Program Scope
The sheer expanse of the Hanford Site, the inherent hazards associated with
the significant inventory of nuclear material and waste, the large number
of aging contaminated facilities, the diverse nature and extent of environmental
contamination, and the proximity to the Columbia River make the Hanford
Site one of the world's largest and most complex environmental cleanup
projects. During the cleanup, many key decisions will be made that either
directly or indirectly affect the protection of the groundwater and ultimately
the Columbia River. To assure these decisions are made in a consistent
manner, DOE established a specific, integrated groundwater protection program
in 1996. This program is designed to manage all effects from Hanford waste
disposal sites (cribs, trenches, tank farms, etc.), from both past and
present operations, that directly affect protection of the groundwater
and human and environmental receptors.
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