Nuclear Waste Program office is hiring a Lead Waste Treatment Plant Construction Engineer.
✔who will serve as the department’s lead engineer overseeing the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment & Disposal Facilities during construction.
Full details: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wash...
✔who will serve as the department’s lead engineer overseeing the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment & Disposal Facilities during construction.
Full details: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wash...
October 21, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Our outreach program reaches thousands of students across the Pacific Northwest through our various presentations and events!
If you would like to request a presentation for your classroom or community group fill this form:
ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics...
If you would like to request a presentation for your classroom or community group fill this form:
ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics...
October 20, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Our outreach program reaches thousands of students across the Pacific Northwest through our various presentations and events!
If you would like to request a presentation for your classroom or community group fill this form:
ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics...
If you would like to request a presentation for your classroom or community group fill this form:
ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics...
Meet us at our next event! ⬇️
October 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Meet us at our next event! ⬇️
The Columbia River is the largest river flowing into the Pacific Ocean from North America, and provided the large amounts of water needed to cool down Hanford’s nuclear reactors.
October 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The Columbia River is the largest river flowing into the Pacific Ocean from North America, and provided the large amounts of water needed to cool down Hanford’s nuclear reactors.