Feds and Washington state representatives are discussing plans for a research permit for grouting 2,000 gallons of radioactive tank waste from the Department of Energy Hanford’s Site, a state spokesman said Wednesday.
The ongoing mediation over Hanford cleanup, dubbed “holistic talks” by the parties, should not delay a draft research, development, and demonstration permit application for the test bed initiative, Washington Department of Ecology spokesman Ryan Miller said by email.
DOE recently concluded tank waste solidified into a cement-like grout from the second phase of the test-bed initiative could be treated as low-level rather than high-level waste. The feds and state officials say the next step will involve a research and development permit for the 2,000-gallon demo project. The first test bed phase in 2017 entailed grouting three gallons, which was sent to Waste Control Specialists in Texas for disposal.
While DOE initially submitted a research application in 2019, it was withdrawn that summer by the federal agency, which cited startup of the holistic talks as a factor in the decision.
However, “this happened when holistic negotiations were beginning, not when they were already underway,” Miller said in response to an inquiry from Exchange Monitor.
“We’re currently working with Energy on their draft application and expect a formal submission to the state soon,” Miller said. “Submission and processing of the RD&D permit application is outside the scope of holistic negotiations.”
As for the closed-door talks, led by a federal mediator and including the state, DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “the parties continue to meet regularly, mostly on a weekly basis,” Miller said.
“The parties continue to work in good faith and we’re optimistic we’re nearing a conclusion – but at this time I can’t offer you any set date or time frame for when a public announcement will be made,” Miller said.
There are about 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical tank waste, the residue of decades of plutonium production, held in Hanford’s underground tanks. While the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant constructed by Bechtel National will convert all the high-level waste into a glass for eventual disposal, it cannot accommodate all the low-level waste, DOE has said.
As a result, Congress has the Savannah River National Laboratory, in collaboration with a National Academies of Sciences panel, studying alternatives such as grout for Hanford’s remaining low-level tank waste.
