[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