DRAFT NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Safe Interim Storage of Hanford Tank Wastes at the Hanford Site, Richland, Wa. AGENCY: Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of Availability SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), Richland Operations Office is giving notice of the availability of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Safe Interim Storage (SIS) of Hanford Tank Wastes (DOE/EIS-0212). The SIS EIS has been prepared jointly with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). The final EIS was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA, 40 CFR parts 1500-1508; DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures, 10 CFR 1021; and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) (WAC 197-11 and RCW 43.21C). The final EIS addresses interim management strategies for continued safe storage of tank wastes performed under the Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) Program. Final disposal actions for Hanford tank wastes are being considered in the TWRS EIS, which is currently in the preliminary draft stage of preparation. The final EIS has been distributed to interested parties, Federal and State agencies, and is available in DOE reading rooms and designated information locations which are identified in this notice. DOE plans to issue a Record of Decision on the final EIS in November 1995. ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the final EIS and for further information on the final EIS should be directed to: Mr. Guy D. Schein Communications Division U.S. Department of Energy Richland Operations Office P.O. Box 550, MS-A7-75 Richland, WA 99352 (509) 376-0413 Ms. Carolyn Haass U.S. Department of Energy Richland Operations Office P.O. Box 550, MSIN S7-51 Richland,WA 99352 (509) 376-0413 Mr. Geoff Tallent Washington State Department of Ecology P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 (360) 407-7112 Information on the DOE NEPA process may be obtained from: Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42) U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue SW. Washington DC 20585 (202) 586-4600 or 1-800-472-2756. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background DOE and Ecology issued a draft EIS for public comment and published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register July 20th, 1994 (59 FR 39329). During the 45 day comment period, DOE held five public hearings in order to obtain public comments on the draft EIS. In addition, public comments were received by mail, a toll-free telephone line, and facsimile. The comments are summarized and responded to in Volume 2 of the final SIS EIS. Public comments on the draft EIS were assessed and considered both individually and collectively by DOE and Ecology. Some comments resulted in modifications to the EIS. Other comments were responded to with an explanation of why a change was not warranted. The majority of the responses answered or further explained technical issues comments, referred commentors to information in the EIS, explained the relationship of this EIS to other related NEPA documents, communicated government policy, or indicated that the comment was beyond the scope of this EIS. In generating the final EIS, DOE and Ecology considered all comments received on the draft. During the preparation of the final SIS EIS, progress was made in the resolution of unacceptable flammable gas generation in Tank 101-SY, the principle safety issue evaluated in the draft EIS. An experimental mixer pump was introduced into Tank 101-SY to stir the contents and prevent the build up and sudden release of flammable gases. Based on several months of operational data, the mixer pump has been determined to successfully mitigate the unacceptable generation of flammable gases. As a result, DOE and Ecology have selected as part of their preferred alternative in the final EIS, continued operations of the mixer pump to resolve the safety issues in Tank 101-SY. Mixer pump operations would continue until final waste disposal decisions are reached and implemented through the TWRS EIS. The preferred alternative evaluated in the draft SIS EIS, which included retrieval and dilution of Tank 101-SY into newly constructed double shell tanks, remains in the final EIS as a technical alternative to mixer pump operations, although the number of new tanks has been reduced from six to two based on further studies of required dilution. Based on public comments, the purpose and need statement of the final SIS EIS was broadened to specifically include all aspects of waste management required prior to the implementation of disposal decisions under the TWRS EIS. The final EIS recognizes four specific areas of waste management requiring interim actions. - Removal of salt well liquids (SWLs) from old single shell tanks to reduce the likelihood of leaks - Establishment of new cross-site waste transfer capability through systems compliant with current regulations for interim storage in compliant double shell tanks - Maintenance of adequate tank storage capacity for future waste - Mitigate hydrogen generation in Tank 101-SY These waste management activities form the basis for the purpose and need statement of the final SIS EIS. Alternatives The alternatives evaluated in the final SIS EIS have been modified from those evaluated in the draft EIS to reflect the changes made to the purpose and need statement, and reflect the range of alternatives available to the agencies to safely manage high level tank wastes until final disposal decisions are made and implemented. The alternatives evaluated in the final EIS include: Preferred Alternative - The preferred alternative would continue retrieval of SWLs, and operation of the existing mixer pump in Tank 101-SY. It would construct and operate a new pipeline system, termed the replacement cross-site transfer system (RCSTS), and a retrieval and transfer system in Tank 102-SY. The existing cross site transfer system (ECSTS) would continue to be used until the RCSTS becomes operational or the ECSTS is no longer operational. Truck Transfer Alternative - The truck transfer alternative would also continue to retrieve SWLs, but would transfer wastes utilizing truck tankers instead of pipelines. the alternative would also include constructing and operating a high level radioactive waste load and waste unload facilities. This alternative would use existing roadways utilizing either a modified tanker trailer truck or a French truck the LR-56(H). The alternative would not construct or operate a retrieval system in Tank 102-SY. The continued long-term operation of the existing mixer pump in Tank 101-SY would mitigate its flammable gas safety concerns. The existing cross site transfer system would be utilized until the replacement system is operational. Rail Transfer Alternative - The rail transfer alternative would be identical to the truck transfer alternative except wastes would be transported by rail instead of truck. New Storage Alternative - The new storage alternative would continue SWL retrievals and transfer wastes through the RCSTS like the preferred alternative, but would resolve the safety issue of Tank 101-SY by retrieval and dilution instead of continued operation of the mixer pump. The alternative would construct and operate two new double-shell tanks and their associated facilities to receive the diluted wastes from Tank 101-SY, and install retrieval systems in Tanks 102-SY and 101-SY. The existing cross site transfer system would be utilized until the replacement system is operational. No Action Alternative - The no action alternative would continued retrieval of SWLs and transfer wastes to the extent possible utilizing the ECSTS. No new transfer capability would be constructed at this time. Operation of the existing mixer pump in Tank 101-SY would continue to mitigate its flammable gas safety concerns. This alternative would not provide a transfer capability that is compliant with current Federal and State regulations. Availability of Copies of the Final EIS: Copies of the final EIS are being distributed to Federal, State, and local officials and agencies, organizations and individuals known to be interested in the EIS, and persons and agencies that commented on the draft EIS. Additional copies may be obtained by contacting Mr. Schein, Ms. Haass or Mr. Tallent at the above addresses. Copies of the final EIS, including appendices, reference material, comment letters, public hearing transcripts, and the DOE responses to comments, will be available for public review at the locations listed below. The final EIS is separately bound in two volumes. Volume 1 contains the final EIS document and Volume 2 contains the Public Comment Response document. DOE Public Reading Rooms (1) U.S. Department of Energy, Headquarters, Freedom of Information Reading Room, 1E- 190 Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC 10585, (202) 586- 6020, Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (2) U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office, Public Reading Room, Washington State University Tri-Cities, 100 Sprout Road, Room 130W, Richland, WA 99352, (509) 376-8583, Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (3) Suzzallo Library, SM25, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98185, (206) 543-9158, Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m.to 12;00 p.m.; Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m. to 12 midnight. (4) Foley Center, Gonzaga University, East 502 Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99258, (509) 328-4220, Extension 3125. (5) Portland State University, Branford Price Millar Library, SW., Harrison and Park, Portland, OR 97207, (503) 725-3690. You may also receive a copy of the final EIS by calling the Hanford Cleanup Hotline toll- free 1-800-321-2008. If you have special accommodation needs, contact Michele Davis at (206) 407-7126 or (206) 407-7155 Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). Signed in Richland, Wa this _____th day of ______1995, for the United States Department of Energy. John D. Wagoner Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office
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