ECA tells DOE that communities support cleanup of waste based on actual risk rather than artificial policy standards
ECA Staff | 2/12/2020
This week, the Energy Communities Alliance submitted public comments supporting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) most recent step forward to evaluate its proposed high-level waste interpretation through the
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Commercial Disposal of Defense Waste Processing Facility Recycle Wastewater from the Savannah River Site (Draft EA).
ECA supports the release of DOE's Draft Environmental Assessment for the Commercial Disposal of Defense Waste Processing Facility Recycle Wastewater from the Savannah River Site (Draft EA) as another step forward in considering safe, risk-based alternative disposal paths for waste based on actual radiological characteristics and risk to human health arising from the waste, rather than artificial former policy standards that base waste classification on
origin. ECA offered the following comments and recommendations to the Department on the Draft EA:
- ECA strongly supports disposal of the wastewater at licensed, commercial facilities. ECA believes there is an important role for private companies, such as Waste Control Specialists or EnergySolutions, in supporting DOE efforts to complete the EM cleanup
mission.
- ECA is concerned that DOE does not provide estimated timelines or schedules for any of the three alternatives considered. While the projected amount of time and number of shipments related to each is broadly outlined, understanding when a campaign could begin can help build transparency,
support and trust.
- DOE should provide more information on transportation issues to highlight the exemplary safety record of nuclear waste shipments across the complex. DOE should begin discussions of waste movement and form (liquid or solid), emergency planning, the proven safety of shipping
canisters and provide information regarding notifications for state and local officials. This outreach should begin sooner rather than later to ensure robust public participation and to build support. Finally, any analysis regarding transportation should be included in the final Environmental Assessment.
As DOE considers next steps, ECA again requests that DOE complete and release an evaluation of the feasibility, costs, and cost savings of the proposed HLW interpretation (such as outlined in Section 3139 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018). To build support, it is crucial that impacted communities, states and decision-makers see the analysis of the potential impact on cleanup. Only then can the intended and unintended consequences be understood.
ECA also commended DOE for hosting two public briefings quickly following the release of the EA, one close to the Savannah River Site and one readily accessible to stakeholders across the DOE complex. ECA will continue to advocate for transparency and meaningful engagement with host communities, state regulators, Tribes and the broader public in the decision-making process.
See ECA’s complete comments here.
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Wash. state reverses course on some nasty Hanford nuclear waste. Alternative was worse
Tri City Herald | 2/11/2020
After a bitter fight nearly 15 years ago to exclude Hanford from a new federal law for reclassifying some radioactive waste, the state of Washington now sees that law as the best alternative to ensure adequate cleanup of the nuclear reservation.
“The current process for reclassifying and disposing of Hanford tank waste is unclear and under a cloud of potential litigation,” the state said in a proposal made public on Tuesday.
The change of course comes after the Department of Energy published a federal register notice in 2018 that would allow DOE more flexibility in what waste must be treated and disposed of to the stringent criteria that cover high level waste.
The Tri-City Development Council supports exploring waste reclassification and thinks the change posted in the Federal Register is a step in the right direction. It also supports adding Washington state to Section 3116, said David Reeploeg, TRIDEC vice president for federal programs. Hanford Communities also sees value in adding Washington state to Section 3116 after
seeing the law used at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina and in Idaho to close waste tanks, said Pam Larsen, Hanford Communities executive director.
But neither Hanford Communities nor TRIDEC support the state’s proposed amendment to 3116 as it is currently written. Reeploeg said the amendment would add restrictions which TRIDEC believes would limit opportunities to expedite cleanup in the future. Bob Thompson, a Richland city councilman and chairman of the Hanford Communities board, said the organization cannot support the
additional authority the state wants in the law. There is no reason to make changes to the law that could make it more cumbersome or environmental cleanup more expensive, he said.
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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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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