Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Plutonium Uranium Extraction Plant (PUREX) Storage Tunnels
Permit Modification Public Hearing
Alex SmithProgram Manager, Nuclear Waste Program
Tunnel 1
Tunnel 2
PUREX Storage Tunnels
Photo taken in September 2017 showing the PUREX Plant (202A) and the PUREX Storage Tunnels
History Tunnel #1
• Constructed 1954-1956
• Filled between 1960-1965
• Failed equipment stored on 8 railcars
History Tunnel #2
• Constructed 1964• Filled between
1967-1996• Failed equipment
stored on 28 railcars
Waste Contained in the PUREX Tunnels
RCRA regulated waste Mercury Lead Silver and Silver
Salts Chromium Cadmium Barium Mineral OilRailcar with waste container inside Tunnel 1
This is an example of a concentrator before it was placed into service. Tunnel 1 contains failed contaminated concentrators and other equipment.
Types of Equipment Concentrators Piping Centrifuges Dissolvers Containers of 324 and 325
Facility Waste 20,000 Gallon Liquid Waste
Tank Car (Empty per RCRA)
Other waste Uranium Plutonium Cesium 137 Strontium 90 Iodine 129 Ruthenium
109 Ruthenium-
Rhodium 106
Administrative Order
Administrative Order to Department of Energy (DOE)
• Ecology issued Administrative Order to DOE on May 10, 2017 a day after partial collapse of PUREX Tunnel 1. – Three corrective actions from the Order
• First Corrective Action for DOE to submit a structural integrity evaluation for both PUREX Storage Tunnels 1 and 2
• Second Corrective Action for DOE to submit a draft report detailing the corrective actions to ensure the safe storage of waste in the PUREX Storage Tunnels 1 and 2
• Third Corrective Action for DOE to submit a draft permit modification to the Hanford Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Permit to update applicable permit sections affected by the interim closure actions for Tunnels 1 and 2
Structural Integrity EvaluationsTunnel 1• “… the existing Tunnel 1 structure
presents an extreme collapse hazard…”• Stabilization of Tunnel 1 with grout
began in October and was completed on November 11, 2017
• Approximately 521 truckloads (4,434 cubic yards) of grout was placed in Tunnel 1
Tunnel 2• “… the existing Tunnel 2 structure
presents a high potential collapse hazard…”
• Approximately 43,000 cubic yards (over 5,000 truckloads) of grout will be placed into Tunnel 2
Draft Permit Modification
Permit Modification Process
• Class 3 Permit Modification– Proposed permit modification submitted for
first comment period (60-day) • February 12 to April 12, 2018• Public Meeting held March 14, 2018• 20 Comments Received
– Draft permit modification issued for the second comment period (45-day)
• August 13 to September 27, 2018• Hearing Richland August 27, 2018• Hearing Seattle September 5, 2018
Permit Modification Process Continued
• After the second comment period closes– Ecology will issue a Response to
Comments– Make a decision whether to issue the
modification which would include a 30-day appeal period
Draft Permit Chapter/Addenda
• Part A• Waste Analysis Plan• Process Information• Closure and Financial Assurance• Preparedness and Prevention• Inspection• Contingency Plan
Draft Permit ModificationThe Draft Permit Modification Proposes:
– Permit language reflecting the response actions taken to grout Tunnel 1
– An interim closure action for Tunnel 2. • Proposal to fill Tunnel 2 with engineered grout to help mitigate
potential threats to human health and the environment. • The purpose is to make sure the waste in the tunnel is safely
stored until a final cleanup decision can be made when the whole PUREX Canyon area is remediated
• TPA schedule requires DOE to submit an Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan by September 30, 2020
• Does not preclude remedial or final closure actions until future cleanup decisions have been reached.
– Following Ecology’s completeness determination, Ecology requested additional revisions to permit chapters to ensure the PUREX permit has updated and complete information on the facility.
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
• Ecology Issued a Determination of Significance/ Adoption notice for:– Appendix R of the
Tank Closure and Waste Management Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
• EIS evaluated impacts from the current DOE vision for PUREX Tunnels to be filled with grout and covered with a surface barrier.
• Final closure of the Tunnels will require an evaluation of alternatives
Temporary Authorization Request
• DOE submitted a Temporary Authorization Request on July 12, 2018– Prior to granting this request, Ecology asked DOE to
provide an updated engineering evaluation of Tunnel 2 based on recent photos inside the tunnel and environmental sampling.
– The updated evaluation stated “The conclusion of the evaluation of the visual inspections indicates PUREX Tunnel 2 is weaker than analyzed and grouting should proceed as soon as possible”.
– On August 13, Ecology granted a Temporary Authorization allowing the Permittees to begin preparing the site for grouting only, and asked for a quantitative assessment of the tunnel’s integrity and/or its risk of near term structural failure.
Purpose of Tonight’s Hearing
• Explain what action is proposed for the tunnels
• Answer Questions• Receive your comments
Questions?
Department of Ecology Mission:
Contacts and InformationNuclear Waste Program Public Comment Page: https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Nuclear-waste/Public-comment-periods
PUREX Storage Tunnel Public Comment Page: http://wt.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=7mped
For questions you can email us at [email protected] or call us at 509-372-7950.
To submit comments by mail send them to: 3100 Port of Benton Blvd, Richland, WA 99354. Comments must be postmarked by September 27, 2018.