The Hanford Site is a former nuclear weapons production complex in southeastern Washington State. During World War II and the Cold War, Hanford produced most of the plutonium used in the nation's nuclear weapons program, including the plutonium used in the bomb dropped on Nagasaki.

Today, Hanford is the focus of the largest and most complex environmental cleanup effort in the United States. Millions of gallons of radioactive and hazardous waste remain stored onsite, and cleanup work is expected to continue for decades.

Hanford's radioactive and chemical waste poses risks to workers, local communities, the Columbia River, and future generations if not managed and cleaned up responsibly.

Effective cleanup helps protect public health, safeguard the environment, honor commitments to Tribal Nations, and ensure that future generations do not inherit the consequences of past nuclear weapons production.

Hanford Challenge is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure the Hanford cleanup is protective, transparent, accountable, and science-based.

We advocate for strong environmental safeguards, support workers who raise concerns about safety and misconduct, elevate community voices, and push decision-makers to prioritize public health and environmental protection.

The challenge is larger than cleaning up waste. It is the challenge of transforming one of the most contaminated nuclear sites in the world into a model of safe, accountable, and effective cleanup.

It is the challenge of ensuring workers can speak up without fear of retaliation, that Tribal Nations and communities have a voice in decisions that affect them, and that government agencies and contractors are held accountable for protecting people and the environment.

We believe meeting this challenge requires courage, transparency, collaboration, and persistent public oversight. That's why we are Hanford Challenge.

There are many ways to support Hanford Challenge.

You can make a donation, sign up for updates, attend public meetings, submit comments on cleanup decisions, share information with your community, or volunteer your time and expertise.

Every action helps strengthen public oversight and support a safer, more accountable cleanup effort.

We serve communities affected by Hanford cleanup decisions, including workers, Tribal Nations, Columbia River communities, environmental advocates, and members of the public who care about protecting the Northwest.

Our work is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves a voice in decisions that affect their health, safety, environment, and future.

Hanford Challenge works across several areas:

• Advocating for safe, effective cleanup of radioactive and hazardous waste.

• Supporting workers who raise concerns about safety, misconduct, or environmental risks.

• Monitoring government and contractor decisions affecting cleanup.

• Educating the public about Hanford issues.

• Working with Tribal Nations, community groups, and partner organizations to strengthen public participation and accountability.

Our goal is to help ensure cleanup decisions protect people, the environment, and future generations.

No. Hanford Challenge is an independent nonprofit organization.

We are not affiliated with the Department of Energy or Hanford contractors. Our independence allows us to advocate solely for the public interest and hold government agencies and contractors accountable for their cleanup responsibilities.

Hanford Challenge is funded through charitable contributions from individual donors, foundation grants, and attorney’s fees from successful cases.

We do not accept funding from Hanford cleanup contractors whose work we monitor and evaluate. Our funding model helps maintain our independence and ensures we can advocate without conflicts of interest.

The best way to stay informed is to subscribe to our email updates and follow Hanford Challenge on social media.

We regularly share news, analysis, action opportunities, upcoming public meetings, and ways to get involved in decisions that affect Hanford cleanup and the Columbia River.

Hanford cleanup faces significant technical, financial, and policy challenges. These include managing millions of gallons of radioactive tank waste, preventing contamination from reaching groundwater and the Columbia River, protecting workers, and ensuring cleanup commitments are fulfilled.

At the same time, maintaining public transparency, meaningful Tribal consultation, and strong regulatory oversight remains critical to ensuring cleanup decisions prioritize long-term protection rather than short-term cost savings.

Hanford's legacy affects more than the communities surrounding the site. The Columbia River is one of the most important rivers in North America, supporting drinking water, agriculture, fisheries, recreation, and Tribal cultural resources across the Pacific Northwest.

The lessons learned at Hanford also influence national policies on nuclear waste, environmental cleanup, government accountability, and worker protection. What happens at Hanford matters far beyond its boundaries.