[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 207 (Monday, October 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55615-55621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28399]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Hanford Site Solid (Radioactive and 
Hazardous) Waste Program; Environmental Impact Statement, Richland, WA

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its intent to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Solid Waste 
Program at the Hanford Site, and to conduct a public scoping process 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as 
amended

[[Page 55616]]

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The Hanford Site Solid Waste Program manages 
several types of solid wastes at the Hanford Site, including low-level, 
mixed low-level, transuranic and mixed transuranic, and hazardous 
wastes, and contaminated equipment. Mixed wastes contain radioactive 
and hazardous components. Other solid waste types (i.e., municipal 
solid waste, high-level waste, remediation waste) and spent nuclear 
fuel are managed by other Hanford Site programs.
    The Hanford Site Solid (Radioactive and Hazardous) Waste Program 
EIS will evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with 
ongoing activities of the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program, the 
implementation of programmatic decisions resulting from the Final Waste 
Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (WM PEIS, DOE/
EIS-0200-F), and reasonably foreseeable treatment, storage, and 
disposal facilities/activities. The EIS will evaluate alternatives for 
management of the Program's radioactive and hazardous wastes, including 
waste generated at the Hanford Site or received from offsite 
generators, during the same 20-year period evaluated by the WM PEIS. 
This EIS will comprehensively analyze impacts of the proposed action 
and reasonable alternatives, including potential cumulative impacts of 
other relevant past, present, and reasonably foreseeable activities. 
The EIS will be prepared in accordance with NEPA, the Council on 
Environmental Quality NEPA Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and 
the DOE NEPA Regulations (10 CFR Part 1021).
    DOE invites individuals, organizations, and agencies to comment on 
issues to be considered, alternatives to be analyzed, and environmental 
impacts to be addressed in the Hanford Site Solid (Radioactive and 
Hazardous) Waste Program EIS. Two public scoping meetings are scheduled 
during the public scoping period.

DATES: The public scoping period for the Hanford Site Solid 
(Radioactive and Hazardous) Waste Program EIS begins with the 
publication of this notice and continues until December 11, 1997. DOE 
invites all interested parties to submit written comments or 
suggestions during the scoping period. Written comments must be 
postmarked by December 11, 1997 to ensure consideration. Comments 
postmarked after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable.
    Oral and written comments will be received at public scoping 
meetings on the dates and at the locations given below:

1. November 12, 1997, 1:00-4:00 p.m. PST and 7:00-10:00 p.m. PST at 
Federal Building, 825 Jadwin, Richland, WA 99352
2. November 13, 1997, 7:00-10:00 p.m. PST at Vert Center, 500 S.W. 
Dorion, Pendleton, OR 97801

    For further information see Public Scoping Meetings under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the Hanford Site Solid 
(Radioactive and Hazardous) Waste Program EIS, requests to speak at the 
public meetings, and requests for copies of the Draft EIS should be 
directed to the DOE Document Manager listed below.

Ms. Allison Wright, Document Manager, Hanford Site Solid (Radioactive 
and Hazardous) Waste Program EIS, U.S. Department of Energy, Richland 
Operations Office, MSIN S7-55, Post Office Box 550, Richland, 
Washington 99352, Telephone: (509) 373-7840, FAX: 509-372-1926, E-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#daa9b5b6b3be8585adbba9aebf8585bfb3a98585f78585beb5bf9aa8b6f4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fecf0f3f6fbc0c0e8feecebfac0c0faf6ecc0c0b2c0c0fbf0fadfedf3b1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding 
waste managed by the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program, contact Allison 
Wright at the above address. For general information on the DOE NEPA 
process, contact: Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and 
Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: 202-586-4600, or leave a 
message at 1-800-472-2756.
    Copies of DOE documents referenced in this notice and related 
background information are available for inspection during normal 
business hours at the following locations:
    <bullet> U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Freedom of 
Information Reading Room 1E-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585, Telephone: (202) 586-6020.
    <bullet> Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr., Richland, WA 
99352-3539, Telephone: (509) 943-7457.
    <bullet> Foley Center Library, Gonzaga University, E. 502 Boone 
Avenue, Spokane, WA 99258, Telephone: (509) 328-4220, Ext. 3132.
    <bullet> Branford Price Millar Library, Government Documents 
Section, Portland State University, 951 Southwest Hall, Portland, OR 
97201, Telephone: (503) 725-4617.
    <bullet> Suzzallo Library, Government Publications, University of 
Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, Telephone: (206) 543-9158.
    <bullet> U.S. DOE Public Reading Room, Consolidated Information 
Center, Washington State University-Tri Cities Campus, 100 Sprout Road, 
Richland, WA 99352, Telephone: (509) 372-7443.
    Additional information on DOE and Hanford Site NEPA activities and 
documents, and Hanford solid waste volume information, may also be 
obtained at the following addresses on the world-wide web:

<bullet> DOE NEPA Information--http://tis.eh.doe.gov/nepa/
<bullet> Hanford Information--http://www.hanford.gov/hanford.html
<bullet> Hanford Environmental Assessments--<a href="http://www.hanford.gov/
hanford.html#ea">http://www.hanford.gov/
hanford.html#ea</a>
<bullet> Hanford Environmental Impact Statements--<a href="http://
www.hanford.gov/hanford.html#eis">http://
www.hanford.gov/hanford.html#eis</a>
<bullet> Hanford Solid Waste Volumes--<a href="http://www.hanford.gov/docs/
ep0918/index">http://www.hanford.gov/docs/
ep0918/index</a>

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Hanford Site occupies approximately 560 square miles adjacent 
to the Columbia River, principally in Benton and Franklin Counties, 
Washington, extending approximately 25 miles north of Richland, 
Washington. The Hanford Site's missions have included processing 
nuclear materials in support of defense, research, and medical programs 
of the United States. The Hanford Site defense production facilities 
included nuclear fuel fabrication facilities, nuclear production 
reactors, separation facilities, product preparation facilities, 
research facilities, and waste management facilities. The Site's 
activities have generated a variety of radioactively contaminated 
equipment and radioactive and hazardous wastes that are managed under 
the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program. These wastes include low-level 
radioactive waste (LLW), mixed low-level radioactive waste (MLLW) 
(which contains both hazardous and radioactive constituents), 
transuranic and mixed transuranic (TRU) waste, and hazardous waste 
(HW). Other waste types and spent nuclear fuel are managed by other 
Hanford Site programs.
    The Hanford Site Solid (Radioactive and Hazardous) Waste Program 
EIS (hereafter referred to as the Solid Waste Program EIS) would 
facilitate accomplishment of the Program's mission, which is to:
    <bullet> Manage wastes for which it is responsible in a safe and 
efficient

[[Page 55617]]

manner in compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, 
codes, standards, and requirements.
    <bullet> Manage LLW, MLLW, TRU, and HW received from on-site and 
off-site generators, and legacy wastes associated with prior 
operations,
    <bullet> Decontaminate equipment for reuse or disposal.
    Waste management operations include receipt, storage, repackaging, 
treatment, and disposal or other disposition, such as reuse.

Regulatory and Programmatic Framework

    The Atomic Energy Act (42 USC 2011 et seq.) requires DOE to manage 
the wastes that it generates. Wastes that have hazardous components are 
subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42 USC 
6901 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act and other applicable 
laws and regulations.

Tri-Party Agreement

    The Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (referred 
to as the ``Tri-Party Agreement'') is an interagency agreement among 
DOE, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the 
Washington State Department of Ecology. The parties to this agreement 
have established milestones to bring DOE operating facilities into 
compliance with RCRA and to coordinate the cleanup of past Hanford 
disposal sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act.

Waste Management Programmatic EIS

    DOE is currently examining its complex-wide integrated waste 
management program and evaluating the suitability of existing and 
reasonably foreseeable future facilities in light of recent changes in 
the missions of DOE facilities. The Final WM PEIS was issued in May 
1997. Alternatives evaluated in the WM PEIS for each type of waste 
include no action, decentralization, regionalization, and 
centralization of waste management functions at one or more DOE 
facilities. WM PEIS Records of Decision could transfer management 
responsibilities for some types of waste to or from the Hanford Site. 
In general, the alternatives analysis in the Solid Waste Program EIS 
will be consistent with the DOE complex-wide policies and practices 
that have been analyzed in the WM PEIS. The Solid Waste Program EIS 
will be coordinated with Records of Decision for the WM PEIS and other 
DOE EISs that affect waste management at the Hanford Site.

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Disposal Phase Final Supplemental EIS

    DOE is currently considering whether and, if so, how to begin 
disposal of TRU waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site near 
Carlsbad, New Mexico. The decisions to be based on the Waste Isolation 
Pilot Plant Disposal Phase Final Supplemental EIS (DOE/EIS-0026-S-2, 
issued in September 1997) are whether to dispose of TRU waste at the 
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the transportation method, the contents of 
the disposal inventory, and what level of treatment is required for 
disposal or storage (i.e., repackaging to meet planning-basis Waste 
Isolation Pilot Plant waste acceptance criteria, thermal treatment, or 
treatment by shred and grout). In the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant 
Disposal Phase Final Supplemental EIS, the Hanford Site is considered 
for treatment of TRU waste by any of the three methods and for storage 
of TRU waste (either without disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot 
Plant or pending disposal). The analysis in the Solid Waste Program EIS 
of TRU waste management will be consistent with the forthcoming Record 
of Decision for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Disposal Phase Final 
Supplemental EIS.

Other Programmatic Decisions

    The DOE Office of Environmental Management has proposed a strategic 
plan for accelerated cleanup by the year 2006 of most types of 
radioactive and hazardous wastes at DOE facilities. This ``2006 
Strategic Plan'' (formerly the Ten-Year Plan) would reduce the cost and 
risks associated with managing radioactive and hazardous waste that 
currently exists at DOE facilities, and make resources available for 
other uses in the future. The goals of the 2006 Plan will be 
incorporated into the action alternatives evaluated for the Solid Waste 
Program EIS.

Waste Types To Be Addressed

    The waste types to be addressed in the Solid Waste Program EIS are 
LLW, MLLW, TRU, HW. The EIS also will address management alternatives 
for contaminated equipment. The radioactive waste can be further 
defined as being contact-handled or remote-handled. Contact-handled 
waste containers produce radiation levels less than or equal to 200 
mrem/hr at contact; remote-handled containers produce greater than 200 
mrem/hr.
    The management of high-level waste, most liquid wastes, spent 
nuclear fuel, naval reactor compartments, non-hazardous solid wastes 
and most remediation wastes are outside the scope of the Solid Waste 
Program EIS. Each of these materials has special physical or regulatory 
management requirements that are quite different from those that 
typically apply to wastes managed under the Solid Waste Program. 
Further, most of these other materials have been or are being addressed 
by separate NEPA reviews or other appropriate environmental review 
process, and impacts from managing these wastes will be included in 
analyses of cumulative impacts in the Solid Waste Program EIS.

Low-Level Radioactive Waste

    Solid LLW includes operating and laboratory wastes (e.g., 
protective clothing, plastic sheeting, gloves, and analytical wastes), 
contaminated equipment, reactor and reactor fuel hardware, spent 
lithium-aluminum targets from which tritium has been extracted, and 
spent deionizer resin from reactor operations. The analytical 
laboratories, reactors, separations facilities, plutonium processing 
facilities, and waste management activities generated most of the LLW 
currently managed at Hanford. Analytical laboratory and research 
operations facility deactivation processes, waste management 
activities, and other on-site and off-site activities would likely 
continue to generate LLW wastes in the foreseeable future. The WM PEIS 
estimates that Hanford Site LLW, including waste generated during the 
next 20 years, would be about 89,000 m\3\ (or 6% of the LLW in the DOE 
complex).
    DOE needs to determine the treatment, storage and disposal 
activities required to properly manage solid LLW that currently exists 
or may exist at Hanford during the next 20 years. Currently, most of 
the LLW is certified, packaged to meet waste acceptance criteria, and 
placed in the Low Level Burial Grounds (LLBG). DOE needs to evaluate 
options for the disposal of such wastes, including expansion or 
reconfiguration and ultimate closure of the current LLBG. Small 
quantities of DOE-generated waste that cannot meet Hanford Site waste 
disposal criteria are currently stored at various facilities until 
methods are developed for their disposal. The Hanford Solid Waste 
Program classifies such wastes as ``greater-than-Category-3 (GTC3).'' 
DOE must evaluate alternatives for the management of Hanford's GTC3 
wastes.


[[Page 55618]]



Mixed Low-Level Radioactive Waste

    Hanford's MLLW was generated from reactor operations, chemical 
separation facilities, and laboratory operations, and consists of 
materials such as sludges, ashes, resins, paint wastes, soils, and 
contaminated equipment. Hazardous components may include lead and other 
heavy metals, solvents, paints, oils, other hazardous organic 
materials, or components that exhibit the RCRA characteristics of 
ignitability, corrosivity, toxicity, or reactivity. The WM PEIS 
estimates that the Hanford Site MLLW, including waste generated during 
the next 20 years, would be about 36,000 m\3\ (or 16% of the MLLW in 
the DOE complex).
    DOE needs to determine the storage, treatment and disposal 
activities required to properly manage solid MLLW that currently exists 
or may exist at the Hanford Site during the next 20 years. Currently, 
most MLLW at the Hanford Site is stored in the Central Waste Complex 
awaiting treatment before disposal.
    A small amount of contact-handled MLLW is treated on-site by 
macroencapsulation or other processes. The remaining contact-handled 
MLLW requires treatment by other processes, either thermal or non-
thermal, before disposal. To meet this need and ensure that DOE meets 
its commitments under the Tri-Party Agreement, the Hanford Solid Waste 
Program is pursuing two proposals as interim actions to this EIS. Each 
proposal involves a separate procurement of commercial treatment 
services for contact-handled MLLW--one for non-thermal treatment 
services and the other for thermal treatment services.
    Under the Tri-Party Agreement, DOE is required to: 1) award a 
contract for stabilization of contact-handled MLLW by September 30, 
1997 (target milestone M-19-01-T02; DOE has completed this milestone); 
2) complete all NEPA requirements related to the commercial contract 
for stabilization of contact-handled MLLW by September 30, 1998 (target 
milestone M-19-01-T03); 3) initiate treatment of contact-handled MLLW 
by September 30, 1999 (milestone M-19-01); and 4) initiate thermal 
treatment of currently stored and newly generated contact-handled MLLW 
(at least 600 cubic meters will be treated by December 2005, milestone 
M-91-12).
    DOE is preparing an environmental assessment (DOE/EA-1189) 
regarding its proposal to procure commercial non-thermal treatment 
services. Under the proposed action, DOE would transport up to 1860 
cubic meters of contact-handled MLLW to a commercial vendor for 
treatment; the treated waste would be returned to the Hanford Site for 
disposal. The Hanford Solid Waste Program issued a Request for 
Proposals for non-thermal treatment services in April 1997. On 
September 5, 1997, after considering a comparative evaluation of the 
potential environmental impacts of the offerors' proposals in 
accordance with its NEPA regulations (10 CFR Part 1021.216), DOE 
selected a commercial vendor for further consideration of its proposal 
to provide such services at an existing non-DOE facility in Richland, 
Washington.
    Regarding its proposal to procure commercial thermal treatment 
services for contact-handled MLLW, DOE issued a Request for Proposals 
for such services in April 1994. In November 1995, after considering a 
comparative evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of the 
offerors' proposals in accordance with its NEPA regulations (10 CFR 
Part 1021.216), DOE selected a vendor in Richland, Washington (same 
vendor as for non-thermal treatment) for further consideration of its 
proposal to provide such services. According to a draft EIS issued in 
September 1997 by the City of Richland (prepared under the State of 
Washington Environmental Policy Act to support the City's action 
regarding the siting, construction and operation of the vendor's 
proposed thermal treatment facility), the vendor plans to construct a 
new thermal treatment (gasification and vitrification technology) unit 
at its facility in Richland and market both thermal and non-thermal 
treatment services to both the Government and the private sector. DOE 
is preparing an environmental assessment (DOE/EA-1135) regarding DOE's 
proposed action, which is to transport up to 5,120 cubic meters of 
contact-handled MLLW that requires thermal treatment to the vendor's 
commercial treatment facility for thermal treatment and return the 
treated (vitrified) waste to the Hanford Site for disposal. DOE's MLLW 
would comprise about 25% of the capacity of the thermal treatment unit.
    If DOE determines that an EIS is required for one or both of the 
interim actions described above, DOE would rely on the analyses in the 
Solid Waste Program EIS to support a decision on whether to proceed 
with one or both of the proposed interim actions. If DOE issues a 
finding of no significant impact for one or both of the proposed 
interim actions, DOE's NEPA review would be complete and DOE would 
evaluate the cumulative environmental impacts of the proposals in the 
Solid Waste Program EIS. DOE welcomes comments on this approach for 
fulfilling its environmental review responsibilities under NEPA for 
these proposals.
    Treatment, storage and disposal options for the remainder of 
Hanford Site MLLW, which is predominantly remote-handled MLLW that 
cannot be treated or disposed of under existing or planned processes, 
will be addressed in the Solid Waste Program EIS.
    The Hanford Solid Waste Program currently has two RCRA-compliant 
MLLW trenches that could be used to dispose of MLLW that meet RCRA land 
disposal restrictions. Additional MLLW disposal capacity is necessary 
to dispose of MLLW to be managed by the Hanford Site Solid Waste 
Program.

Transuranic and Mixed Transuranic Waste

    Transuranic waste contains radioactive isotopes with atomic numbers 
greater than 92 (i.e., transuranic isotopes) and half-lives longer than 
20 years at concentrations exceeding 100 nanocuries of alpha-emitting 
radionuclides per gram (mixed transuranic waste also contains hazardous 
constituents). TRU waste is generated as a result of similar activities 
to those that generated LLW and MLLW, as described above. The major 
difference is that TRU waste is contaminated with transuranic isotopes 
most often associated with plutonium handling facilities. The WM PEIS 
estimates that Hanford Site TRU waste, including waste generated during 
the next 20 years, would be about 52,000 m<SUP>3</SUP> (38% of the TRU 
waste in the DOE complex).
    DOE needs to determine the retrieval, treatment, and storage 
activities required to properly manage solid TRU waste that currently 
exists or may exist during the next 20 years at the Hanford Site. Since 
1970, DOE has segregated and retrievably stored TRU waste in trenches 
and caissons, and in above ground storage buildings at the Hanford Site 
(mainly in the Central Waste Complex and the Transuranic Storage and 
Assay Facility). DOE hopes to dispose of the existing inventory of TRU 
waste and anticipated future quantities of TRU waste at the proposed 
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Capabilities such as those provided by 
Hanford's Waste Receiving and Processing Facility would be needed to 
meet the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant planning-basis waste acceptance 
criteria. Alternatives for the treatment of remote-handled TRU have not 
been determined. Additionally, DOE needs to evaluate alternatives for 
the transition or reuse of certain existing facilities (e.g., the 221-T 
canyon)

[[Page 55619]]

managed by the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program.

Hazardous Waste

    HW is similar to MLLW except that HW is not radioactive. Hazardous 
components include materials such as lead and other heavy metals, 
solvents, paints, oils, other hazardous organic materials, or materials 
that exhibit RCRA characteristics of ignitability, corrosivity, 
toxicity, or reactivity. They are generated from activities such as 
facility operations, decontamination and decommissioning of facilities, 
environmental restoration, waste management, and vehicle maintenance. 
The WM PEIS estimates that Hanford Site HW, including waste generated 
during the next 20 years, would be about 6,100 m<SUP>3</SUP> (9% of the 
HW in the DOE complex).
    DOE needs to determine the activities required to properly manage 
its existing and anticipated HW. Currently, non-wastewater HW is 
stored, packaged, and shipped to off-site commercial facilities for 
treatment and disposal. Based on the WM PEIS, DOE will decide the 
extent to which it should continue to rely on commercial facilities. 
The Solid Waste Program EIS will analyze alternatives for the 
management of Hanford's HW.

Contaminated Equipment

    DOE activities have resulted in the contamination of equipment, 
sometimes to the extent that it is no longer suitable for use. Some of 
the equipment would potentially be useable if the radioactive and/or 
hazardous constituent contamination were removed or reduced to 
acceptable levels. In other cases, decontamination of the equipment may 
be desirable prior to disposal to minimize worker exposure or to reduce 
the volume of material that must be disposed of as LLW, HW, or MLLW.
    DOE needs to determine the future storage and treatment activities 
required to properly manage Hanford's contaminated equipment and 
materials, including those that may be received by Hanford in the 
future from off-site facilities. Currently, decontamination services 
are provided at the 2706-T building and 221-T (T-Plant canyon) 
facilities at Hanford; however, additional services and methods may be 
desirable to recycle or reuse contaminated equipment and materials.

Preliminary Description of the Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The preliminary proposed action and alternatives to the proposed 
action described below for each waste type are consistent with relevant 
EISs for other DOE sites, and encompass the range of reasonable waste 
management activities that could be undertaken at the Hanford Site to 
implement programmatic decisions that would be based on the WM PEIS. 
The quantities and characteristics of the wastes to be considered would 
be based on reasonable estimates of wastes from ongoing operations, 
Hanford's environmental restoration and decontamination and 
decommissioning operations, and wastes that Hanford might receive from 
off-site as a result of decisions based on the WM PEIS, decisions under 
the Federal Facility Compliance Act, or other reasonably foreseeable 
future programmatic decisions. The alternatives would be adjusted as 
necessary to conform to new decisions as they are made. The following 
descriptions indicate the general approach to development of these 
alternatives, and include examples of potential actions for each type 
of waste.

No Action Alternative

    Under the no action alternative, DOE would continue ongoing waste 
management activities and implement those actions for which NEPA 
reviews have been completed and decisions made (the baseline for 
analytical purposes would be the time of issuance of the Draft EIS). 
The no action alternative will provide a baseline for comparison of the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and its alternatives. The 
following are examples of activities that would be included in the no 
action alternative (listed by waste type).
    LLW: Continued near term storage/disposal operations at the LLBG; 
indefinite storage of GTC3 waste; continued use of other existing waste 
management facilities (without expansion or reconfiguration) and off-
site treatment technology; and limitations in the receipt of waste from 
off-site generators to current rates with a gradual reduction as 
capacity diminishes.
    TRU: Indefinite storage of existing and newly generated TRU waste 
in the existing central facilities; no retrieval of existing TRU waste; 
no receipt of TRU waste from off-site generators; no treatment of TRU 
waste on-site; and no shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for 
disposal.
    MLLW: Continued indefinite storage operations at present 
centralized facilities, without expansion or closure of disposal 
facilities; indefinite storage at generator sites; and no new treatment 
processes initiated.
    HW: Continued short-term storage of existing and newly-generated HW 
at generator sites with shipment off-site for treatment and disposal.
    Contaminated Equipment: Continued use of 2706-T and 221-T 
facilities for current decontamination activities and minimal 
transition activities for future uses of T-Plant.

Proposed Action

    This alternative is the Hanford Solid Waste Management Program 
long-term planning baseline. In general, it consists of a hybrid of 
actions from the other alternatives, with options for managing at the 
Hanford Site some radioactive and hazardous wastes from off-site 
facilities, including on-site and off-site treatment, storage, and 
disposal, depending upon the type of waste. The proposed action would 
implement programmatic decisions resulting from DOE's WM PEIS.
    The proposed action includes Hanford solid waste management actions 
that are needed to comply with regulatory requirements, protect human 
health and the environment, and support Hanford Site missions. Before 
the implementation of some of the proposed actions, DOE may need to 
conduct further project-specific NEPA reviews tiered from this EIS.
    LLW: Disposal of LLW in the LLBG, including the expansion, 
reconfiguration, and closure of burial grounds; development and use of 
new treatment technologies; receipt of waste from off-site generators 
or shipment of Hanford waste to other sites; and storage and disposal 
of GTC3 waste.
    TRU: Retrieval and characterization of TRU waste from active LLBG 
trenches and caissons; storage at the Central Waste Complex; receipt of 
some TRU waste from off-site generators; treatment of contact-handled 
TRU waste in the Waste Receiving and Processing Facility or another 
qualified facility; development at Hanford of treatment technologies/
facilities for remote-handled and other special TRU waste or shipment 
off-site for treatment; and shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant 
for disposal.
    MLLW: Disposal of MLLW in existing RCRA-compliant trenches at the 
Hanford Site; expansion of Hanford's MLLW trenches; use of vendor 
treatment services or other treatment; development of new treatment 
technologies/facilities; receiving and managing MLLW from off-site 
generators; development and implementation of leachate treatment 
technologies; disposal of leachate; closure of MLLW trenches; and 
disposal at off-site facilities.
    HW: Packaging and shipping HW to off-site treatment, storage, and 
disposal

[[Page 55620]]

facilities; and closing or transitioning for other use the 
Nonradioactive Dangerous Waste Storage Facility (this HW storage 
facility is currently in standby mode).
    Contaminated Equipment: Continued decontamination activities at 
2706-T and 221-T facilities; evaluation of other decontamination 
methods and technologies; and receiving equipment from other DOE sites 
for decontamination at Hanford.

Minimize Solid Waste Management at Hanford Alternative

    This alternative would minimize the use of land and facilities at 
Hanford (i.e., maximize management of Hanford's solid radioactive and 
hazardous wastes at either commercial facilities or other DOE sites).
    LLW: Disposal of existing LLW at LLBG; newly generated waste 
shipped off-site for treatment, storage, and disposal; no receipt of 
waste from off-site generators; GTC3 waste managed on-site for eventual 
off-site disposal; and closure of LLBG.
    TRU: All retrievable TRU waste from the LLBG retrieved; and all 
newly generated and existing TRU waste packaged and shipped off-site 
for treatment and disposal.
    MLLW: Storage of MLLW pending treatment; newly generated and 
existing MLLW shipped off-site for treatment and disposal; and no 
receipt of waste from off-site generators.
    HW: Packaging and shipping HW to off-site treatment, storage, and 
disposal facilities; and the Nonradioactive Dangerous Waste Storage 
Facility transitioned to other uses.
    Contaminated Equipment: Contaminated equipment shipped off-site for 
treatment and disposal; discontinue use of 221-T and 2706-T facilities 
for decontamination; and deactivate T-plant.

Maximize Solid Waste Management at Hanford Alternative

    This alternative would maximize the use of Hanford Site land and 
facilities for management of solid radioactive and hazardous wastes. It 
would include management of wastes from other DOE facilities, 
consistent with alternatives in the WM PEIS under which the Hanford 
Site would serve as a regional or national management site for specific 
types of waste.
    Under this alternative, the Hanford Site would manage more waste 
than under the proposed action, and DOE would improve or add to waste 
treatment, storage, and disposal facilities at the Hanford Site 
accordingly. This increase would be described and analyzed in terms of 
increases to the waste quantities used to evaluate the proposed action.
    LLW: Treatment, consolidation and disposal of existing LLW and GTC3 
on-site; acceptance of LLW from off-site generators for treatment, 
storage, and disposal at Hanford; expansion of treatment, storage and 
disposal facilities on-site as necessary with minimum use of off-site 
options; and closure of LLBG.
    MLLW: Receipt of MLLW from off-site generators for treatment, 
storage, and disposal; development of new treatment technologies/
facilities; minimized use of off-site options, maximized on-site 
treatment; disposal of leachate on-site; disposal of newly generated 
and existing MLLW on-site; expansion of existing MLLW disposal 
facilities and possible construction of new facilities as needed; and 
closure of MLLW trenches.
    TRU: Retrieval and characterization of TRU waste from active LLBG 
trenches and caissons; storage at the Central Waste Complex; receipt of 
TRU waste from off-site generators (i.e., serve as primary regional/
national treatment facility to prepare TRU waste for disposal at the 
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant); treatment of contact-handled TRU waste in 
the Waste Receiving and Processing Facility or another qualified 
facility; development at Hanford of technologies/facilities for the 
treatment of remote-handled and other special TRU waste; and shipment 
to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for disposal.
    HW: Development and use of on-site treatment, storage, and disposal 
facilities; and receipt of HW from off-site generators for disposition.
    Contaminated Equipment: Continued decontamination activities at 
2706-T and 221-T facilities or at new facilities that would be 
constructed as needed; development of mobile or other decontamination 
methods and technologies; and receipt of equipment from off-site 
generators for decontamination at Hanford.

Relationship to Other Actions

Interim Actions

    The following environmental assessments are currently being 
prepared for potential interim actions that DOE is considering during 
the preparation of this EIS:
    <bullet> Off-Site Thermal Treatment of Low-level Mixed Waste, DOE/
EA-1135.
    <bullet> Solid Low-level Mixed Waste Non-Thermal Treatment, DOE/EA-
1189.

Other Potentially-Related NEPA Documents in Preparation

    The following DOE or other-agency NEPA documents in preparation may 
be related to the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program EIS:
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0222, Hanford Remedial Action EIS and 
Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0274, Disposal of S3G and D1G Prototype Reactor 
Plants EIS.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0283, Surplus Plutonium Disposition EIS
    <bullet> Commercial Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site (U.S. 
Ecology) on the Hanford Site (an EIS being prepared by the State of 
Washington Department of Ecology and Department of Health under the 
State of Washington Environmental Policy Act).
    <bullet> Off-Site Thermal Treatment of Low-Level Mixed Waste, 
Richland Washington (an EIS being prepared by the City of Richland 
under the State of Washington Environmental Policy Act).

Existing Related NEPA Documentation

    The following lists completed DOE or other-agency NEPA documents 
that are related to the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program EIS:
    <bullet> ERDA-1538, EIS for Waste Management Operations, Hanford 
Reservation, Richland, Washington, U.S. Energy and Research Development 
Administration, Washington, D.C., 1975.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0113, EIS for Disposal of Hanford High-Level, 
Transuranic, and Tank Wastes, December 1987. Record of Decision, 53 FR 
12449, April 14, 1988.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0119, Decommissioning of Eight Surplus Production 
Reactors at the Hanford Site EIS, Richland, Washington, December 1992. 
Record of Decision, 58 FR 48509, September 16, 1993.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0189, Tank Waste Remediation System, Hanford Site 
EIS, August 1996. Record of Decision, 62 FR 8693, February 26, 1997.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0200-F, Waste Management Programmatic EIS, May 
1997.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0026-S2, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Supplemental 
EIS-II, September 1997.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0245, Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel from the K 
Basins at the Hanford Site EIS, Richland, Washington, January 1996. 
Record of Decision, 61 FR 10736, March 15, 1996.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0244, Plutonium Finishing Plant Stabilization EIS, 
Hanford Site, Richland, Washington, May 1996. Record of Decision, 61 FR 
36352, July 10, 1996.
    <bullet> Disposal of Decommissioned Defueled Naval Submarine 
Reactor Plants EIS (prepared by the Department of the Navy), May 1984. 
Record of Decision, 49 FR 47649, December 6, 1984.
    <bullet> DOE/EIS-0259, Disposal of Decommissioned, Defueled 
Cruiser,

[[Page 55621]]

Ohio and Los Angeles Class Naval Reactor Plants EIS, adopted by the 
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., May 1996. Record of 
Decision, 61 FR 41596, August 9, 1996.
    <bullet> DOE/EA-0981, Solid Waste Retrieval Complex, Enhanced 
Radioactive and Mixed Waste Storage Facility, Infrastructure Upgrades, 
and Central Waste Support Complex, Hanford Site, Richland Washington, 
Environmental Assessment, September 1995.
    <bullet> DOE/EA-1203, Trench 33 Widening in Low Level Waste Burial 
Ground 218-W-5, Environmental Assessment, July 1997.
    <bullet> DOE/EA-1211, Relocation and Storage of Isotopic Heat 
Sources (formerly DOE/EA-0982, Special Case Waste), Environmental 
Assessment, June 1997.

Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues

    The following issues have been tentatively identified for analysis 
in the EIS. The list is presented to facilitate comment on the scope of 
the EIS. It is not intended to be all-inclusive or to predetermine the 
potential impacts of any of the alternatives.
    <bullet> Effects on the public and on-site workers from releases of 
radiological and nonradiological materials during normal operations and 
reasonably foreseeable accidents.
    <bullet> Long-term risks to human populations resulting from waste 
disposal.
    <bullet> Effects on air and water quality from normal operations 
and reasonably foreseeable accidents.
    <bullet> Cumulative effects, including impacts from other past, 
present, and reasonably foreseeable actions at the Hanford Site.
    <bullet> Effects on endangered species, archaeological/cultural/
historical sites, floodplains and wetlands, and priority habitat.
    <bullet> Effects from transportation and from reasonably 
foreseeable transportation accidents.
    <bullet> Socioeconomic impacts on surrounding communities.
    <bullet> Disproportionately high and adverse effects on low-income 
and minority populations (Environmental Justice).
    <bullet> Unavoidable adverse environmental effects.
    <bullet> Short-term uses of the environment versus long-term 
productivity.
    <bullet> Potential irretrievable and irreversible commitment of 
resources.
    <bullet> The consumption of natural resources and energy, including 
water, natural gas, and electricity.
    <bullet> Pollution prevention, waste minimization, and potential 
mitigative measures.

Development of the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program EIS

    DOE will consider comments and suggestions received during the 
scoping period in its preparation of the draft EIS. On completing the 
draft EIS, DOE will announce its availability in the Federal Register 
and local media, and will again solicit public comments. DOE will 
consider comments on the draft EIS in its preparation of the final EIS. 
The preliminary schedule for issuance of the Hanford Site Solid Waste 
Program EIS is:

Availability of Draft EIS: Spring 1998.
Draft EIS Public Comment Period: Summer 1998.
Availability of Final EIS: Late 1998.
Record of Decision: Early 1999.

Public Scoping Meetings

    DOE invites the public to attend scoping meetings at which comments 
may be presented on the scope of the EIS. Oral and written comments 
will be considered equally in preparation of the EIS. Oral and written 
comments will be received at public scoping meetings to be held on the 
dates and at the locations given below:

November 12, 1997--Meeting Times: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. PST and 7:00 
p.m.-10:00 p.m. PST, Federal Building, 825 Jadwin, Richland, WA 99352
November 13, 1997--Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m.--10:00 p.m. PST, Vert 
Center, 500 S.W. Dorion, Pendleton, OR 97801

    DOE staff will begin each scoping meeting with a short presentation 
on the EIS process, the Hanford Site Solid Waste Program, and the 
proposed action and alternatives. A brief informal question and answer 
session will follow. Individuals and organization and agency 
spokespersons will then be invited to present comments.
    Requests to speak at the public meetings may be made in person at 
the meeting, by calling the DOE NEPA Document Manager by 3:00 p.m. PST 
the day before the meeting, or by writing to the DOE Document Manager 
(see ADDRESSES, above). Speakers will be heard on a first-come, first-
served basis as time permits. Written comments also will be accepted at 
the meetings. Speakers are encouraged to provide written versions of 
their oral comments for the record.
    The meetings will be conducted by a moderator. DOE staff and the 
moderator may ask speakers clarifying questions. Individuals requesting 
to speak on behalf of an organization must identify the organization. 
Each speaker will be allowed five minutes to present comments unless 
more time is available. Comments will be recorded by a court reporter 
and will become part of the scoping meeting record. DOE also will 
provide opportunities for separate informal discussions about the scope 
and content of the EIS, and will make subject matter experts available 
to answer questions.

    Issued in Washington, DC this 21st day of October, 1997.
Peter N. Brush,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 97-28399 Filed 10-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P.


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