Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
7/18/2014
The Department of Energy and Washington state agreed this week to a new round of talks on how to modify a 2010 Consent Decree that governs the cleanup of Hanford’s tank waste. The two sides will now continue negotiations until Sept. 5, after two previous deadlines in June for coming to an agreement on new milestones came and went without resolution. Washington state Governor Jay Inslee (D) and Attorney General Bob Ferguson agreed to continue discussions “to discuss details regarding a possible agreed path forward that meets both parties’ interests,” according to a release issued by Ferguson’s office. “It’s absolutely essential we forge a viable plan that ensures the federal government fulfills its legal obligations to clean up Hanford,” Inslee said in the release. “Delay in completing this cleanup is not in Washington’s interest, and I continue to hope these extended discussions will be helpful."
If an agreement isn’t reached by the new deadline, either DOE or Washington state could choose to take the matter to court. “The people of Washington deserve a plan that provides specificity, accountability, and enforceability for the federal clean-up and treatment of nuclear waste at the Hanford site,” Ferguson said in the release. “If these goals cannot be achieved through mutual agreement, the state remains prepared to seek relief from the federal court.”
In a separate written response this week, a DOE spokesperson said, “The Department of Energy is pleased that the State of Washington has agreed to continue discussions on the proposals to amend the Consent Decree. The Department believes that discussions to date have been productive and remains interested in continuing those discussions to develop a mutually acceptable path forward.”
State Calls for Numerous New Milestones, Along With New Tanks
The 2010 consent decree currently requires operations to begin at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant in 2019, with full plant operations to get underway by 2022. All waste would be retrieved from Hanford’s single-shell tanks by 2040, with all tank waste treatment to be completed by 2047. However, DOE has warned Washington state that it is at risk of missing the remainder of the WTP-related milestones in the consent decree, along with some milestones tied to waste retrieval from Hanford’s single-shell tanks. In its proposal to modify the consent decree, DOE has proposed setting new milestones for having the WTP’s Low-Activity Waste Facility in operation and for resolving some of the technical issues that have slowed portions on other parts of the vit plant, but would hold off on setting firm schedules for completing the entire plant and getting it into operation until such technical issues are fully resolved.
In contrast, Washington state’s proposal would establish a significant amount of new milestones to track the progress of the various WTP facilities. The state is also proposing new milestones for waste retrieval from Hanford’s single-shell tanks to ensure all waste retrievals are completed by 2040. In addition, Washington state is also seeking to set requirements for the creation of new double-shell tank storage capacity that the state says is necessary to keep waste retrieval operations on track, along with a set of new reporting requirements.
