DOE recognized the significance of LTS in the 1990’s when it issued several reports that addressed cleanup and management of land upon completion of the cleanup mission at its sites. The figure below illustrates the evolution of the DOE complex-wide LTS program. 

The top half shows reports, studies, and activities that developed the complex-wide LTS approach. The lower half shows Hanford-specific LTS activities.

HAB      =    Hanford Advisory Board.
ICP        =    Institutional Controls Plan (DOE/RL-2001-41, Sitewide Institutional Controls Plan for Hanford CERCLA Response Actions).
NDAA   =    National Defense Authorization Act.

In 2003, DOE established Office of Legacy Management (LM) to…”effectively manage remaining legacy responsibilities and to fulfill commitments to our former contractor work force” . This includes responsibilities for managing Environmental Management (EM) sites where cleanup has been completed (e.g., Rocky Flats, Fernald), and sites remediated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and remediated uranium processing sites.  Although LM will not take land management responsibility of the Hanford Site until cleanup of the entire Hanford Site is completed, the Hanford LTS Program is managed consistent with current LM policies and procedures.

• 1990’s:  In general, LTS was first recognized as significant workscope in the early 1990’s.  Several DOE reports indicated that cleanup to pristine conditions was not feasible, and residual hazards would be left upon completion of the cleanup at DOE sites.  The program evolved through a series of reports and studies which continued to assist DOE in defining the program and ultimately cumulated in the formation of the Office of Legacy Management (LM).  LM is responsible for LTS activities at DOE sites where there is no longer a DOE mission.

• 1999:  At Hanford, the Final Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan, Environmental Impact Statement called for the development of a Long-Term Stewardship plan.  Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan Enviromental Impact Statement Supplement Analysis

• 2001-2004:  The Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office (DOE-RL) developed the first LTS-related documents including the Hanford Sitewide Institutional Controls Plan for Hanford CERCLA Response Actions (Hanford Sitewide IC Plan) and the Hanford Long-Term Stewardship Program and Transition: Preparing for Environmental Management Cleanup Completion (Hanford LTS Transition Plan).

• 2009-2010: In 2009, the DOE-RL developed a Hanford Site Cleanup Completion Framework document that provides an overview of the Hanford cleanup scope, defines the main components of cleanup and the overarching goals.  DOE recognizes that this cleanup framework will evolve as cleanup progress occurs and as input from interested parties is received. In 2010, a DOE-RL Long-Term Stewardship Program plan was developed and published, thereby implementing the Hanford LTS Program.

• 2011: First segment transitioned in LTS Program.

• 2012: Second and third segments transitioned in LTS Program.

DOE worked closely with the stakeholders, local governments, regulators and tribal nations in developing these documents.  The Hanford LTS Transition Plan identified a series of actions that need to be taken prior to the completion of the Environmental Management (EM) cleanup mission in preparation for transition to LTS.  The development of the Hanford Transition Checklist was one of the actions.  It is divided into eight distinct areas that document requirements for successful transfer to a post-cleanup landlord.  It addresses such things as the cleanup history; site assessment; conditions at turnover; post-cleanup requirements (including the cultural, biological and environmental requirements); and readiness for transfer.