83 FR 23270 - Amended Record of Decision for the Management of Cesium and Strontium Capsules at the Hanford Site, Richland, Washington

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 97 (May 18, 2018)

Page Range		23270-23271
FR Document		2018-10643

This is an amendment to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Record of Decision for the Final Tank Closure and Waste Management Environmental Impact Statement for the Hanford Site, Richland, Washington (DOE/EIS-0391, December 2012) (TC&WM EIS). From 1974 to 1985, cesium and strontium were recovered from high-level radioactive waste stored in underground tanks at the Hanford Site, packed in corrosion-resistant capsules, and placed in storage under water at Hanford's Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility (WESF). The TC&WM EIS evaluated storage, treatment, and final disposition of these capsules and their contents. This amended Record of Decision (ROD) announces DOE's decision to move the capsules from wet storage at WESF to a new dry storage facility.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 97 (Friday, May 18, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23270-23271]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10643]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Amended Record of Decision for the Management of Cesium and 
Strontium Capsules at the Hanford Site, Richland, Washington

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Amended record of decision.

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SUMMARY: This is an amendment to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) 
Record of Decision for the Final Tank Closure and Waste Management 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Hanford Site, Richland, 
Washington (DOE/EIS-0391, December 2012) (TC&WM EIS). From 1974 to 
1985, cesium and strontium were recovered from high-level radioactive 
waste stored in underground tanks at the Hanford Site, packed in 
corrosion-resistant capsules, and placed in storage under water at 
Hanford's Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility (WESF). The TC&WM 
EIS evaluated storage, treatment, and final disposition of these 
capsules and their contents. This amended Record of Decision (ROD) 
announces DOE's decision to move the capsules from wet storage at WESF 
to a new dry storage facility.

ADDRESSES: For copies of this amended ROD, the first ROD, the TC&WM 
EIS, or any related NEPA documents, please contact: Ms. Mary Beth 
Burandt, NEPA Document Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
River Protection, P.O. Box 1178, Richland, Washington 99352, 1-509-372-
8828, [email protected].
    This amended ROD, the first ROD, and the TC&WM EIS are also 
available on DOE's NEPA website at www.energy.gov/nepa and on Hanford's 
website at http://www.hanford.gov/index.cfm?page=1117&.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the TC & 
WM EIS and the RODs, contact Ms. Burandt, as listed above.
    For general information on DOE's NEPA process, contact: Mr. Brian 
Costner, Acting Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-54, 
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0103, Telephone: (202) 
586-4600, or leave a message at 1-800-472-2756, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The cesium and strontium capsules were produced at Hanford during 
the 1970s and 1980s. Cesium and strontium isotopes were separated from 
other radioactive tank waste, converted to cesium chloride and 
strontium fluoride, and then encapsulated for long-term storage. There 
are 1,335 cesium capsules and 601 strontium capsules stored under water 
in a pool at WESF.

Synopsis of the TC&WM EIS and the First Record of Decision

    The final TC&WM EIS was issued in December 2012. It analyzed a 
number of alternatives for retrieving waste from Hanford's single-shell 
tanks, treating that waste, and closing the tanks. It also analyzed 
alternatives for managing other types of wastes at Hanford, and for 
decommissioning the Fast Flux Test Facility.\1\ Three alternatives for 
managing the cesium and strontium capsules now stored in WESF were 
evaluated: (1) The no action alternative, which was continued storage 
in WESF; (2) shipment of the capsules from WESF to new facilities where 
the capsules would be opened and their contents made into a slurry for 
processing in the Waste Treatment Plant; and (3) transfer of the 
capsules from WESF to a new interim dry storage facility where they 
would remain until their contents were treated and sent to a geologic 
repository. The third alternative was included in the final EIS in 
response to comments from the state of Oregon and the Yakama Nation.
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    \1\ The alternatives analyzed in the TC&WM EIS are described in 
detail in Chapter 2 of the final EIS. Chapter 2 also identifies 
DOE's preferred alternatives for tank closure, decommissioning of 
the Fast Flux Test Facility, and waste management on pages 2-321 
through 2-322. The final EIS also states that DOE would not make any 
decision regarding the final disposition of the capsules after 
treatment based on this EIS. (Final TC&WM EIS at page 1-15.)
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    The first ROD, published on December 13, 2013 (78 FR 75913),

[[Page 23271]]

contained no decisions regarding the interim storage, treatment, or 
final disposition of the capsules or their contents.\2\ Accordingly, 
the capsules continue to be stored in WESF.
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    \2\ The first ROD noted that it ``is the first in a series of 
RODs that DOE intends to issue pursuant to the Final TC&WM EIS.'' 
(78 FR 75918.) It also stated that DOE was ``not deciding on 
treatment of the cesium and strontium capsules in this ROD.'' (Id.)
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Events Since Issuance of the First Record of Decision

    Since issuance of the ROD, completion of the Waste Treatment 
Project has been delayed and WESF is experiencing degradation of key 
structures and safety systems, including the concrete walls of the 
storage pool due to gamma radiation emitted by the capsules. The 
degradation of WESF has increased the risk that a beyond design basis 
natural event (e.g. an earthquake) could cause the walls to fail, 
resulting in loss of the water that provides shielding of the capsules. 
Due to this concern and the realization that the capsules would likely 
need to stay in WESF for a period longer than its design life, DOE has 
concluded that interim dry storage of the capsules in a new facility 
would significantly reduce the potential risk of onsite radiological 
exposures and airborne releases from a failure of WESF.

Preferred Alternative for Interim Storage of the Capsules

    Because of the delays in completing the Waste Treatment Plant and 
the ongoing degradation of WESF, DOE has now concluded that its 
preferred alternative for interim storage of the capsules is in a new 
dry storage facility. This is also the environmentally preferred 
alternative for interim storage of the capsules as it would reduce the 
risks posed by a failure of WESF.

Decision

    DOE evaluated the transfer of the cesium and strontium capsules 
from WESF to dry storage in Appendix E of the final TC&WM EIS (Section 
E 1.2.3.4.5.) in response to comments from the state of Oregon's 
Department of Energy and the Yakama Nation (Final TC&WM EIS at 3-29 to 
3-30 and 3-437 to 3-440). This evaluation identified the potential 
impacts from construction and operation of a new dry storage facility 
in the 200-East Area of Hanford, which would be deactivated upon final 
disposition of the capsules. These impacts included those from the 
construction of an approximately 6,500-square-meter (70,000-square-
feet) dry storage facility and disturbance of 13,000-square-meters 
(140,000-square-feet) of ground. They also included the operational 
impacts from retrieval of the capsules from WESF and their placement 
into containers; transfer of the containers to the new storage 
facility; and maintaining and monitoring of the facility for up to 145 
years (the maximum storage time under all of the Tank Closure 
Alternatives analyzed in the TC & WM EIS). The potential impacts from 
deactivation of the dry storage facility included those resulting from 
putting the facility into a stable configuration after removal of the 
capsules for treatment, disposition, or both.
    The capsules would be transported and stored in casks similar to 
the casks analyzed in the TC&WM EIS; they would be passively ventilated 
to dissipate heat produced by radioactive decay within the capsules. 
The current design of the dry storage facility, which would be located 
approximately 400 meters (440 yards) from the existing WESF, calls for 
a storage pad of 753 square meters (8,100 square feet) within the 
facility on which the casks would be placed. The new facility would be 
a ``dangerous waste management unit'' under the Hanford Facility 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Permit; it would be added 
to the permit through a modification issued by the state of Washington 
pursuant to its delegated RCRA authority.
    The potential environmental impacts from interim dry storage of the 
capsules would be less than those identified in the TC&WM EIS for this 
alternative, primarily due to the decay of radioactivity in the 
capsules. In June 2017, DOE estimated that the radioactivity in the 
capsules had decayed to 46 million curies; the final TC&WM EIS assumed 
the capsules contained about 68 million curies.
    DOE's decision is to continue interim storage of the capsules, but 
in a new dry storage facility rather than in WESF. DOE is not making 
any decisions at this time on treatment or final disposition of the 
cesium and strontium capsules.

Mitigation Measures

    Moving the capsules from WESF to a dry storage facility will 
mitigate potential impacts resulting from a potential failure of WESF. 
This decision will allow DOE to eliminate the potential for releases to 
groundwater and the atmosphere from a structural failure of WESF.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 14, 2018.
Anne Marie White,
Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-10643 Filed 5-17-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

23270 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2018 / Notices

the comment period will not be reports are used to evaluate grantee on DOE’s NEPA website at
accepted. Written requests for performance. Further, the data from the www.energy.gov/nepa and on Hanford’s
information or comments submitted by reports will be aggregated to evaluate website at http://www.hanford.gov/
postal mail or delivery should be the accomplishments and impact of the index.cfm?page=1117&.
addressed to the Director of the GAANN Program as a whole. Results FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
Information Collection Clearance will be reported to the Secretary in further information about the TC & WM
Division, U.S. Department of Education, order to respond to GPRA requirements. EIS and the RODs, contact Ms. Burandt,
400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room Minor changes have been made to the as listed above.
216–34, Washington, DC 20202–4537. collection to clarify the intent of the For general information on DOE’s
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions and update the areas of NEPA process, contact: Mr. Brian
specific questions related to collection national need. These changes did not Costner, Acting Director, Office of NEPA
activities, please contact Rebecca Ell, alter the anticipated burden hours Policy and Compliance, GC–54, U.S.
202–453–6348. associated with this collection. There Department of Energy, Washington, DC
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The was a small increase in total burden 20585–0103, Telephone: (202) 586–
Department of Education (ED), in hours based on the recalculation of the 4600, or leave a message at 1–800–472–
accordance with the Paperwork burden on public respondents. 2756, or email askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Dated: May 15, 2018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general Kate Mullan, Background
public and Federal agencies with an Acting Director, Information Collection The cesium and strontium capsules
opportunity to comment on proposed, Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
were produced at Hanford during the
revised, and continuing collections of Officer, Office of Management.
1970s and 1980s. Cesium and strontium
information. This helps the Department [FR Doc. 2018–10648 Filed 5–17–18; 8:45 am]
isotopes were separated from other
assess the impact of its information BILLING CODE 4000–01–P radioactive tank waste, converted to
collection requirements and minimize cesium chloride and strontium fluoride,
the public’s reporting burden. It also and then encapsulated for long-term
helps the public understand the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY storage. There are 1,335 cesium capsules
Department’s information collection and 601 strontium capsules stored
requirements and provide the requested Amended Record of Decision for the under water in a pool at WESF.
data in the desired format. ED is Management of Cesium and Strontium
soliciting comments on the proposed Capsules at the Hanford Site, Richland, Synopsis of the TC&WM EIS and the
information collection request (ICR) that Washington First Record of Decision
is described below. The Department of The final TC&WM EIS was issued in
Education is especially interested in AGENCY: Department of Energy. December 2012. It analyzed a number of
public comment addressing the ACTION: Amended record of decision. alternatives for retrieving waste from
following issues: (1) Is this collection Hanford’s single-shell tanks, treating
necessary to the proper functions of the SUMMARY: This is an amendment to the
that waste, and closing the tanks. It also
Department; (2) will this information be U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE)
analyzed alternatives for managing other
processed and used in a timely manner; Record of Decision for the Final Tank
types of wastes at Hanford, and for
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; Closure and Waste Management
decommissioning the Fast Flux Test
(4) how might the Department enhance Environmental Impact Statement for the
Facility.1 Three alternatives for
the quality, utility, and clarity of the Hanford Site, Richland, Washington managing the cesium and strontium
information to be collected; and (5) how (DOE/EIS–0391, December 2012) capsules now stored in WESF were
might the Department minimize the (TC&WM EIS). From 1974 to 1985, evaluated: (1) The no action alternative,
burden of this collection on the cesium and strontium were recovered which was continued storage in WESF;
respondents, including through the use from high-level radioactive waste stored (2) shipment of the capsules from WESF
of information technology. Please note in underground tanks at the Hanford to new facilities where the capsules
that written comments received in Site, packed in corrosion-resistant would be opened and their contents
response to this notice will be capsules, and placed in storage under made into a slurry for processing in the
considered public records. water at Hanford’s Waste Encapsulation Waste Treatment Plant; and (3) transfer
Title of Collection: Graduate and Storage Facility (WESF). The of the capsules from WESF to a new
Assistance in Areas of National Need TC&WM EIS evaluated storage, interim dry storage facility where they
(GAANN) Performance Report. treatment, and final disposition of these would remain until their contents were
OMB Control Number: 1840–0748. capsules and their contents. This treated and sent to a geologic repository.
Type of Review: A revision of an amended Record of Decision (ROD) The third alternative was included in
existing information collection. announces DOE’s decision to move the the final EIS in response to comments
Respondents/Affected Public: State, capsules from wet storage at WESF to a from the state of Oregon and the
Local, and Tribal Governments; Private new dry storage facility. Yakama Nation.
Sector. ADDRESSES: For copies of this amended The first ROD, published on
Total Estimated Number of Annual ROD, the first ROD, the TC&WM EIS, or December 13, 2013 (78 FR 75913),
Responses: 291. any related NEPA documents, please
Total Estimated Number of Annual contact: Ms. Mary Beth Burandt, NEPA 1 The alternatives analyzed in the TC&WM EIS
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Burden Hours: 3,274. Document Manager, U.S. Department of are described in detail in Chapter 2 of the final EIS.
Chapter 2 also identifies DOE’s preferred
Abstract: GAANN grantees must Energy, Office of River Protection, P.O. alternatives for tank closure, decommissioning of
submit a performance report annually. Box 1178, Richland, Washington 99352, the Fast Flux Test Facility, and waste management
In addition, grantees are required to 1–509–372–8828, mary_e_burandt@ on pages 2–321 through 2–322. The final EIS also
states that DOE would not make any decision
submit a supplement to the final orp.doe.gov. regarding the final disposition of the capsules after
performance report two years after This amended ROD, the first ROD, treatment based on this EIS. (Final TC&WM EIS at
submission of their final report. The and the TC&WM EIS are also available page 1–15.)

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2018 / Notices 23271

contained no decisions regarding the 13,000-square-meters (140,000-square- Issued in Washington, DC, on May 14,
interim storage, treatment, or final feet) of ground. They also included the 2018.
disposition of the capsules or their operational impacts from retrieval of the Anne Marie White,
contents.2 Accordingly, the capsules capsules from WESF and their Assistant Secretary for Environmental
continue to be stored in WESF. placement into containers; transfer of Management.
the containers to the new storage [FR Doc. 2018–10643 Filed 5–17–18; 8:45 am]
Events Since Issuance of the First
Record of Decision facility; and maintaining and BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
monitoring of the facility for up to 145
Since issuance of the ROD,
completion of the Waste Treatment years (the maximum storage time under
all of the Tank Closure Alternatives DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Project has been delayed and WESF is
experiencing degradation of key analyzed in the TC & WM EIS). The [OE Docket No. EA–452]
structures and safety systems, including potential impacts from deactivation of
the dry storage facility included those Application To Export Electric Energy;
the concrete walls of the storage pool
resulting from putting the facility into a Matador Power Marketing, Inc.
due to gamma radiation emitted by the
capsules. The degradation of WESF has stable configuration after removal of the AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery
increased the risk that a beyond design capsules for treatment, disposition, or and Energy Reliability, DOE.
basis natural event (e.g. an earthquake) both. ACTION: Notice of application.
could cause the walls to fail, resulting The capsules would be transported
in loss of the water that provides and stored in casks similar to the casks SUMMARY: Matador Power Marketing,
shielding of the capsules. Due to this analyzed in the TC&WM EIS; they Inc. (Matador or Applicant) has applied
concern and the realization that the would be passively ventilated to for authority to transmit electric energy
capsules would likely need to stay in from the United States to Mexico
dissipate heat produced by radioactive
WESF for a period longer than its design pursuant to the Federal Power Act.
decay within the capsules. The current
life, DOE has concluded that interim dry DATES: Comments, protests, or motions
storage of the capsules in a new facility design of the dry storage facility, which
would be located approximately 400 to intervene must be submitted on or
would significantly reduce the potential before June 18, 2018.
risk of onsite radiological exposures and meters (440 yards) from the existing
WESF, calls for a storage pad of 753 ADDRESSES: Comments, protests,
airborne releases from a failure of motions to intervene, or requests for
WESF. square meters (8,100 square feet) within
the facility on which the casks would be more information should be addressed
Preferred Alternative for Interim placed. The new facility would be a to: Office of Electricity Delivery and
Storage of the Capsules Energy Reliability, Mail Code: OE–20,
‘‘dangerous waste management unit’’
Because of the delays in completing U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
under the Hanford Facility Resource
the Waste Treatment Plant and the Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
ongoing degradation of WESF, DOE has DC 20585–0350. Because of delays in
Permit; it would be added to the permit handling conventional mail, it is
now concluded that its preferred through a modification issued by the
alternative for interim storage of the recommended that documents be
state of Washington pursuant to its transmitted by overnight mail, by
capsules is in a new dry storage facility. delegated RCRA authority.
This is also the environmentally electronic mail to Electricity.Exports@
preferred alternative for interim storage The potential environmental impacts hq.doe.gov, or by facsimile to 202–586–
of the capsules as it would reduce the from interim dry storage of the capsules 8008.
risks posed by a failure of WESF. would be less than those identified in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of
the TC&WM EIS for this alternative, electricity from the United States to a
Decision primarily due to the decay of foreign country are regulated by the
DOE evaluated the transfer of the radioactivity in the capsules. In June Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to
cesium and strontium capsules from 2017, DOE estimated that the sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the
WESF to dry storage in Appendix E of radioactivity in the capsules had Department of Energy Organization Act
the final TC&WM EIS (Section E decayed to 46 million curies; the final (42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require
1.2.3.4.5.) in response to comments from TC&WM EIS assumed the capsules authorization under section 202(e) of
the state of Oregon’s Department of contained about 68 million curies. the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C.
Energy and the Yakama Nation (Final 824a(e)).
DOE’s decision is to continue interim On May 1, 2018, DOE received an
TC&WM EIS at 3–29 to 3–30 and 3–437
to 3–440). This evaluation identified the storage of the capsules, but in a new dry application from Matador for authority
potential impacts from construction and storage facility rather than in WESF. to transmit electric energy from the
operation of a new dry storage facility DOE is not making any decisions at this United States to Mexico as a power
in the 200-East Area of Hanford, which time on treatment or final disposition of marketer for a five-year term using
would be deactivated upon final the cesium and strontium capsules. existing international transmission
disposition of the capsules. These Mitigation Measures facilities.
impacts included those from the In its application, Matador states that
construction of an approximately 6,500- Moving the capsules from WESF to a it does not own or control any electric
square-meter (70,000-square-feet) dry dry storage facility will mitigate generation or transmission facilities,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

storage facility and disturbance of potential impacts resulting from a and it does not have a franchised service
potential failure of WESF. This decision area. The electric energy that the
2 The first ROD noted that it ‘‘is the first in a
will allow DOE to eliminate the Applicant proposes to export to Mexico
series of RODs that DOE intends to issue pursuant would be surplus energy purchased
to the Final TC&WM EIS.’’ (78 FR 75918.) It also potential for releases to groundwater
stated that DOE was ‘‘not deciding on treatment of and the atmosphere from a structural from third parties such as electric
the cesium and strontium capsules in this ROD.’’ failure of WESF. utilities and Federal power marketing
(Id.) agencies pursuant to voluntary

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Document Created: 2018-05-18 02:15:58
Document Modified: 2018-05-18 02:15:58

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Amended record of decision.
Contact		For further information about the TC & WM EIS and the RODs, contact Ms. Burandt, as listed above.
FR Citation		83 FR 23270