[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 88 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3467-S3468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4444. Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2943, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
Strike section 3122 and insert the following:
SEC. 3122. ANALYSIS OF APPROACHES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENT
OF LOW-ACTIVITY WASTE AT HANFORD NUCLEAR
RESERVATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall
enter into an arrangement with a federally funded research
and development center to conduct an analysis of approaches
for treating the portion of low-activity waste at the Hanford
Nuclear Reservation, Richland, Washington, that, as of such
date of enactment, is intended for supplemental treatment.
(b) Elements.--The analysis required by subsection (a)
shall include the following:
[[Page S3468]]
(1) An analysis of, at a minimum, the following approaches
for treating the low-activity waste described in subsection
(a):
(A) Further processing of the low-activity waste to remove
long-lived radioactive constituents, particularly technetium-
99 and iodine-129, for immobilization with high-level waste.
(B) Vitrification, grouting, and steam reforming, and other
alternative approaches identified by the Department of Energy
for immobilizing the low-activity waste.
(2) An analysis of the following:
(A) The risks of the approaches described in paragraph (1)
relating to treatment and final disposition.
(B) The benefits and costs of such approaches.
(C) Anticipated schedules for such approaches, including
the time needed to complete necessary construction and to
begin treatment operations.
(D) The compliance of such approaches with applicable
technical standards associated with and contained in
regulations prescribed pursuant to the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the Solid Waste Disposal Act
(42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) (commonly referred to as the
``Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976''), the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.)
(commonly referred to as the ``Clean Water Act''), and the
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).
(E) Any obstacles that would inhibit the ability of the
Department of Energy to pursue such approaches.
(c) Review of Analysis.--
(1) In general.--Concurrent with entering into an
arrangement with a federally funded research and development
center under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall
enter into an arrangement with the National Academies of
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a review of
the analysis conducted by the federally funded research and
development center.
(2) Method of review.--The review required by paragraph (1)
shall be conducted concurrent with the analysis required by
subsection (a), and in a manner that is parallel to that
analysis, so that the results of the review may be used to
improve the quality of the analysis.
(3) Public review.--The review required paragraph (1) shall
include an opportunity for public comment, with sufficient
notice, to inform and improve the quality of the review.
(d) Consultation With State.--Prior to the submission in
accordance with subsection (e)(2) of the analysis required by
subsection (a) and the review of the analysis required by
subsection (c), the federally funded research and development
center and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,
and Medicine shall provide to the State of Washington--
(1) the analysis and review in draft form; and
(2) an opportunity to comment on the analysis and review
for a period of not fewer than 60 days.
(e) Submission to Congress.--
(1) Briefings on progress.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days
thereafter, the Secretary of Energy shall provide to the
congressional defense committees, including the Subcommittee
on Energy and Water Development of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Subcommittee on Energy
and Water Development, and Related Agencies of the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, a briefing
on the progress being made on the analysis required by
subsection (a) and the review required by subsection (c).
(2) Completed analysis and review.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Energy shall submit to the congressional defense committees
described in paragraph (1) the analysis required by
subsection (a), the review of the analysis required by
subsection (c), any comments of the State of Washington under
subsection (d)(2), and any comments of the Secretary of
Energy on the analysis or review of the analysis.
(f) Limitations.--
(1) Secretary of energy.--This section does not conflict
with or impair the obligation of the Secretary of Energy to
comply with any requirement of--
(A) the amended consent decree in Washington v. Moniz, No.
2:08-CV-5085-RMP (E.D. Wash.); or
(B) the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent
Order.
(2) State of washington.--This section does not conflict
with or impair the regulatory authority of the State of
Washington under the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901
et seq.) (commonly known as the ``Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act of 1976'') and any corresponding State law.
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