NEPA/SEPA FACT SHEET
DOCUMENT TITLE AND LOCATION OF PROJECT: Safe Interim Storage of Hanford Tank
Wastes, Final Environmental Impact Statement; Hanford Site, Richland,
Washington.
ABSTRACT: This Final Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the Washington State
Environmental Policy Act. U.S. Department of Energy and Washington State
Department of Ecology have identified the need to maintain safe storage of
high-level radioactive wastes currently stored in the older single-shell
tanks, the Watchlist Tank 101-SY, and future waste volumes associated with
tank farm and other Hanford facility operations, including a need to provide a
modern, safe, reliable, and regulatory-compliant replacement cross-site
transfer capability. The purpose of this action is to prevent uncontrolled
releases to the environment by maintaining safe storage of high-level tank
wastes.
The following alternatives have been identified for maintaining safe interim
storage of Hanford tank wastes during the interim period prior to making and
implementing decisions as part of the Tank Waste Remediation System
Environmental Impact Statement. A complete description of the alternatives is
provided in Section 3. Section 5 provides an assessment of environmental
impacts which would result from implementing each alternative.
Preferred Alternative - The preferred alternative consists of construction and
operation of a replacement cross-site transfer system, a retrieval and
transfer system in Tank 102-SY to remove transuranic sludge and residual
supernatant, continued operation of the existing mixer pump in Tank 101-SY to
mitigate its flammable gas safety issue, and transfer of salt well liquids
from single-shell tanks and facility waste streams from the 200 West Area to
available existing double-shell tank space in the 200 East Area. The initial
cross site waste transfers would utilize the existing cross-site transfer
system. At the time the replacement transfer system becomes operational,
waste would be transferred exclusively via the replacement cross-site transfer
system.
Truck Transfer Alternative - The truck transfer alternative consists of
constructing and operating a high level radioactive waste load facility and a
waste unload facility, and using tanker trucks to transfer salt well liquids
from the single-shell tanks and facility waste streams from the 200 West Area
to available existing double-shell tank space in the 200 East Area. This
alternative includes use of the existing roadways utilizing either a modified
tanker trailer truck or the LR-56(H) truck. The continued operation of the
existing mixer pump in Tank 101-SY would mitigate its flammable gas safety
issue.
Rail Transfer Alternative - The rail transfer alternative consists of
constructing and operating a high level radioactive waste load facility and a
waste unload facility, and using rail tanker cars to transfer salt well
liquids from the single-shell tanks and facility waste streams from the 200
West Area to available existing double-shell tank space in the 200 East Area.
The rail transfer also includes construction of additional railway segments,
operation of a railcar, and continued operation of the existing mixer pump in
Tank 101-SY to mitigate its flammable gas safety issue.
New Storage Alternative - The new storage alternative consists of
construction and operation of two new double-shell tanks and their associated
facilities, the replacement cross-site transfer system, and retrieval and
transfer systems for Tanks 102-SY and 101-SY. This alternative includes
retrieval and dilution of Tank 101-SY and transfer of the waste to one or both
new tanks to mitigate its flammable gas safety issue, removal of sludge and
residual supernatant waste from Tank 102-SY, and transfer of salt well liquids
from the single-shell tanks and facility waste from the 200 West Area to
available existing double shell tank space in the 200 East Area. The existing
cross site transfer system would be utilized until the replacement system is
operational. The operation of the transfer systems would be similar to the
method described in the preferred alternative.
No Action Alternative - The no action alternative consists of continued
retrieval of salt well liquids from 200 West Area single-shell tanks and
transfer of West Area facility waste streams from the 200 West Area to
available existing double-shell tank space in the 200 East Area. The waste
streams and salt well liquids would be transferred to the extent possible
utilizing the existing cross-site transfer system capability via Tank 102-SY.
In addition, operation of the existing mixer pump in Tank 101-SY would
continue to mitigate its flammable gas safety issue.
PROPONENT: U.S. Department of Energy
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES: Lead Federal Agency: John Wagoner of the
U.S. Department of Energy; Lead State Agency: Mike Wilson of the Washington
State Department of Ecology
CONTACTS: For further information or additional copies of this Final
Environmental Impact Statement contact:
Carolyn Haass Geoff Tallent
U.S. Department of Energy Washington State Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 550, MSIN S7-51 P.O. Box 47600
Richland, WA 99352 Olympia, WA 98504-7600
(509) 372-2731 (360) 407-7112
For general information on the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Impact
Statement process, call 1-800-472-2756 or contact:
Carol Borgstrom, Director
Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42)
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20585
(202) 586-4600
LICENSES (PERMITS) REQUIRED:
The following is a summary of potential permits and approvals required for the
actions described within this Environmental Impact Statement.
Environmental Permit/Approval Regulatory
Media or Requirement Regulation Agency
Air Emissions Radiation Air Emissions WAC 246-247 Washington State
Program Department of
Health
Air Emissions National Emissions 40 CFR 61 Washington State
Standards for Hazardous Subpart H Department of
Air Pollutants Health
Air Emissions Notice of WAC 173-400, Ecology
Construction WAC 173-460, Benton County
New Source Review Air Pollution
Control
Authority
Soil Column Solid Waste Discharge WAC 173-216 Ecology
Wastewater Permit
Disposal
Soil Column Approval of Engineering WAC 173-240 Ecology
Wastewater Report, Plans and Speci-
Disposal fications, and Operations
and Maintenance Manual
Domestic Septic Systems design WAC 246-272 Washington State
Wastewater approval Department of
Disposal Health
Dangerous Dangerous Waste Permit, WAC 173-303 & Ecology
Waste Resource Conservation and 40 CFR 264,
Recovery Act 265, 270
Underground Tank Permit WAC 173-360 Ecology
Storage Tanks
All Media Cultural Resource Review 36 CFR 800 U.S. Department
Clearance of Energy State
Historic
Preservation
Office
All Media Endangered Species 50 CFR 402.6 U.S. Fish and
Approval Wildlife Service
AUTHORS AND PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTORS: A listing of authors and principal
contributors to this Final Environmental Impact Statement and the subject area
of their contributions is in Section 8 of this Final Environmental Impact
Statement.
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DATE OF ISSUE: Anticipated availability
of Safe Interim Storage of Hanford Tank Wastes Final Environmental Impact
Statement is October 1995.
DATES FOR FINAL ACTIONS: Anticipated availability of the Safe Interim Storage
of Hanford Tank Wastes Record of Decision is November 1995. The Record of
Decision will be published in the Federal Register.
RELATED DOCUMENTS: Environmental Impact Statement technical reports,
background data, materials incorporated by reference, and other related
documents are available either through the contacts listed in the "Contacts"
Section, or at:
DOE Freedom of Information DOE Public Reading Room
Reading Room Washington State University
Forrestal Building Tri-Cities Branch
1000 Independence Ave. S.W., 100 Sprout Road
Washington, D.C. Richland, WA
and at the following U.S. Department of Energy information repositories:
University of Washington Gonzaga University
Suzzallo Library Foley Center
Government Publication Room E. 502 Boone
Seattle, WA Spokane, WA
Portland State University
Branford Price Millar Library
SW Harrison and Park
Portland, OR
Copies of the Environmental Impact Statement are available free of charge to
the interested public through the contacts listed in the "CONTACTS" Section.
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