Better known as the Hanford Cleanup Plan
The Draft Tank Closure & Waste Management Environmental Impact Statement (TC&WMEIS) is a document produced by the Department of Energy that analyzed six different alternatives for cleaning up the Hanford Site. The Environmental Impact Statement process is required whenever a Federal agency takes actions that will significantly impact the environment. Part of this process is a public comment period where the public is invited to weigh in on the alternatives presented – this can be a powerful tool for input because the DOE is required to review all comments.
Important points in the TC&WMEIS include:
- How much waste will be removed from High Level Waste tanks? – None, 90%, 99% or 99.9%
- The heaviest waste (like plutonium) sinks to the bottom of the tank so additional waste removal can yield a high impact for cleanup
- Impacts of importing waste from other sites for storage at Hanford
- The DOE’s study shows that importing additional waste will significantly increase the amount of contaminants that leak into the soil and groundwater
- Clean closure or Landfill closure?
- Clean closure means retrieving, treating and disposing of waste. If waste is in the ground, or contaminating buildings and other structures, this process would involve retrieving the waste for treatment and proper disposal of in a geologic repository. Landfill closure means leaving the waste where it is, and covering the contaminated area with concrete caps, soil barriers or other structures.
The Department of Energy is currently reviewing public comments, and creating a final report that will be available in the next few years. We will post updates on this website as progress is made.
Read more about the TC&WMEIS in our Winter 2010 Newsletter
Updates on the Hanford Cleanup Plan
Comments on the Department of Energy’s Hanford Cleanup Plan were due on May 3rd, 2010. Hanford Challenge was joined by the National Resources Defense Council to deliver 70 comments, as well as expert comments by Marco Kaltofen and John Brodeur. Click here for highlights from our comments, and click here to read all of the comments.
Special Focus Future at Stake: Hanford Cleanup Plan
Since 1943, the Hanford Nuclear Site has dominated the landscape of southeastern Washington State, hosting the federal government’s program to manufacture plutonium for our nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Until 1989, Hanford operated nine separate plutonium production reactors, five reprocessing facilities, experimental reactors and laboratories, and a plethora of support facilities – in the process creating the nation’s most contaminated industrial complex.
The federal government has proposed some cleanup plans for Hanford which are out for public comment until March 19, 2010. Of great concern is the plan to abandon a vast amount of radioactive and chemical wastes on site.
The comment period ends on March 19th, 2010.
Environmental Impact Statement
Scoping
Federal Register Notices
Interim Action Environmental Assessment
QA Reports
EIS Meeting Schedules
Tank Closure & Waste Management EIS Workshop
Hanford Follies: Laugh and get serious about Hanford
Thanks to everyone who came to our workshop on March 6! Your energy and creativity set the stage for a good public hearing on the Hanford cleanup plan.
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Hanford Challenge hosted a Hanford Follies workshop to help people learn about the Tank Waste EIS and write comments. Improv actors Matt Smith, Elizabeth Heffron, Susan McPherson,
John Ellis and Belinda Fu added
spice and laughter.
|
Anne Jess made a graphic recording of everyone’s reactions and thoughts. Click image to take a closer look and see if you have had similar thoughts as you learned about Hanford and nuclear waste cleanup.
|
Draft Tank Closure and Waste Management EIS
Better known as the Hanford Cleanup Plan
The Draft Tank Closure & Waste Management Environmental Impact Statement (TC&WMEIS) is a document produced by the Department of Energy that analyzed six different alternatives for cleaning up the Hanford Site. The Environmental Impact Statement process is required whenever a Federal agency takes actions that will significantly impact the environment. Part of this process is a public comment period where the public is invited to weigh in on the alternatives presented – this can be a powerful tool for input because the DOE is required to review all comments.
Important points in the TC&WMEIS include:
The Department of Energy is currently reviewing public comments, and creating a final report that will be available in the next few years. We will post updates on this website as progress is made.
Read more about the TC&WMEIS in our Winter 2010 Newsletter
Updates on the Hanford Cleanup Plan
Comments on the Department of Energy’s Hanford Cleanup Plan were due on May 3rd, 2010. Hanford Challenge was joined by the National Resources Defense Council to deliver 70 comments, as well as expert comments by Marco Kaltofen and John Brodeur. Click here for highlights from our comments, and click here to read all of the comments.
Special Focus Future at Stake: Hanford Cleanup Plan
Since 1943, the Hanford Nuclear Site has dominated the landscape of southeastern Washington State, hosting the federal government’s program to manufacture plutonium for our nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Until 1989, Hanford operated nine separate plutonium production reactors, five reprocessing facilities, experimental reactors and laboratories, and a plethora of support facilities – in the process creating the nation’s most contaminated industrial complex.
The federal government has proposed some cleanup plans for Hanford which are out for public comment until March 19, 2010. Of great concern is the plan to abandon a vast amount of radioactive and chemical wastes on site.
The comment period ends on March 19th, 2010.
Environmental Impact Statement
Scoping
Federal Register Notices
Interim Action Environmental Assessment
QA Reports
EIS Meeting Schedules
Tank Closure & Waste Management EIS Workshop
Hanford Follies: Laugh and get serious about Hanford
Thanks to everyone who came to our workshop on March 6! Your energy and creativity set the stage for a good public hearing on the Hanford cleanup plan.
Hanford Challenge hosted a Hanford Follies workshop to help people learn about the Tank Waste EIS and write comments. Improv actors Matt Smith, Elizabeth Heffron, Susan McPherson,
John Ellis and Belinda Fu added
spice and laughter.
Anne Jess made a graphic recording of everyone’s reactions and thoughts. Click image to take a closer look and see if you have had similar thoughts as you learned about Hanford and nuclear waste cleanup.