Professional Documents
Culture Documents
f.
II,. 300 600
il.i= ..................
Feet
II..
r-; .
I 1.---,-
l
1 Environmental Restoration
\ Disposal Fac111ty
.. ,
Fitzner-Eberhardt
Arid Lands Ecology Reserve
(ALE)
<I
Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility
Hanford
Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility Washington Administrative Code, and other health-based limits
(whichever is more restrictive). Leachate in excess of Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility recycling
capacity/acceptable contaminant levels will be sent to the Effluent Treatment Facility or another approved facility
for management
3.13.1 Engineered Unit
Only Hanford environmental cleanup wastes generated as a result of CERCLA or RCRA cleanup actions
(investigation-derived waste, decontamination and decommissioning wastes, and RCRA past-practice wastes)
are eligible for disposal in the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility, provided the waste meets
Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility Washington Administrative Code and the appropriate decision
documents are in place. Additionally, non-process waste (e.g., contaminated soil, debris) generated from closure
of inactive RCRA treatment, storage and disposal units may be placed in the Environmental Restoration Disposal
Facility if: 1) the units are within the boundaries of a CERCLA or RCRA past-practice operable unit, 2) the
closure wastes are sufficiently similar to CERCLA or RCRA past-practice wastes placed in the Environmental
Restoration Disposal Facility, 3) the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility waste acceptance criteria are
satisfied, and 4) the appropriate CERCLA decision documents are in place. Revision of the RCRA Permit and
closure plans may be required. Actual wastes may consist of hazardous/dangerous, radioactive, mixed
(containing both hazardous/dangerous and radioactive waste), PCB (minor amounts), and asbestos wastes. Waste
treatment may be conducted before disposal at the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility instead of at the
operable units.
The wastes being disposed of at the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility are as follows:
Washington 55
National Defense Authorization Act (NOAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
Waste from the 100 Area
Includes soil, solid wastes, sediments, and sludges
Solid wastes include hard waste, soft waste, demolition waste and pipes.
Soft wastes include collapsed cardboard boxes, paper, rags, clothing, plastic, and miscellaneous
trash.
Hard wastes include aluminum tubes and spacers, failed steel and stainless steel equipment,
timbers, and metal drums.
Investigation-derived waste generated during RCRA Facility Investigation/Corrective Measures Studies
(FIICMS) or CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Corrective Measures Studies (RIICMS) may be placed
in ERDF if waste criteria are met.
Waste from the 200 Area
Information is not currently available on the physical characterization of 200 Area soils likely to be
disposed in ERDF.
Investigation-derived waste totals about 380 cubic meters (500 cubic yards). Volumes to be disposed
from the 200-ZP-1 Operable Unit and volumes to be generated during future activities will be addressed
in the future.
Waste from the 300 Area
Wastes are in two categories, based on similarities of cleanup requirements: 1) contaminated soil, and
2) solid waste (e.g., pipelines, burial ground waste).
Investigation-derived waste generated during RCRA Facility Investigation/Corrective Measures Studies
(FIICMS) or CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Corrective Measures Studies (RI/CMS) may be placed
in ERDF if waste criteria are met.
The total volume of residual contamination from wastes from the 300 Area is estimated to be about one
million cubic meters (1.3 million cubic yards) of contaminated soil and solid waste.
Potential contaminants of concern in the 300 Area waste sites include: Non-radioactive (ammonia,
arsenic, benzo( a)pyrene, cadmium, chrysene, PCBs, thallium, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene (TCE))
and radioactive ( cesium-137, cobalt -60, thorium-228, uranium-234, uranium-235, uranium-238, zinc-65)
contaminants.
A Record of Decision was issued in 1995, and three amendments to the Record of Decision (1996, 1997, 1999)
have been issued. A Closure Plan for the first two Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility cells has been
developed. The first two cells have received nearly 1.8 million metric tons (two million tons) of contaminated
material since mid-1996. Both cells will have an interim cover by July 2000. Construction of two additional
cells (Cells 3 and 4) was authorized in 1998 and completed in 1999; Cells 3 and 4 will begin receiving waste in
May 2000. A final cover will be placed on Cells 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the 2006-to-2007 time frame (actual date of
cover placement is driven by waste volume, settlement/subsidence, and the geometry of the site).
A modified RCRA-compliant closure cover will be placed over the waste. The cover will prevent direct exposure
to the waste and includes a vegetated surface layer of fine-grained soils to retain moisture and encourage
evapotranspiration, thereby minimizing infiltration and vadose zone transport of contaminants to groundwater.
Washington 56
Hanford
The upper 50 em (20 in.) of the soil cover system is composed of a mixture of silt and gravels, which is intended
to both reduce infiltration through the cover and enhance the resistance of the cover to burrowing animals and
long-term wind erosion. The RCRA-compliant cover will be modified by providing a total of approximately 4.6
meters (15 feet) of soil to deter intrusion. Additional research into closure covers may result in site-specific
enhancements to RCRA-compliant designs. Construction of the cover will occur incrementally as the trench is
expanded. The design will, at a minimum, comply with applicable RCRA requirements found at 40 CFR Part
264, Subpart N. Hanford Site borrow-pit basalt will not be required for the Environmental Restoration Disposal
Facility cover.
Institutional controls will restrict public access to the landfill upon closure. Additional measures may be
necessary to ensure long-term viability of the institutional controls if the final remedial actions selected do not
allow for unrestricted land use. Any additional controls will be specified as part of the final remedy. Currently
active institutional controls include fences, signs, patrols badging/visitor escort, and access restriction language
to any land transfer/sale/lease of property, as appropriate. Passive institutional controls will consist of markers,
offsite records, and a surface barrier that is at least 4.6 meters (15 feet) thick. The institutional controls will
prevent intrusion into the waste for at least 100 years, and passive controls will prevent intrusion for 500 years.
DOE will perform annual evaluations of the institutional controls to determine their effectiveness and
implementation and will perform five-year reviews from the commencement of remedial actions until final
remediation objectives are achieved.
3.14 North Slope
TheN orth Slope (sometimes called theW ahluke Slope)
is a large block of land (about 35,600 hectares, or
87,900 acres) located north of the Columbia River in
the northeastern portion of Hanford, approximately 32-
40 kilometers (20-25 miles) north of Richland,
Washington. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service as part of the Hanford Reach National
Monument. Historically tribal land, the area was
homesteaded by pioneers before it was taken by the
Federal government in 1943 as a security buffer to
protect Hanford's defense production facilities. Anti-
aircraft artillery and missile sites were located on this
NORTH SLOPE PORTION HIGHLIGHTS
Major Long-Term Stewardship Activities -limit access
to maintain the buffer zone around the site; continue
revegetation efforts
Portion Size- 35,600 hectares (87,900 acres)
Estimated Volume of Residual Contaminants- to be
determined
Long-Term Stewardship Start-End Years- current -in
perpetuity
land; plutonium production plants or storage facilities were never built there. The topography of the North Slope
is marked by the Saddle Mountains to the north and the Columbia River to the south. The geologic structure
beneath the North Slope is similar to much of the rest of Hanford, which consists of three distinct levels of soil
formations. The waste sites covered in this submittal include all contaminated sites on the North Slope 100-IU-3
Operable Unit.
3.14.1 Soil
There are 39 soil waste sites covering 210 hectares (518 acres) in the North Slope portion. All ofthese sites are
in long-term stewardship and are associated with: homesteading activities that occurred prior to 1943, military
activities relating to the defense of Hanford, and Bureau of Reclamation Activities in support of the Columbia
Basin Irrigation Project. Many of the sites in this group were landfills for former military installations, with soil
contamination resulting from the historic use of petroleum products and pesticides by the military.
All contaminants of concern have been cleaned up to below the Washington State Model Taxies Control Act
residential standards. Remediation of sites in the North Slope was completed by the end of 1994. The 39 sites
Washington
57
I
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
~
Soil Contamination
0
Wahluke Slope
c:::J
0
0 2 co 0o
Miles
0
0
100 Other Area
0
0
Arid Lands
North Slope
on the North Slope have been investigated, characterized, and remediated where necessary to comply with
Washington State Model Taxies Control Act cleanup levels. Cleanup of the 39 sites included the removal of soil
contaminated with the pesticide 24-D, DDT and their associated breakdown products and disposal of them in a
hazardous waste landfill in Arlington, OR. Petroleum-contaminated soil (PCS) was transported to a PCS
treatment facility in Pasco, W A for bioremediation. Several 208-liter (55-gallon) drums of miscellaneous and
hazardous substances were sent to appropriate handling facilities. Non-hazardous trash, debris, and concrete
were either returned to the excavations or recycled. No known hazardous substances remain onsite. This is
supported by the confirmatory sampling results. EPA delisted the North Slope from the National Priorities List
on July 8, 1998. Because no hazardous substances remain onsite above Washington State Model Taxies Control
Act health-based levels, a five-year review process does not apply to this portion. However, DOE commits to
the development and implementation of a Mitigation Action Plan, in coordination with the Natural Resource
Trustees, for any additional required mitigation measures. An administrative record of all project documentation
is stored at the DOE Richland Administrative Record Center, at the EPA Region 10 Superfund Record Center,
and at the Washington State Department of Ecology, Administrative Record in Lacey, Washington.
The entire North Slope is included in the Hanford Reach National Monument, though the land is retained by
DOE. Thus, general administrative engineered controls (e.g., surveillance and maintenance and other access
controls) are in place.
Institutional controls for residual wastes are not necessary -- no known hazardous wastes remain onsite ( 100-IU-
Washington 58
Hanford
3 Operable Unit). According to the Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan EIS, the preferred alternative land
use designation for the North Slope portion is "Preservation."
3.15 Riverland
The Riverland Portion covers about 3,500 hectares
(8,650 acres) and is included in the Hanford Reach
Monument. The Riverland Portion includes the
RiverlandRail Yard. TheRiverlandRail Yard(lOO-IU-
1 Operable Unit) supported Hanford construction and
operation activities from 1943 until 1954, while
decontamination of radioactive rail cars continued until
1956. Although the Riverland Rail Yard has been
remediated, the other operable units are still
contaminated and will remain in the Riverland Area
beyond 2006.
RIVERLAND PORTION HIGHLIGHTS
Major Long-Term Stewardship Activities- none
Portion Size- 3500 hectares (8650 acres)
Estimated Volume of Residual Contaminants- to be
determined
Long-Term Stewardship Start-End Years- current -in
perpetuity
The geologic structure beneath the 100 Area is similar to much of the rest of Hanford, which consists of three
distinct levels of soil formations.
0
Washington
0 Contaminated Soil
c=J Contaminated Soil
Miles
Arid Lands
2
North Slope
0
0
100 Other Area
0
0
Riverland Portion
59
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
3.15.1 Soil
There are 12 soil waste sites in the Riverland Rail Yard. Seven of these, covering over 2.2 hectares (5.5 acres),
will require long-term stewardship in 2006 and include a 2, 4-D pesticide container site, a rail yard maintenance
facility, and two former military installations with associated demolition debris.
Between 1992 and 1994, DOE performed a CERCLA expedited response action for the cleanup of the River land
Rail Yard Maintenance Facility and pesticide container sites and closure of an empty munitions cache hole.
Diesel-contaminated concrete and soil from the rail yard and pesticide sites were removed from the site for
bioremediation. Sampling results indicated that levels of the contaminants remaining in the soil at the rail yard
are below Washington State Model Toxics Control Act residential standards. Radioactive decontamination of
this facility occurred around 1963, after which the maintenance facilities were dismantled and sold. Follow-up
radiological surveys were performed in 1977, 1978, and 1993, revealing only natural background levels. Also
during the cleanup, a site containing 2,4-D pesticide containers was discovered, sampled, and cleaned up to
Washington State Model Toxics Control Act residential standards. Contaminants of concern included Aldrin,
Dieldrin, and diesel and heavy oil (all of which have been cleaned up to Washington State Model Toxics Control
Act levels). A Record of Decision issued in 1996 declared that no further action is required at the Riverland 100-
IU-1 Operable Unit. However, DOE will develop and implement a Mitigation Action Plan, in coordination with
the Natural Resource Trustees, for any additional required mitigation measures. EPA and the Washington State
Department of Ecology have determined these actions are protective of human health and the environment.
Institutional or engineered controls for residual wastes are not necessary for the Riverland Portion (100-IU-1
Operable Unit) -- no known hazardous substances remain onsite.
Although the remedial action was cleanup under CERCLA, a five-year review does not apply since hazardous
substances are not left onsite above health-based levels. The administrative record of this cleanup action is stored
at the DOE-Richland Administrative Record Center, the EPA Region 10 Superfund Record Center, and the
Washington State Department of Ecology's Administrative Record at Lacey, Washington.
According to the Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan EIS, the preferred alternative land use designation for
the Riverland portion is "Preservation."
4.0 FUTURE USES
The Federal government is expected to maintain ownership of most of the site once cleanup is completed, with
the DOE Environmental Management program as the steward for all areas of the site retained by the Federal
government in perpetuity. To date, about 50 percent of Hanford Site lands have been cleaned up or transferred
for alternate uses, mostly for economic development or preservation use. The North Slope, ALE and Reach land
have been put under the management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the Hanford Reach National
Monument , but remains under DOE ownership to maintain a safety buffer zone and pristine habitat.
The Final Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan EIS was issued in September 1999 and the Record of Decision
released in November 1999. Of the totall52,000 hectares (375,000 acres), the preferred alternative described
in the Comprehensive Land-Use Plan includes eventual land use for Hanford as follows: conservation (mining)
- 442,000 hectares (109,000 acres); Industrial- 15,300 hectares (37,900 acres); Industrial-Exclusive- 5,060
hectares (12,500 acres); Preservation- 78, 100 hectares ( 193,000 acres); High-Intensity Recreation- 125 hectares
(309 acres); Low-Intensity Recreation- 334 hectares (825 acres); R&D- 4910 hectares (12,100 acres); and
Columbia River- 3,640 hectares (9,000 acres). This land use distribution will not be complete by 2007.
Washington
60
Hanford
Haiz.(ord Site Land-Use Desif{nations
Land-Use Designation Definition
Industrial-Exclusive An area suitable and desirable for treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous,
dangerous, radioactive, and nonradioactive wastes. Includes related activities consistent
with Industrial-Exclusive uses.
Industrial An area suitable and desirable for activities, such as reactor operations, rail, barge
transport facilities, mining, manufacturing, food processing, assembly, warehouse, and
distribution operations. Includes related activities consistent with Industrial uses.
Agricultural An area designated for the tilling of soil, raising of crops and livestock, and horticulture
for commercial purposes along with all those activities normally and routinely involved
in horticulture and the production of crops and livestock. Includes related activities
consistent with agricultural uses.
R&D An area designated for conducting basic or applied research that requires the use of a
large-scale or isolated facility, or smaller scale time-limited research conducted in the
field or within facilities that consume limited resources. Includes scientific, engineering,
technology development, technology transfer, and technology deployment activities to
meet regional and national needs. Includes related activities consistent with Research
and Development.
High-Intensity Recreation An area allocated for high-intensity, visitor-serving activities and facilities (commercial
and governmental), such as golf courses, recreational vehicle parks, boat launching
facilities, Tribal fishing facilities, destination resorts, cultural centers, and museums.
Includes related activities consistent with High-Intensity Recreation.
Low-Intensity Recreation An area allocated for low-intensity, visitor-serving activities and facilities, such as
improved recreational trails, primitive boat launching facilities, and permitted
campgrounds. Includes related activities consistent with Low-Intensity Recreation.
Conservation (Mining & An area reserved for the management and protection of archeological, cultural,
Grazing) ecological, and natural resources. Limited and managed mining (e.g., quarrying for
sand, gravel, basalt, and topsoil for governmental purposes) and grazing could occur as a
special use (i.e., a permit would be required) within appropriate areas. Limited public
access would be consistent with resource conservation. Includes activities related to
Conservation (Mining and Grazing), consistent with the protection of archeological,
cultural, ecological, and natural resources.
Conservation (Mining) An area reserved for the management and protection of archeological, cultural,
ecological, and natural resources. Limited and managed mining (e.g., quarrying for
sand, gravel, basalt, and topsoil for governmental purposes) could occur as a special use
(i.e., a permit would be required) within appropriate areas. Limited public access would
be consistent with resource conservation. Includes activities related to Conservation
(Mining), consistent with the protection of archeological, cultural, ecological, and
natural resources.
Preservation An area managed for the preservation of archeological, cultural, ecological, and natural
resources. No new consumptive uses (i.e., mining or extraction of non-renewable
resources) would be allowed within this area. Limited public access would be consistent
with resource preservation. Includes activities related to Preservation uses.
Final decisions on the level of cleanup to be performed on individual waste units continue to be made through
the CERCLA or RCRA decision processes. As CERCLA and RCRA decisions are made, revisions to the
baseline and Comprehensive Land-Use Plan will be made, as required. End-state goals for the preferred
alternative of the Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan EIS for the portions that will require long-term
stewardship in 2006 are as follows:
Washington
61
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
Portion End State Goal
Columbia River Corridor (Portions Land-use designations include high-intensity recreation near the Vernita Bridge, a
lOOB/C, lOOD, lOOF, lOOH, lOOK, proposed museum facility at the B Reactor, and two areas on the Wahluke Slope;
lOON, 100 Other, 300) low-intensity recreation between the Vernita Bridge and the B Reactor museum,
near the White Bluffs boat ramp and across the river on the Wahluke Slope, and
for proposed recreation facilities near the D/DR Reactors, at the old Hanford
High School, and just north of Energy Northwest; and conservation (mining) for
the remainder. The river islands and a quarter-mile buffer zone along the river
will be designated as preservation to protect cultural and ecological resources.
The 300 Area land is designated for industrial use.
Portions 1100 Area and ALE The 1100 Area is designated for industrial use and has been transferred to the
Port of Benton. Most of the Fitzner/Eberhardt Arid Land Ecology Research
(ALE) is designated for preservation which is consistent with current
management practices by US Fish and Wildlife Service. Part of the ALE is
designated for conservation (mining) as a source of materials for remediation
I projects on Hanford.
Wahluke Slope (Portion North The entire slope is designated for preservation, except near the Vernita Bridge, to
Slope) provide protection for sensitive areas or species. The Wahluke Slope is managed
by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
Central Plateau (Portion The Central Plateau is designated for industrial- exclusive use to allow for
Environmental Restoration continuation of Waste Management operations such as the Environmental
Disposal Facility) Restoration Disposal Facility. Portions 200 North and 200-P0-1 groundwater
Plume are under lands designated for conservation (mining).
Portion Riverland The land in the vicinity of the Riverlands Rail Yard is designated for
preservation; however, the extant railroad grade across the area is considered an
active permitted infrastructure.
Since the Final Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan EIS was issued, the Hanford 1100 Area and the Hanford
railroad southern connection (from Hom Rapids Road to Columbia Center) have been transferred from DOE
ownership to Port of Benton ownership in order to support future economic development. Land use of the 1100
Area and the railroad southern connection would remain Industrial, as proposed in the EIS.
Energy Northwest (formerly known as the Washington Public Power Supply System, or 40 WPPSS) has
requested DOE approval of a sublease of a portion of the land they lease from DOE north of the 300 Area. This
sublease would be for siting, construction, and operation of an aluminum smelter. Land use of the Energy
Northwest-leased land would remain Industrial, as proposed in the EIS.
Planning for Possible Future Missions
The Record of Decision for the Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan EIS identifies lands required to support
DOE's current Environmental Management and Science and Technology missions at Hanford, as well as lands
for future economic development. DOE is proposing that additional lands be maintained under the Industrial
land-use designation in areas where existing infrastructure is available and other compatible uses exist. DOE
believes it is prudent to retain land under the Industrial land-use designation to support possible future missions,
rather than convert the land to the Conservation or Preservation land-use designation at this time. This would
avoid possible conflicts with future missions. DOE anticipates that the need for land under the Industrial land-
use designation would continue to be evaluated during future planning efforts, which may result in conversion
of some lands to the Conservation, Preservation, or other land-use designations. However, such lands would be
managed as conservation until such time as a specific economic development use is identified.
Washington
62
.,.
Environmental
Restoration
Disposal Facility
Land uses
~ Industrial
0
!
Washington
Nonconformance after 50 years
Recreation
Research & Development
Remainder of site is
Preservation and Conservation
Laser Interferometry
Gravitational-Wave
Observatory
(LIGO)
Hanford Land Use Map
Hanford
63
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
For additional information about the Hanford Site, please contact:
Mr. James Daily
U.S. Department of Energy
Building 825 JADWIN, Room 548
825 Jadwin A venue
Richland, W A 99352
phone: 509-376-7721
james_i_II_daily@rl.gov
or visit the Hanford Home Page at http://www.hanford.gov
Washington 64
(WNI) Sherwood Site
(WNI) SHERWOOD SITE
1.0 SITE SUMMARY
1.1 Site Description and Mission
The (WNI) Sherwood Site is the location of a former
uranium milling site that operated from 1978 until
1984. The site is located near the town of Wellpinit, in
western Washington State on the Spokane Indian
Reservation. The former mill site is licensed and was
operated by Western Nuclear, Inc. (WNI), and covers
approximately 154 hectares (380 acres), including a 38-
hectare (94-acre) disposal cell used to dispose of the
uranium mill tailings and other process-related wastes
generated from mill operations. The primary land use
in the vicinity of the site is logging, livestock grazing,
and wildlife habitat.
The disposal cell is located approximately 1.6
kilometers ( 1 mile) northeast of the Spokane River arm
of Roosevelt Lake. It is in the northern portion of the
LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Major Long-Term Stewardship Activities - disposal
cell monitoring; groundwater monitoring
Total Site Area- 154 hectares (380 acres)
Estimated Volume of Residual Contaminants- disposal
cell: soil268,000 cubic meters (350,000 cubic yards),
2.9 million tons of mill tailings; groundwater unknown
Long-Term Stewardship Start-End Years- 2000-in
perpetuity
Average Annual Long-Term Stewardship Cost FY
2000-2006- $38,700
Landlord- U.S. Department of Energy, Grand
Junction Office
tailings impoundment area and has an elevation of 563.8 meters (1,850 feet) above sea level, at its southern
boundary, and 710 meters (2,330 feet) above sea level, at its northern boundary. Drainage on the site is toward
the south and southwest. The site also includes a groundwater monitoring network and surface water diversion
channel. The site is underlain by alluvium and a conductive bedrock zone.
The (WNI) Sherwood Site is subject to Title II of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978
(UMTRCA). UMTRCA Title II sites are privately owned and operated sites that were active when UMTRCA
was passed, or thereafter. The majority of the mining and milling conducted at these sites was for private sale.
As such, DOE is responsible for performing long-term stewardship activities at the site, but is not responsible
for site remediation.
The historic mission of the site was to provide uranium concentrate exclusively to private industry. Reclamation
of the site has been completed, and there is no ongoing mission. In 2000, the site will be transferred to the DOE
Grand Junction office, which will perform long-term stewardship activities. After transfer, the site's mission will
be long-term surveillance and maintenance of the disposal cell, and groundwater monitoring.
1.2 Site Cleanup and Accomplishments
Mill decommissioning activities were initiated in 1992 and were completed in 1995. Washington State
regulations prohibit proliferation of small disposal sites; therefore, contaminated materials from the mill site were
consolidated in one disposal cell. Acid-leached tailings were neutralized with lime prior to disposal.
Approximately 2.9 million tons of uranium mill tailings are disposed of in the cell. In addition, 268,000 cubic
meters (350,000 cubic yards) of contaminated soil, building equipment, and debris were removed from the mill
site and were also disposed of in the disposal cell. The mill debris had been encapsulated in a compacted clay
liner, and a cover was placed within the synthetically lined tailings impoundment prior to the final reclamation
of the tailings impoundment.
A containment dam was constructed at the down gradient (south) face of the disposal cell to enclose the disposal
Washington 65
National Defense Authorization Act (NOAA) Long-Term Stewardshi11 Report
cell drainage area, and riprap (a rocky layer) was used to stabilize the downslope face of the embankment. The
disposal cell has a synthetic liner over the bottom and sides of the cell and is capped with between 4 and 6 meters
(12.5 and 20 feet) of uncompacted local soil, 15 centimeters (6 inches) of topsoil, and self-sustaining vegetation,
including native grass, shrubs, and trees as a radon barrier.
0 0.5
Miles
(WNI) Sherwood Site
To Spokane, WA
(-35 miles)
As a result of the tailings neutralization process, there are few hazardous constituents identified in the tailings
fluid in concentrations above background groundwater concentrations or state or federal standards. Groundwater
outside the tailings impoundment is apparently not contaminated. However, groundwater in the vicinity of the
former tailings impoundment may be contaminated.
No active remediation is planned. DOE will conduct groundwater monitoring for designated indicator parameters
and will collect samples annually from three monitoring wells, including one background well and two point-of-
compliance wells. Indicator parameters will include sulfates, chloride, and total dissolved solids. Groundwater
monitoring results will be included in the annual inspection report for the site. Any changes in the groundwater
monitoring plan indicated by the groundwater monitoring data will be coordinated with the Spokane Tribe and
the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and will be submitted to the NRC for review and approval.
2.0 SITE-WIDE LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP
2.1 Long-Term Stewardship Activities
The DOE Grand Junction Office will be responsible for performing long-term stewardship activities at the site.
The disposal cell is within the reservation held in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Spokane Tribe of
Washington
66
(WNI) Sherwood Site
Indians. DOE and the NRC will have permanent rights of access for necessary long-term stewardship and
regulatory activities. These activities will include disposal cell surveillance and maintenance, and groundwater
monitoring. DOE will perform long-term stewardship activities, as required under the NRC general license to
maintain protectiveness and regulatory compliance. Access will be restricted through the use of barriers and
warning signs, posted where historic roads cross the site boundaries. DOE maintains a 24-hour phone line for
reporting site concerns. Drilling and other intrusive activities will be prevented within site boundaries through
institutional controls. DOE will conduct an annual inspection to ensure the integrity of the cell covers and other
engineered features and that institutional controls remain effective.
Site records will be kept in permanent storage at the DOE Grand Junction Office. The types of records to be
maintained include characterization data, remedial action design information, the site completion report, the long-
term monitoring plan, annual inspection reports, and monitoring data.
2.2 Specific Long-Term Stewardship Activities
Engineered Units
The Washington State Department of Health and
Environment has indicated that the site reclamation design
for the 38-hectare (94-acre) disposal cell meets state
regulatory requirements for permanent isolation without
ongoing active maintenance, and that the previous three
years of state inspections found no long-term site instability.
Therefore, the Washington State Department of Health and
Environment anticipates that only minor site monitoring and
maintenance activities will be required after termination of
the state license and transfer of site custody to DOE. The
STAKEHOWER INVOLVEMENT
Because the (WNI) Sherwood Site is on
Reservation land, the Spokane Tribe is provided
the opportunity to review and comment on the
Final Report on Reclamation Activities and other
site documentation. Copies of the annual
inspection report for the WNI Sherwood Site and
other sites will be distributed to the Tribe, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, the local library and any
stakeholders that request copies. The report also
will be published on the DOE Grand Junction
Office website at www.doegjpo.com.
disposal cell's vegetated cover and rock-covered dam will prevent erosion, and the cover vegetation will prevent
infiltration of precipitation into the disposal cell.
The reclamation site will not be fenced to allow access for cattle grazing and wildlife habitat. The reclamation
site and disposal cell will require annual monitoring to ensure the integrity of the cap, vegetation, and drainage
system. The site has a minimum 3.9- meter (13-foot) thick unconsolidated soil cover that acts as a radon barrier,
as well as a rooting medium for natural vegetation. Vegetation on the disposal cell cover will be monitored by
annual visual inspections. Any reseeding that is indicated as a result of visual inspection will be conducted in
accordance with the specification for the disposal cell.
Groundwater
DOE will collect annual samples of groundwater from three monitoring wells in the vicinity of the former tailings
impoundment. Additional groundwater monitoring or remediation activities may be determined, in coordination
with the Spokane Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (subject to NRC approval), depending on results of
sampling.
2.3 Regulatory Regime
The site was licensed to WNI by the Washington State Department of Health and Environment, Division of
Radiation Protection, under the NRC's Agreement State licensing program. The Washington State Department
of Health and Environment was responsible for overseeing all reclamation of the Site. Reclamation of the site
has been completed and there is no ongoing mission for the site, except for long-term surveillance of the disposal
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National Defense Autho1ization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
cell by DOE. Because the disposal cell is located on the Spokane Indian Reservation, which is owned by the
Federal Government and held in trust for the Tribe, no agreement of transfer is required to convey property rights
for the (WNI) Sherwood Site to DOE. In accordance with the provisions of Section 83(b )(8) of the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended, DOE and the Spokane Tribe of Indians have executed an agreement that
provides DOE with the necessary rights of site access to carry out its mission in accordance with the terms of the
NRC license for the site. The Agreement has not yet been signed, but all parties are expected to do so.
The site is regulated under the Title II provisions of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978
(UMTRCA). The Washington State licensing program for UMTRCA Title II sites operates under state regulation
as part of the Agreement State Program. The Washington State Department of Health and Environment will
terminate the state license for the (WNI) Sherwood Site in accordance with NRC requirements. A perpetual care
and maintenance fund is to be transferred to the Federal Government in accordance with NRC license termination
procedures.
DOE anticipates that the state license for the site will be terminated sometime in the second half of 2000. As part
of transfer of the site to DOE, the site will come under a general license issued by NRC for custody and long-term
care of residual radioactive disposal sites (contained at Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section
40.28). The purpose of the general license is to ensure that such sites will be cared for in a manner that protects
human health and safety and the environment. The general license will go into effect when NRC concurs that
the site conforms to cleanup standards and formally accepts the site-specific long-term surveillance plan. DOE
will be the long-term custodian for the site under the NRC license for long-term surveillance. States do not have
right of first refusal for long-term custody of federally-owned Title II sites that are located on reservation land.
The Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Bureau oflndian Affairs will review any changes to the site's long-term
surveillance plan.
In addition to UMTRCA, long-term stewardship activities at the (WNI) Sherwood Site will be governed by
several requirements in the following regulations: the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; a cooperative
agreement between DOE and the State of Washington; and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended.
2.4 Assumptions and Uncertainties
The site's long-term surveillance plan is currently under review by the NRC. Significant revisions are not
expected. Cleanup levels will be achieved before the site is transferred to DOE. Groundwater monitoring will
be conducted to verify continued compliance with cleanup levels. Site inspections will continue indefinitely as
a condition of the NRC license. Groundwater monitoring may or may not continue indefinitely, based on site-
specific hydrology and circumstances or until the cell demonstrates infiltration control.
3.0 ESTIMATED LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP COSTS
Cost estimates are based on the actual cost oflong-term stewardship activities at this site and other disposal cells
currently managed by the DOE's Grand Junction Program. The annual long-term stewardship costs are higher
in fiscal year 2000 due to pre transfer requirements, including the development of the site's long-term stewardship
plan and negotiating an access agreement with the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
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(WNI) She1wood Site
Site Long-Term Stewardship Costs (Constant Year 2000 Dollars)
Year(s) Amount Year(s) Amount Year(s) Amount
FY 2000 $52,900 FY 2008 $35,100 FY 2036-2040 $170,500
FY 2001 $41,600 FY 2009 $35,100 FY 2041-2045 $170,400
FY 2002 $36,100 FY 2010 $34,300 FY 2046-2050 $170,500
FY 2003 $34,900 FY 2011-2015 $163,500 FY 2051-2055 $170,400
FY 2004 $35,300 FY 2016-2020 $159,200 FY 2056-2060 $170,500
FY 2005 $35,500 FY 2021-2025 $159,700 FY 2061-2065 $170,400
FY 2006 $34,800 FY 2026-2030 $168,700 FY 2066-2070 $170,500
FY 2007 $35,300 FY 2031-2035 $170,400
4.0 FUTURE USES
The (WNI) Sherwood Site will be a permanent uranium mill tailings repository. The reclamation site will not
be fenced to allow access for grazing and wildlife habitat.
For more information about the (WNI) Sherwood Site, contact:
Art Kleinrath, Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Program Manager
U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction Office
2597 B3/4 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81503
Phone: 970-248-6037
or visit the Internet website at http://www.doegjpo.com
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