The Risk-Based End State (RBES) Vision is strictly a Department of Energy Initiative that is described in DOE Policy 455.1. The purpose of the policy is to focus the Department line management officials on conducting cleanup that is aimed at, and achieves, clearly defined, risk-based End States. Risk-based End States are representations of site conditions and associated information that reflect the planned future use of the property and are appropriately protective of human health and the environment consistent with that use. Refer to Risk-Based End State Vision Home Page for more information on this initiative.

Hanford's regulators, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology, are not in agreement with pursuing the Department's RBES Vision initiative. However, they do agree to assist in developing a clear picture of the Hanford site when cleanup is complete and helping DOE to design and conduct public discussions of Hanford "end state" visions. Refer to Tri-Party Agreement (TPA) End State Vision Home Page for more information on the TPA Hanford End State activities.