Notice2023-01962
Amended Record of Decision for Offsite Secondary Waste Treatment and Disposal From the Hanford Site, Washington
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Published
January 31, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
This is an amendment to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) 2013 Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Tank Closure and Waste Management Environmental Impact Statement for the Hanford Site, Richland, Washington (DOE/EIS-0391, December 2012) (TC&WM EIS). In accordance with DOE's implementing procedures for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), DOE prepared a supplement analysis (DOE/EIS-0391-SA-03; SA), which evaluated DOE's proposal to transport and treat certain solid and liquid secondary wastes at licensed and permitted commercial treatment facilities off the Hanford Site. DOE also proposes to potentially dispose of some of these secondary wastes (after treatment) offsite at a licensed and permitted commercial disposal facility. This action would be implemented on an interim basis until such time as an enhanced onsite treatment capability is available for Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) operations (estimated to be approximately 10 years). This amended ROD addresses the differences in the planned management of secondary wastes from that addressed by the 2013 TC&WM EIS ROD document.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6241-6243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01962]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Amended Record of Decision for Offsite Secondary Waste Treatment
and Disposal From the Hanford Site, Washington
AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Amended record of decision.
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SUMMARY: This is an amendment to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
2013 Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Tank Closure and Waste
Management Environmental Impact Statement for the Hanford Site,
Richland, Washington (DOE/EIS-0391, December 2012) (TC&WM EIS). In
accordance with DOE's implementing procedures for the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), DOE prepared a supplement analysis
(DOE/EIS-0391-SA-03; SA), which evaluated DOE's proposal to transport
and treat certain solid and liquid secondary wastes at licensed and
permitted commercial treatment facilities off the Hanford Site. DOE
also proposes to potentially dispose of some of these secondary wastes
(after treatment) offsite at a licensed and permitted commercial
disposal facility. This action would be implemented on an interim basis
until such time as an enhanced onsite treatment capability is available
for Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) operations (estimated to be
approximately 10 years). This amended ROD addresses the differences in
the planned management of secondary wastes from that addressed by the
2013 TC&WM EIS ROD document.
ADDRESSES: For copies of this amended ROD, the original ROD, subsequent
amended RODs, the SA (DOE/EIS-0391-SA-03), the TC&WM EIS, or any
related NEPA documents, please contact Mr. Douglas Chapin, Hanford Site
NEPA Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, P.O. Box 550, MSIN
H5-30, Richland, Washington 99352; telephone: (509) 373-9396; or email,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#14507b61737875673a577c75647d7a5466783a707b713a737b62"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90d4ffe5f7fcf1e3bed3f8f1e0f9fed0e2fcbef4fff5bef7ffe6">[email protected]</span></a>. This amended ROD, the original ROD,
subsequent amended RODs, the SA, and the TC&WM EIS are also available
on DOE's NEPA website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/nepa">https://www.energy.gov/nepa</a> and the Hanford
website at <a href="https://www.hanford.gov/index.cfm?page=1117&">https://www.hanford.gov/index.cfm?page=1117&</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the
TC&WM EIS, contact Mr. Chapin, as listed above. For general information
on DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM) NEPA process, contact
Mr. William Ostrum, NEPA Compliance Officer, U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of Environmental Management, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585-0103; telephone: (202) 586-2513; or email,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#baedd3d6d6d3dbd794f5c9cec8cfd7fad2cb94ded5df94ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5e09373232373f3370112d2a2c2b331e362f703a313b70393128">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the TC&WM EIS, DOE analyzed 11 alternatives for the retrieval,
treatment, storage, and disposal of tank wastes, followed by the
closure of the single-shell waste storage tanks (SSTs) at the Hanford
Site and three alternatives for waste management.\1\ In the 2013 TC&WM
EIS ROD, DOE selected Tank Closure Alternative 2B, which would, among
other things: (1) retrieve 99 percent of the waste from the SSTs; (2)
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treat tank waste, including pretreatment of tank waste with separation
into low-activity waste (LAW) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW);
and (3) dispose of the vitrified LAW and secondary waste \2\ and
construct immobilized HLW (IHLW) interim storage modules to store the
IHLW prior to disposal.\3\ The 2013 ROD also stated, ``Tank waste
treatment includes pretreatment of all tank waste, with separation into
LAW and HLW. New evaporation capacity, upgrades to the ETF [Effluent
Treatment Facility], new transfer lines and processing of both
vitrified LAW and secondary waste for disposal are included in this
decision.'' For waste management, the 2013 ROD further stated, ``DOE
has decided to implement Waste Management Alternative 2, which includes
disposal of LLW [low-level radioactive waste] and MLLW [mixed low-level
radioactive waste] at IDF [Integrated Disposal Facility]-East from tank
treatment operations.'' This alternative was identified in the 2013 ROD
as the environmentally preferred waste management alternative.
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\1\ The three other alternatives analyzed in the TC&WM EIS
concerned Fast Flux Test Facility decommissioning, which is not the
subject of this ROD.
\2\ Secondary waste, as described in the TC&WM EIS, is generated
as a result of other activities, e.g., waste retrieval or waste
treatment, that is not further treated by the WTP or supplemental
treatment facilities and includes liquid and solid wastes. Liquid-
waste sources could include process condensates, scrubber wastes,
spent reagents from resins, offgas and vessel vent wastes, vessel
washes, floor drain and sump wastes, and decontamination solutions.
Solid-waste sources could include worn filter membranes, spent ion
exchange resins, failed or worn equipment, debris, analytical
laboratory waste, high-efficiency particulate air filters, spent
carbon adsorbent, and other process-related wastes. Not all the
secondary waste, volumes, or waste types described in the TC&WM EIS
are encompassed by this amended ROD. Secondary wastes addressed in
this amended ROD consist of LLW and MLLW.
\3\ For the complete list of activities covered in the ROD, see
78 FR 75918.
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The Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), as analyzed in
the TC&WM EIS, would start processing tank waste by sending it to the
Pretreatment Facility, where it would be separated into HLW and LAW.
The process would then send each of these waste streams to the HLW
Vitrification Facility and the LAW Vitrification Facility,
respectively, for further treatment. The WTP, as analyzed in the TC&WM
EIS, also contained an analytical laboratory (LAB) and 22 other support
facilities referred to collectively as the ``balance of facilities''
(BOF). When DOE issued the ROD in 2013, its plan was to start operation
of all the WTP facilities at the same time.
Due to technical issues with the WTP Pretreatment Facility and HLW
Vitrification Facility, only the LAW Vitrification Facility, LAB, and
BOF have been completed and are preparing for operations. To begin
treating waste as soon as practicable, DOE decided to use the DFLAW
approach, which is a sequenced approach that will treat a portion of
the tank waste first. The decision to implement the DFLAW approach was
included in an amended ROD (84 FR 424; January 28, 2019).
Supplement Analysis of Offsite Treatment and Disposal of Hanford
Secondary Waste
As a result of projected increases in the volumes of secondary
waste and the lack of sufficient secondary waste treatment capability
and capacity on the Hanford Site once LAW Vitrification Facility
operations begin using the DFLAW approach, DOE proposes to transport
and treat certain secondary waste at licensed and permitted commercial
treatment facilities that are located off the Hanford Site. In
addition, DOE proposes to potentially dispose of some of these
secondary wastes (after treatment) offsite at licensed and permitted
commercial disposal facilities. This Proposed Action (both offsite
treatment and potential offsite disposal) would be implemented on an
interim basis until such time as an enhanced onsite treatment
capability is available for DFLAW operations (estimated to be
approximately 10 years). The annual estimated volumes of secondary
waste that could be transported offsite for treatment and disposal
would include:
<bullet> Approximately 8,300 cubic meters of LLW and MLLW (solid
and liquid) would be treated at Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW), a licensed
and permitted commercial treatment facility in Richland, Washington,
and disposed of at the IDF on the Hanford Site.
<bullet> Approximately 18 cubic meters of MLLW (solid and liquid)
would be treated at Perma- Fix Diversified Scientific Services, Inc.
(DSSI), a licensed and permitted commercial treatment facility in
Kingston, Tennessee, and disposed of at the Waste Control Specialists
Federal Waste Facility (WCS FWF) in Andrews County, Texas.
<bullet> Approximately 332 cubic meters of MLLW (primarily
liquids), some of which would be treated at PFNW and disposed of at the
IDF, and some of which would be treated at WCS and disposed of at the
WCS FWF.
To address the proposal, DOE prepared an SA in accordance with
DOE's NEPA implementing procedures at 10 CFR 1021.314. The TC&WM EIS
acknowledged that secondary waste could be managed through a
combination of onsite and offsite treatment capabilities. The TC&WM EIS
analyzed the disposal of grouted secondary waste at the IDF. DOE has
been implementing a moderate amount of offsite treatment (an average of
73 to 145 cubic meters per year of dangerous waste and MLLW) and
disposal since publication of the 2013 ROD. The increased volume of
offsite treatment and disposal of LLW and MLLW under the Proposed
Action evaluated in the SA would not represent a substantive change
relevant to environmental concerns from the Proposed Action evaluated
in the TC&WM EIS.
The TC&WM EIS evaluated potential environmental impacts from the
emission of criteria pollutants, toxic pollutants, and greenhouse
gases. The incremental increase in emissions related to the
transportation of secondary waste for treatment and disposal would add
less than 1 percent to the values presented in the TC&WM EIS.
Transportation of secondary wastes offsite for treatment (and
potential subsequent disposal), as opposed to the onsite treatment
options evaluated in the TC&WM EIS, would essentially transfer the
potential normal operational health impacts from the Hanford workforce
to workers at commercial treatment and disposal facilities, given that
the scopes of work would be similar in nature regardless of location.
Additionally, the Proposed Action would not introduce any unique
facility accidents that had not been evaluated either in the TC&WM EIS
or in the commercial facility permitting or licensing process.
Accordingly, radiological impacts and accident risk resulting from the
Proposed Action would be comparable to that presented in the TC&WM EIS
for treatment/disposal activities originally proposed for the Hanford
Site.
While the TC&WM EIS did not anticipate a large increase in the
amount of secondary waste sent offsite for treatment and potential
disposal, it did acknowledge that it could occur. The estimated health
risks to the public and transportation crews are low for the
approximate 10-year Proposed Action period.
The majority of the treated secondary waste would be disposed of at
the IDF, consistent with the analysis in the TC&WM EIS. Approximately
350 cubic meters of secondary waste could be disposed of annually at
the WCS FWF.\4\ In both instances, the stabilized waste
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form would be verified to meet the facilities' waste acceptance
criteria and would be well within the volume and curie limits for the
facilities.
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\4\ The offsite disposal volume, following treatment by macro-
encapsulation or solidification, will be approximately 580 cubic
meters annually for an approximate total of 5,800 cubic meters over
10 years.
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Decision
Based on the analysis in the SA, DOE determined that the Proposed
Action for secondary waste management does not represent a substantial
change to the proposal evaluated in the TC&WM EIS or significant new
circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns that
would require preparation of a supplemental EIS. DOE therefore
determined that no further NEPA analysis was required.
There are no additional mitigation measures required beyond those
commitments in the 2013 TC&WM EIS ROD. As stated in that ROD, all
practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm have been
adopted. DOE's decision is to transport and treat certain solid and
liquid secondary wastes at licensed and permitted commercial treatment
facilities off the Hanford Site. DOE's decision is also to dispose of
some of these secondary wastes (after treatment) offsite at the WCS
FWF, a licensed and permitted commercial disposal facility. This action
will be implemented on an interim basis until such time as an enhanced
onsite treatment capability is available for DFLAW operations
(estimated to be approximately 10 years).
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on January 25,
2023, by William I. White, Senior Advisor for Environmental Management,
pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That
document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of
the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document
of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-01962 Filed 1-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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