DOE Agrees to Pump Damaged Hanford Double-Shell Tank

The Department of Energy has agreed to remove waste from Hanford’s damaged double-shell tank under a settlement with the Washington State Department of Ecology announced yesterday. Washington state had ordered DOE to begin pumping waste from Tank AY-102, which has been found to be leaking material from its inner shell, by Sept. 1, but the Department had appealed the order. Now, DOE has agreed to begin pumping waste by March 4, 2016, and will have until March 2017 to complete pumping. DOE said yesterday, though, that there are no signs that waste has leaked from Tank AY-102’s outer shell into the environment. “The Office of River Protection (ORP) and Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) are pleased that negotiations with Washington State have resulted in a safe and mutually agreed-upon path forward for the removal of waste from Hanford double-shell tank AY-102,” DOE said.

The settlement also requires “robust contingency planning,“ due within 30 days, “to respond and recover from any worsening conditions that might occur before the waste is removed. Ecology will review the plan and request changes if it is not adequate,” according to an Ecology release. DOE is also required to continue monitoring conditions within the primary tank, the secondary contaminate and the leak detection pit under the tank. DOE could face penalties for failing to abide by the agreement, such as $500 per day for failing to submit the contingency plan by the deadline to $7,500 per week if pumping the tank is delayed, according to Ecology.