Deal reached to address two leaking nuke waste tanks Associated Press | 8/25/2022 |
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A deal to address two nuclear waste storage tanks that are leaking radioactive materials into the soil in Washington state was reached Thursday between the state and the U.S. Department of Energy. The waste is left over from the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons on the Hanford Nuclear
Reservation near Richland, Washington. From World War II through the Cold War, Hanford
produced more than 70 tons of plutonium, including for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II. When plutonium production ceased in 1989, the site’s mission shifted to cleaning up the chemical and radioactive waste left behind, including 56 million gallons of waste stored in 177 giant underground tanks. The Department of Energy announced in April 2021 that Tank B-109 was leaking waste into the surrounding soil. Tank T-111 was discovered to be leaking in 2013. “It’s been a priority for the state of Washington to address leaking tanks in a way that protects nearby communities and the Columbia River,” said Ecology Department Director Laura
Watson. “We know that ongoing vigilance and commitment will be needed to fully address these risks.” But state Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, a long-time Hanford critic, noted the deal could allow the tanks to leak for years. “Letting a high-level nuclear waste tank continue to leak for years or decades is a dereliction of our state’s duty to protect our Columbia River, protect our groundwater, to enforce our most fundamental hazardous waste laws and adds to the history of violating Treaty rights at Hanford,” said Pollet, director of watchdog group Heart of America Northwest. The Department of Energy manages the nation’s largest collection of radioactive waste, located on the 580-square mile (1,502 square kilometer) Hanford site, which is about 200
miles (322 kilometers) southeast of Seattle. Under the agreement, the Energy Department
will: - Cover the T and B tank farms with surface barriers to prevent rain or snowmelt from seeping into the tanks, and to slow the migration of leaked waste toward the groundwater.
- Develop a response plan for future leaks from older single-walled tanks, some of which date to World War II.
- Evaluate the viability of installing a ventilation system to evaporate liquid waste in Tank B-109.
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September 21-23, 2022 NEW VENUE: CRYSTAL GATEWAY MARRIOTT IN ARLINGTON, VA! We are pleased to host the 2022 National Cleanup Workshop at the Crystal
Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. Join us to discuss a new era of cleanup success. Hear from senior DOE officials, local government officials, and industry leaders about DOE's cleanup priorities, the future of the workforce, and more. Additional information on registration and hotel room blocks is available here. We look forward to seeing you in September! |
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WIPP rescue teams compete in national competition Radwaste Solutions | 08/24/22 Mine rescue teams from the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) finished in the top 15 in competitions at the first-ever joint Coal, Metal, and Nonmetal National Mine Rescue Contest in Lexington, Ky., held on August
7–12.
More than 40 teams representing coal mines competed in the competition, as well as 22 metal and nonmetal mine teams. WIPP’s teams were among the nonmetal mine teams participating in the event.
For each team that competed, scores were merged from the various categories—first aid, technical equipment, and field competition—to determine the team’s
final ranking. With more than 60 teams competing, WIPP’s Red Team placed 8th overall and its Blue Team placed 15th overall. The federal Mine Act requires that every underground mine operator ensures the availability of rescue teams. WIPP is located 26 miles southeast of Carlsbad, N.M. Teammates: Members volunteer to be part of the WIPP rescue teams. All are employees of Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP), the site’s management and operating contractor. “These employees spend numerous hours outside their normal workday responsibilities refining their knowledge and skills associated with mine rescue operations,” said Sean Dunagan, NWP’s president and project manager. “We are incredibly pleased to have such high-caliber employees that stand ready
to provide emergency response in the event of a mine disaster.” By category: In the field competition, the Red Team finished 10th and the Blue Team finished 15th. For the team technician contest, two-person teams were tasked with repairing and calibrating gas instruments, then taking air readings and calculating the results. Continue reading >> |
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POLICY & LEGISLATIVE Fri, Sept 16 at 2:00 PM ET - Nuclear Energy Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act Webinar The recently enacted
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is expected to have significant impacts on the power grid. The law includes approximately $369 billion in incentives for clean energy and climate-related program spending, including several provisions aimed at increasing nuclear power generation: Production Tax Credits for existing nuclear plants and new advanced nuclear reactors; an Investment Tax Credit for clean electricity technologies; loan guarantees; and funding for research, development and production of
domestic High Assay Low Enrichment Uranium (HALEU) fuel. This webinar will feature an expert panel to discuss the IRA’s nuclear programs and share their opinions on how the law will impact nuclear power. Time will be available for Q&A. To register for the webinar, click here.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NEW NUCLEAR |
Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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