The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the principal federal environmental regulator at Hanford. In some instances, EPA has delegated environmental regulatory authority to the state or authorized the state program to operate in lieu of the federal program when the state's program meets or exceeds EPA's requirements. For instance, EPA has delegated or authorized enforcement authority to the Washington State Department of Ecology for airpollution control and many areas of hazardous waste management. In other activities, the state program is assigned direct oversight over federal agencies as provided by federal law. For example, the Washington State Department of Health has direct authority under the Clean Air Act to implement its state program for regulating radionuclide air emissions at the Hanford Site. Where regulatory authority is not delegated or authorized to the state, EPA Region 10 is responsible for reviewing and enforcing compliance with EPA regulations as they pertain to the Hanford Site.
Although the state of Oregon does not have a direct regulatory role at the Hanford Site, DOE recognizes its interest in Hanford Site cleanup because Oregon is located downstream along the Columbia River, and there is the potential for radioactive wastes from the Hanford Site to be shipped through Oregon by rail, truck, or barge. Oregon participates in the State and Tribal Government Working Group for the Hanford Site, which receives the Site's cleanup plans.
The Hanford Site is located on land ceded in 1855 by treaties with the Yakama Indian Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The Nez Perce Tribe has treaty fishing rights on the Columbia River. The tribes were guaranteed the right to fish "at all usual and accustomed places" and the privilege to hunt, gather roots and berries, and pasture horses and cattle on "open and unclaimed" land. The Wanapum people are not a federally recognized tribe and are therefore ineligible for federal programs. However, they have historical ties to the Hanford Site and are routinely consulted regarding cultural and religious freedom issues.
In addition to treaties, other laws such as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act provide a basis for the tribes' active participation in Hanford plans and activities.
Individual citizens of Washington State and neighboring states may influence Hanford Site cleanup decisions through public participation activities. The public is invited to share their input through many forums, including Hanford Advisory Board meetings, activities related to the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement), National Environmental Policy Act meetings covering various environmental impact statements and environmental assessments, special forums to address specific Hanford decisions, and many less formal avenues.
Upcoming opportunities for public participation are announced in the bimonthly Hanford Update, a compilation of public involvement activities, and the monthly Hanford Happenings calendar, which highlights all scheduled meetings and comment periods.
Most of Hanford's public resides in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. To provide the public better access to up-to-date Hanford information, four information repositories have been established. They are located in Richland, Seattle, and Spokane, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. In addition, the Washington State Department of Ecology and EPA maintain administrative records in Seattle and Richland.
Information about any Tri-Party Agreement public participation activity can be requested by calling 1-800-321-2008.
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