There is a new plan to clean up the contaminated Hanford site.
The U.S. Department of Energy, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology announced a new agreement Monday after nearly four years of negotiations. It builds on a similar agreement between the three institutions since 1989.
“Tank waste disposal is a key element of a complex facility-wide cleanup effort. hanford” EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller said in a press release. “We encourage all affected tribes, community members, and other stakeholders to participate in the public review process.”
The main highlights of this plan are:
- Much of the radioactive waste disposal at Hanford will proceed as planned.
- The 22 tanks in Hanford's West 200 block are scheduled to be salvaged by 2040, including a controversial plan to grout the less radioactive portion of the waste and dispose of it outside Hanford. This includes plans to
- An additional 1 million gallons of capacity will be designed and constructed to store tank waste.
- Two new buildings will be constructed to assist in the disposal of high-level waste.
- Towering pre-treatment facility Waste will continue to be idled and energy contractors will instead use a new waste disposal method called “direct supply.”
Last year, workers installed a waste transfer device in a valve pit used to collect waste from a single-hulled tank in Hanford, southeast Washington.
(Credit: U.S. Department of Energy)
make a plan
“A collaboratively negotiated agreement is a much more effective tool than, say, what essentially stemmed from litigation back in 2010,” said Washington spokesman Ryan Miller. Department of Ecology. “This go-round brought the agencies together to collaborate and identify avenues for future collaboration.”
Critics of the new plan say they're glad officials are proposing to remove waste from Hanford, but the plan won't stop leaking tanks any time soon.
“Continuing to allow leaks from high-level nuclear waste tanks to continue for years is unacceptable and illegal,” said Executive Director and Attorney Jerry Pollett. Heart of America Northwest. “This part of the agreement is unacceptable and needs to be changed. Federal and state law requires leaky tanks to have leaky liquid removed to stop the leak as soon as possible. One of the tanks has been leaking for more than a decade, the other for five years, and the agreement allows the U.S. Department of Energy to stand by and watch the contamination grow. ”
Another Seattle-based nonprofit, Hanford Challengesaid they are wary of grouting radioactive waste rather than glazing it.
“We are excited to have reached a new tank space agreement after comprehensive negotiations,” said Nicholas Peterson, executive director of Hanford Challenge. This is what we have been asking for since its inception.” “In general, we are pleasantly surprised by the majority of the agreements, but we remain concerned about the future use of grout for fixing tank waste, which we discuss on our website It is explained in detail.”
Peterson went on to say the agency should have consulted with the Tribes and everyone involved four years ago, when planning was just beginning.
“I look forward to Secretary Granholm meaningfully engaging with all affected communities,” Peterson said. “This includes not only Washington and his tribe, but also Texas and Utah.”
brian vance hanfordDOE Manager River protection and management of rich land Each office stated in a press release: hanfordtank waste mission.ours hanford The team is ready to get to work more fully fulfilling the tank waste mission that benefits the environment, the people of Washington state, and the nation. ”
a 60-day public comment period in new plan It will begin on May 30th, with public meetings scheduled to take place in Washington and Oregon during that time.
