DOE DOESN’T CURRENTLY SEE NEED TO REMOVE WASTE FROM DAMAGED HANFORD TANK

The Department of Energy does not currently see a need to remove waste from one of Hanford’s double-shell tanks showing evidence of deterioration, though the Department is moving forward with preparations to be ready to empty the tank should conditions change. Late last week, DOE submitted to Washington state environmental regulators a pumping plan for Tank AY-102, which has been found to have a leak in its inner primary shell. While DOE is moving forward with obtaining equipment plans to remove the sludge waste from the tank, at this time, "removal of waste from the primary tank is not practicable, nor is it necessary to prevent release to the environment," the plan says.

DOE also doesn’t think it’s currently necessary to attempt to remove the material that has leaked from the inner shell of the tank into the space between the inner and outer shells. "Currently there is not enough material in the annulus for emergency pumping equipment to be able to remove. Flushing of the annulus and refractory material under the primary tank would be required to effectively remove the majority of waste from the annulus; however, flushing could have an adverse effect on the leak rate, would spread contamination throughout the annulus and could endanger the integrity of the secondary liner. At this time, the secondary containment contains the waste thus preventing it from causing harm to human health and the environment," the plans. DOE said it will continue implementing "enhanced monitoring" of the tank and continue with efforts to be ready to initiate waste removal if a decision is made to do so.