DOE TO STUDY HANFORD WASTE SHIPMENTS TO PERMA-FIX FACILITY

The Department of Energy plans an assessment of shipments of radioactive waste within short distances of Hanford after safety concerns were raised. The Washington State Department of Ecology raised some initial issues in a report on an ongoing inspection in July obtained by Hanford Challenge. However, the Department of Ecology does not have regulatory authority over waste shipments and can only consider issues, not require changes. It has not issued a final inspection report. “I’m pretty confident we are doing shipping safely,” said Matt McCormick, manager of the DOE Richland Operations Office. The assessment, which will focus on “out of commerce” shipments to Perma-Fix Northwest, is being done “in the spirit of continuous improvement” and to make sure the shipments comply with all regulations, he said. It will review how the road closure operations are conducted in accordance with federal, state and local regulations and codes. The security of the shipments, how safety documentation addresses risks and what controls are in place to protect the public from a release of radioactive material will be covered. The review also will look at whether notifications are properly made to local governments before shipments and will look at emergency response capabilities, including area hospitals and mutual aid agreements with the state of Washington and Benton County.

 

The assessment team will include officials from DOE headquarters, other DOE sites that make similar shipments, Perma-Fix and the Richland Police Department. A retired Washington State Patrol officer also will be on the team. A report should be ready in late fall.