DOE Announces Preference for Disposal of Hanford Transuranic Tank Waste at WIPP
WASHINGTON, D.C. –
Today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its preferred
alternative to retrieve, treat, package, characterize and certify
certain Hanford tank waste for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot
Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico, if such waste is properly
classified in the future as defense-related mixed transuranic tank waste
(mixed TRU waste).
This preferred alternative, which may cover up to approximately 3.1
million gallons of tank waste contained in up to 20 tanks, will provide
DOE with an option to deal with recent information about possible tank
leaks and to expedite the overall tank waste retrieval effort at the
Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State.
“This alternative, if selected for implementation in a record of
decision, could enable the Department to reduce potential health and
environmental risk in Washington State,” said Dave Huizenga, head of the
EM program. “WIPP is a national resource for the disposal of mixed TRU
waste generated from defense activities, and this alternative, if
implemented, would not impact the continued safe operations and
performance of the WIPP facility in New Mexico.”
Retrieving and processing candidate mixed TRU waste was evaluated in
the Tank Closure and Waste Management Environmental Impact Statement
issued for the Hanford Site in December 2012. Initiating retrieval of
tank waste that has been properly classified as defense-related mixed
TRU waste would be contingent on DOE’s obtaining the applicable and
necessary permits, ensuring that the WIPP Waste Acceptance Criteria and
all other applicable regulatory requirements have been met. Further,
retrieval of waste would not commence until a Record of Decision (ROD)
had been issued. DOE may issue such a ROD regarding the candidate mixed
TRU wastes no sooner than 30 days from the date of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register.
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