The Department of Energy surprised the Hanford Advisory Board (HAB) in Richland, Wash., this month when it unveiled plans to shrink the number of board members and shift appointment authority to the federal government.
In an Aug 12 press release, DOE announced plans to “strengthen” and “modernize” the HAB, partly by cutting the federal advisory board’s membership nearly in half, to only 20 members. The changes, which start Oct. 1, will bring HAB more in line with the model used by other site-specific advisory boards for DOE’s Office of Environmental Management.
“Improving the Hanford Advisory Board will ensure continuity and efficiency while empowering those who live, work and raise their families closest to Hanford,” DOE Hanford Field Office Manager Ray Geimer said in the news release.
“There are 38 seats on the board representing perspectives from local governments, the Hanford workforce, public health and environmental organizations, universities, the public-at-large, and tribal nations,” according to HAB’s 2025 annual report. “HAB members may serve up to three two-year terms and the terms are approved by DOE headquarters,” according to the report.
For decades, Hanford made plutonium during World War II and the Cold War. HAB advises DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of Washington on Hanford’s nuclear cleanup under what is known as the Tri-Party Agreement.
The Tri-City Herald newspaper reported that plans to dramatically revamp the board have been met with criticism by environmental groups and tribes currently represented on the board.
Despite this matter being discussed for months internally at DOE, the board first learned about this move when Geimer announced the decision at the HAB’s Aug. 12 meeting in Richland.