### §2622. Hanford waste tank cleanup program reforms

#### (a) Establishment of Office of River Protection

The Secretary of Energy shall establish an office at the Hanford Reservation, Richland, Washington, to be known as the "Office of River Protection" (in this section referred to as the "Office").

#### (b) Management and responsibilities of Office

(1) The Office shall be headed by a senior official of the Department of Energy, who shall report to the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management.

(2) The head of the Office shall be responsible for managing all aspects of the River Protection Project, Richland, Washington, including Hanford Tank Farm operations and the Waste Treatment Plant.

(3)(A) The Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management shall delegate in writing responsibility for the management of the River Protection Project, Richland, Washington, to the head of the Office.

(B) Such delegation shall include, at a minimum, authorities for contracting, financial management, safety, and general program management that are equivalent to the authorities of managers of other operations offices of the Department of Energy.

(C) The head of the Office shall, to the maximum extent possible, coordinate all activities of the Office with the manager of the Richland Operations Office of the Department of Energy.

#### (c) Department responsibilities

The Secretary shall provide the head of the Office with the resources and personnel necessary to carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (b)(2).

#### (d) Notification

The Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives written notification detailing any changes in the roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships that involve the Office.

#### (e) Termination

The Office shall terminate on September 30, 2024. The Office may be extended beyond that date if the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management determines in writing that termination would disrupt effective management of the Hanford Tank Farm operations.

(Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLIV, §4442, formerly Pub. L. 105–261, div. C, title XXXI, §3139, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2250; Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXI, §3141(b)–(d)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–463; Pub. L. 107–107, div. C, title XXXI, §3135, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1368; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLIV, §4442, and amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, §3141(g)(17), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1767; Pub. L. 112–81, div. C, title XXXI, §3113, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1709; Pub. L. 113–66, div. C, title XXXI, §3146(e)(13), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 115–232, div. C, title XXXI, §3118, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2292.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted "2024" for "2019".

2013—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted "responsible for managing all aspects" for "responsible for managing all aspects".

2011—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 112–81, §3113(1), substituted "all aspects of the River Protection Project, Richland, Washington, including Hanford Tank Farm operations and the Waste Treatment Plant" for ", consistent with the policy direction established by the Department, all aspects of the River Protection Project, Richland, Washington".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–81, §3113(2), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, not later than November 29, 2000, a copy of the delegation of authority required by subsection (b)(3)."

Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 112–81, §3113(3), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsecs. (e) and (f), which, respectively, required the Secretary to submit a progress report not later than 2 years after the commencement of Office operations and provided for termination of the Office.

2003—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–136, §3141(g)(17)(D), substituted "November 29, 2000," for "30 days after the date of the enactment of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001,".

2001—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107–107 amended heading and text of subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(1) The Office shall terminate 5 years after the commencement of operations under this section unless the Secretary determines that termination on that date would disrupt effective management of the Hanford Tank Farm operations.

"(2) The Secretary shall notify, in writing, the committees referred to in subsection (d) of a determination under paragraph (1)."

2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXI, §3141(b)], substituted "managing, consistent with the policy direction established by the Department, all aspects of the River Protection Project, Richland, Washington" for "managing all aspects of the Tank Waste Remediation System (also referred to as the Hanford Tank Farm operations), including those portions under privatization contracts, of the Department of Energy at Hanford" in par. (2) and added par. (3).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXI, §3141(c)], substituted "head" for "manager" and "to carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (b)(2)" for "to manage the tank waste privatization program at Hanford in an efficient and streamlined manner".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–398, §1 [div. C, title XXXI, §3141(d)], amended heading and text of subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committees on Commerce and on National Security of the House of Representatives an integrated management plan for all aspects of the Hanford Tank Farm operations, including the roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships of the Office."