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Nuclear Waste: DOE's Management of Single-Shell Tanks at Hanford, Washington

RCED-89-157 Published: Jul 18, 1989. Publicly Released: Jul 20, 1989.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) management of its Hanford, Washington, site's underground single-shell waste storage tanks containing radioactive and nonradioactive hazardous liquid and solid wastes from nuclear materials production.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy To minimize the environmental effects of tank leaks on the surrounding soil and, eventually, on the groundwater, the Secretary of Energy should conduct a data-gathering program sufficient to assess the risks and extent of groundwater contamination from tank leaks of mobile, nonradioactive contaminants and mobile, long-lived radioactive substances.
Closed – Implemented
Sampling and analysis of groundwater wells to investigate leak plumes is continuing. No estimated completion has been established, but implementation is expected.
Department of Energy To minimize the environmental effects of tank leaks on the surrounding soil and, eventually, on the groundwater, the Secretary of Energy should assign appropriate resources and priority to the single-shell tank pumping program to ensure that: (1) at a minimum, all feasibly pumpable liquid is removed from the tanks by 1996; and (2) the 1996 goal is not used to delay removal of liquid that could be pumped before 1996.
Closed – Implemented
The Interim Stabilization Program to remove all feasibly pumpable liquids from the tanks is under way and is scheduled for completion by the end of FY 1995 for all tanks, except two; they will be pumped by the end of FY 1996. The Hanford Tri-Party Agreement milestones for FY 1991 and 1992 have been revised because of questions concerning explosive gases.
Department of Energy To minimize the environmental effects of tank leaks on the surrounding soil and, eventually, on the groundwater, the Secretary of Energy should develop specific plans to replace the gravel surfaces at the tank farms with a less permeable material and promptly replace the gravel surfaces if ongoing studies indicate that these surfaces could promote the movement of waste toward the groundwater.
Closed – Implemented
DOE agreed with this recommendation, but it believes that it is too early to make a decision on interim covers for the tanks. An engineering study has been completed that identifies and evaluates alternatives for covering the tanks if other studies indicate that it is necessary.

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Topics

Atomic energy defense activitiesHazardous substancesInteragency relationsNuclear facility safetyNuclear waste disposalNuclear waste storagePollution monitoringRadioactive pollutionTanks (containers)Water pollution control