[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 203 (Friday, October 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54221-54223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25948]
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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.
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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 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
Program. Final disposal actions for Hanford tank wastes are being
considered in the Tank Waste Remediation System EIS, which is currently
in the preliminary draft stage of preparation.
The Final EIS has been distributed to interested parties, Federal
and State
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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:
Ms. Carolyn C. Haass, TWRS NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department of
Energy, Richland Operations Office, P.O. Box 550, MSIN S7-51, Richland,
WA 99352, (509) 372-2731
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 leave a message at 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 SIS 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 SIS 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 and
comments, referred commentors to information in the SIS 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 SIS 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 and release in
Tank 101-SY, the principal safety issue evaluated in the Draft EIS. A
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 SIS EIS, continued operation of the
mixer pump to resolve the safety issues in Tank 101-SY. Mixer pump
operation would continue until final waste disposal decisions are
reached and implemented through the Tank Waste Remediation System 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 SIS EIS as a technical
alternative to mixer pump operation, although the number of new tanks
has been reduced from six to two based on further studies of required
mitigation.
Based on public comments, the purpose and need statement of the
Final SIS EIS includes waste management and operation activities
required prior to the implementation of disposal decisions under the
Tank Waste Remediation System EIS. The Final EIS recognizes four
specific areas of waste management requiring interim actions.
Removal of salt well liquids from old single shell tanks
to reduce the likelihood of leaks.
Establishment of a compliant cross-site waste transfer
capability for interim storage of tank waste in double shell tanks.
Maintenance of adequate tank storage capacity for future
waste.
Mitigate Hydrogen generation in Tank 101-SY.
These waste management and operation 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 SIS 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 salt well liquids, 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, and a
retrieval and transfer system in Tank 102-SY. The existing cross-site
transfer system would continue to be used until the replacement cross-
site transfer system becomes operational or the existing cross-site
transfer system is no longer operational.
Truck Transfer Alternative--The truck transfer alternative would
also continue to retrieve salt well liquids, 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
salt well liquid retrievals and transfer wastes through the replacement
cross-site transfer system 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 salt well liquids and transfer wastes to the extent
possible utilizing the existing cross-site transfer system. 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 SIS EIS are being distributed to Federal,
State, and local officials and agencies, organizations and individuals
known to be interested in
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the EIS, and persons and agencies that commented on the Draft SIS EIS.
Additional copies may be obtained by contacting Ms. Haass or Mr.
Tallent at the above addresses. Copies of the Final SIS 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 10th day of October 1995, for the
United States Department of Energy.
John D. Wagoner,
Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office.
[FR Doc. 95-25948 Filed 10-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
