Hanford Site Richland, Benton County, Washington

Progress in Reaching Interagency Agreement

DOE, EPA Region X, and the State of Washington negotiated and signed the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement/Consent Order (hereafter referred to as the Tri-Party Agreement) on May 15, 1989. This Tri-Party Agreement provides the framework for effective investigation of waste sites and subsequent remediation of hazardous and mixed waste contamination at Hanford. An annual update is prepared to address additional problems and to incorporate schedules agreed to in approved RI/FS Work Plans or other work scopes agreed to by the three parties. Revision 2 of the Tri-Party Agreement was published in September 1992, which included the second and third amendments to the Consent Order.

On May 23, 1993 negotiations began on significant changes to the Tri-Party Agreement. Change for CERCLA activities included development and inclusion of milestones related to the proposed Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility, consolidation of the 300 Area OUs into a single CERCLA project, and accelerated groundwater remediation projects. The Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility incorporated NEPA values into the CERCLA process as a result of the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility exemption from NEPA in the 1993 Tri-Party Agreement negotiations. Moreover, under CERCLA, the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility is exempted from having to obtain permits. The amended Tri-Party Agreement was signed on January 25, 1994.

In July 1994, the DOE, EPA Region X, and the Washington State Department of Ecology agreed to negotiate on matters related to Hanford's "Refocusing Environmental Restoration" program. The parties agreed to negotiate cleanup schedules in order to achieve earlier remediation of sites along the Columbia River, and to increase emphasis on protecting and remediating groundwater. In addition, the parties agreed to consult with affected Indian Nations and other stakeholders to seek and respond to their values and concerns. The parties concluded formal negotiations on September 30, 1994, and the amended Tri-Party Agreement was signed on July 28, 1995 after a 45-day public comment period.

Negotiations on Amendment 6 are expected to be completed in October 1995, and the public comment period is expected to end in December 1995. This amendment primarily addresses ways of becoming more efficient and cost-effective within the framework of the Tri-Party Agreement. The proposed changes fall into these broad categories:

For detailed information regarding the Tri-Party Agreement, see the FY 91 CERCLA 120 Report to Congress.

Specific Cost Estimates and Budgetary Proposals Involved in Each Interagency Agreement

Funds budgeted for CERCLA activities in the environmental restoration program under the Tri-Party Agreement total $110 of appropriated funding for FY 96 and $90.9 for FY 97 according to the request in the President's Budget.

Public Comments Regarding Interagency Agreements

Amendments and updates to the Tri-Party Agreement are subject to public comment periods prior to signature by the three parties. The most recent Tri-Party Agreement renegotiation package underwent 45 days of public comment during 1995. The amendment was signed by the three parties on July 28, 1995. For detailed information regarding the Tri-Party Agreement comment process, see the FY 91 CERCLA 120 Report to Congress. All future changes to the Tri-Party Agreement will also be subject to public review and comment.

Progress in Conducting the Remedial Investigations/Feasibility Studies

The Hanford Site includes a broad range of waste units that contain either radioactive, hazardous, mixed (both radioactive and hazardous), or nonradioactive/nonhazardous solid waste. Certain hazardous substances and hazardous wastes remain on and under the Hanford Site and have been detected in groundwater and surface water. An estimated 5 billion cubic yards of solid and dilute liquid waste, including hazardous substances, mixed waste, and hazardous waste and constituents, have been disposed of at the Hanford Site.

All remediation work at the Hanford Site is included within four NPL sites (the 100, 200, 300, and 1100 Areas), 74 source OUs containing 1,249 identified hazardous waste sites (985 past-practice sites), and 4 groundwater OUs. OUs were prioritized by EPA and the State of Washington in 1989 for investigation based on an initial assessment of environmental risk.

The following activities were accomplished during FY 95:

100 Area

• Eight CERCLA PPs were submitted to the regulators for the 100-BC-1, 100-BC-2, 100-BC-5, 100-DR-2, 100-FR-1, 100-KR-1, 100-KR-4, and 100-HR-2 OUs;

• The burial ground excavation treatability test at 118-B-1 was completed;

• A CERCLA ROD was issued for the 100-BC-1, 100-DR-1, and 100-HR-1 OUs; and

• Nine Focused FS Reports were submitted to the regulators for the 100-BC-1, 100-BC-2, 100-BC-5, 100-DR-2, 100-FR-1, 100-KR-1, 100-KR-4, and 100-HR-2 OUs.

• One CERCLA PP was submitted for the 200-UP-1 OU;

• The 200-BP-5, 200-ZP-1, and 200-UP-1 pump and treat treatability tests were completed. Pump and treat will continue at 200-ZP-1 and 200-UP-1 as part of the remediation. It was determined that extraction rates were insufficient to be effective at 200-BP-5, and this pump and treat operation was terminated;

• The Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility CERCLA ROD was issued and construction started;

• A CERCLA ROD was issued for remediation at the 200-ZP-1 OU to address groundwater contamination;

• A Focused FS Report for the construction of Engineered Barriers to isolate underground waste was submitted; and

• A Limited Field Investigation Report for the 200-UP-2 OU was submitted.

• A Phase 3 FS Report was submitted for the 300-FF-5 OU;

• A Phase 2 RI Report was submitted for the 300-FF-5 OU; and

• A Limited Field Investigation Report was submitted for the 300-FF-2 OU.

• Assessment activities in the 1100 Area were completed before FY 95 began.

Under the Hanford Site Past Practice Strategy, sites that pose a threat to human health and the environment are identified. These sites are considered for Expedited Response Actions (ERAs).

The following ERA activities were accomplished in FY 95:

100 Area

• The N-Springs ERA is located near the N-Reactor. Past liquid effluent discharges have led to strontium-90 radionuclide releases along the southern bank of the Columbia River, known as N-Springs. In August 1995 operations of a groundwater treatment system at N-Springs began. DOE plans to decide on the technical feasibility of installing an underground barrier wall in FY 96 to further inhibit contaminant movement.

• The 200 West Area carbon tetrachloride treatment site (located in the 200-ZP-2 OU) vapor extraction continues. The system is now automated. Through September 1995, more than 140,000 pounds of carbon tetrachloride have been removed.

Other accomplishments include:

100 Area

• 6,800,000 gallons of groundwater have been pumped and treated at the 100-HR-3 OU.

• Pump and treat is continuing as remediation in the 200-ZP-1 and 200-UP-1 OUs; 4,200,000 gallons and 4,900,000 gallons respectively have been treated through FY 95 at these OUs.

• The PP for the 300-FF-1 and 300-FF-5 OUs is currently out for public review. Remediation will begin after issuance of a PP and ROD.

• Cleanup of the 1100 area was completed in FY 95. The 1100 area cleanup consisted of excavation of PCB-contaminated soil from the Horn Rapids Landfill and Ephemeral Pool and construction of a cap. In addition, smaller stained soil sites were cleaned up by excavating and disposing of the materials offsite. The 1100 Area is primarily used as a vehicle garage and maintenance area for the Hanford Site.

In October 1990, DOE stopped construction of the low-level mixed waste laboratory (Milestone M-14-00) in order to review options for obtaining analytical services from commercial laboratories. DOE subsequently resumed construction of a smaller laboratory. In October 1991, DOE submitted a request to change Milestone M-14-00 from construction of a laboratory to assurance of adequate laboratory capacity for mixed waste samples under the IAG. This request was denied by EPA and the State of Washington in November 1991, and DOE initiated dispute resolution under the IAG. In April 1992, the Senior Executive Committee agreed on a proposal to resolve the issue. As a result of the delay in schedule, and based on public comment, the state required further changes to the agreement to mandate that analytical laboratory services be acquired in the vicinity of Hanford. In addition, the state required DOE to pay a $100,000 penalty, to perform an ERA of the N-Springs, and to establish IAG milestones for completion. DOE is committed to complete existing (approved) ERAs and the N-Springs response action.

DOE has completed an EE/CA for the N-Springs ERA. DOE has also received an Action Memorandum from the Washington State Department of Ecology directing it to proceed with the selected alternative of barrier wall construction and emplacement of a groundwater pump and treat operation. During February 1995, initial tests to drive a barrier wall into the ground at the N-Springs were unsuccessful. DOE and the regulators plan to make a decision on the technical feasibility of the barrier wall in February 1996.