THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board
Committee on Supplemental Treatment of Low-Activity Waste at Hanford Nuclear Reservation
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Congressional Briefing
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 – 2:00 p.m.
via Zoom
on
Review of the Continued Analysis of Supplemental Treatment Approaches
of Low-Activity Waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation: Review #3
Requested by Congress in P.L. 116-283, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, this new report – the final of three – reviews the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers’ (FFRDC) analysis, requested by the Department of Energy, of how best to treat and dispose of the low-level waste at Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
The review finds that the FFRDC team made a strong technical case that converting the supplemental low-level waste from the vitrification process to a grout form (like cement) is the best option in terms of cost-effectiveness and timeliness, and that off-site disposal of that grout is a valid option as it will be away from potable water. The FFRDC provided a useful framework to help decision-makers understand the issues and trade-offs of the disposal options and did an excellent job of isolating specific factual considerations that can be analyzed, often quantified, and compared with each other. The FFRDC chose to provide a purely technical analysis that excluded analysis of two important factors to be considered - securing regulatory permissions and public acceptance - treating them, for now, as uncertainties. Looking ahead, the DOE faces many uncertainties and should emphasize flexibility in its overall approach, allowing for multiple, redundant options and pathways, as well as the ability to change over time.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on May 25, 2023 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.