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Case Study 1: The Hanford Tank Waste Remediation Program: 

Case Study 1: The Hanford Tank Waste Remediation Program

Hanford Background: 

Hanford Background The Hanford site occupies 560 square miles within the Columbia River Basin in Washington State.

Hanford Background: 

Hanford Background Beginning in the 1940s, Hanford site activities included: Plutonium production and separations Advanced reactor design and testing Basic scientific research Renewable energy technologies development

Hanford Background: 

Hanford Background During its past production activities, the Hanford site generated: High-level waste (HLW) Transuranic (TRU) waste Low-level waste (LLW) Mixed LLW and TRU waste

Hanford Background: 

Hanford Background Currently, the site’s activities are focused on environmental restoration and waste management.

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process During the 1980s, an environmental impact statement (EIS) was prepared to evaluate and select alternatives for final disposal of Hanford’s production waste, including an evaluation of alternative tank waste disposal strategies. U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Hanford, Washington

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process On April 1, 1983, the DOE published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS on Disposal of Radioactive Defense High-Level and Transuranic Wastes at Hanford.

Double-Shell Tanks UnderConstruction: 

Double-Shell Tanks Under Construction

Computer-Generated Schematic of the Interior of a Double-Shell Tank: 

Computer-Generated Schematic of the Interior of a Double-Shell Tank

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process The draft EIS (DEIS) was published in March 1986. During the 120-day comment period: 243 letters were received that provided approximately 2,000 substantive comments Oral testimony was heard in public hearings

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process The Draft EIS identified preferred alternatives for stored TRU and HLW, and pre-1970 buried TRU waste Stored TRU waste certified for WIPP disposal Most buried waste to be isolated in place Double-wall tank waste to be vitrified for repository disposal Single wall tank waste to be isolated in place

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process The final EIS (FEIS) was published in December 1987.

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process In accordance with NEPA and CEQ requirements, the FEIS was written early in the decision making process to ensure that environmental values and alternatives were fully considered before any decisions were made that might have led to adverse environmental impacts or limited the choice of reasonable alternatives.

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process The record of decision (ROD) was published in April 1988. Among other decisions, the ROD determined that the DOE would: Retrieve double-walled tank waste Pretreat the retrieved waste to separate it into high activity and low activity fractions

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process Immobilize the low activity fraction in a cementitious grout form in vaults on the Hanford site Build and operate a facility [the Hanford Waste Vitrification Plant (HWVP)] to immobilize the HLW in a borosilicate glass waste form

The Hanford EIS Process: 

The Hanford EIS Process The ROD also determined that: Stored and buried TRU waste would be addressed consistent with the preferred alternatives A decision on single-walled tank waste would be deferred to a future evaluation

A New Proposal: 

A New Proposal Since publication of the ROD in 1988, there have been a series of developments that have prompted the DOE to reconsider some of its tank waste decisions, predominately: Public concerns about: The grout waste form Quantity of radioactivity in the grout

A New Proposal: 

A New Proposal Heightened concern about the potential for explosive mixtures in both single- and double-walled tanks A desire to accelerate treatment and disposal of single-walled tank waste Regulatory and stakeholder pressure to retrieve all waste from single-walled tanks rather than to treat and dispose in place

A New Proposal: 

A New Proposal These and other considerations led to a major revision to the Tri-Party Agreement (TPA), which is a Federal Facility Compliance Agreement between: The DOE The EPA The State of Washington

A New Proposal: 

A New Proposal Proposed TPA revisions were issued for public review in October 1993 and included agreements and associated milestones to: Retrieve single- and double-walled tank waste Separate retrieved waste into low activity and high activity fractions (pretreatment)

A New Proposal: 

A New Proposal Construct and operate a LLW vitrification facility Dispose the LLW glass on the Hanford site Construct and operate a HLW vitrification facility Store HLW borosilicate glass until it can be shipped to a Federal repository

Actual View of a DoubleShell tank: 

Actual View of a Double Shell tank

NEPA Aspects of the New Proposal: 

NEPA Aspects of the New Proposal The new TPA, signed in early 1994, relates to a previous NEPA agreement: The Department committed in the 1988 ROD to prepare a supplemental EIS prior to decision on single-walled tank waste

NEPA and the TPA: 

NEPA and the TPA Negotiated agreements do not take the place of a NEPA analysis.

The Tank Waste EIS: 

The Tank Waste EIS DOE/EIS-0189 - Tank Waste Remediation System Environmental Impact Statement To determine appropriate means to manage, treat, store, and dispose of existing and future HLW at Hanford.

The Tank Waste EIS: 

The Tank Waste EIS Nine discreet alternatives explored: No action alternative Long term Maintenance Two in-situ alternatives Five ex-situ alternatives Phased Implementation of ex-situ alternatives

The Tank Waste EIS: 

The Tank Waste EIS Factors for comparison of alternatives: Accidents associated with implementation Health effects from implementation Habitat disturbed Long term impacts to potential inhabitants On site farmer Industrial worker Recreational user Native American user

The Tank Waste EIS: 

The Tank Waste EIS Factors for comparison of alternatives (Cont): Long term impacts to the environment Other concerns Cost Technical uncertainty Environmental compliance

The Tank Waste EIS: 

The Tank Waste EIS Draft EIS issued April 12, 1996 Public Comment period ended May 28, 1996 750 comments received from Agencies Tribal Nations Other stakeholders

The Tank Waste EIS: 

The Tank Waste EIS Final EIS issued August 30, 1996 ROD issued February 1997 Preferred alternative was selected - phased implementation

The Preferred Alternative: 

The Preferred Alternative Low activity waste disposition: Construct up to two demonstration-scale facilities to operate for up to 10 years Dispose of waste on site in near surface vaults

The Preferred Alternative: 

The Preferred Alternative HLW stream disposition: Construct demonstration vitrification facilities to operate for up to 10 years Store Waste until HLW repository available for off site disposal

Review Question: 

Review Question Hanford will immobilize the low activity waste removed from high level waste tanks in glass. Previously, the plan was to immobilize the waste in grout. Why was the plan changed? a. To comply with NEPA. b. To address stakeholder concerns. c. Because glass will be less expensive for this waste than grout. d. To comply with the Tri-Party Agreement.