Public Comment Period on a Proposed Class 2 Permit Modification for the 400 Area Waste Management Unit

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is holding a 60-day public comment period on a proposed Class 2 modification to the Hanford Dangerous Waste Permit for the 400 Area Waste Management Unit (WMU).

The 400 Area at the south end of the Hanford Site is home to the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), a former nuclear research and test reactor that was shut down in 1993 and has since been deactivated. The 400 Area WMU consists of two facilities that once supported the FFTF — the Interim Storage Area and the Fuel Storage Facility. These facilities are regulated by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) as dangerous waste management units under the Hanford Dangerous Waste Permit.

The DOE and contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company are requesting the permit modification to remove reference to the FFTF fire alarm system, which no longer provides alarms for the 400 Area WMU. A permit modification is required from Ecology to allow for this change. Removal from the permit will allow for the deactivation of the system and an upgrade to an existing and equivalent fire protection system, which will also reduce annual maintenance costs.

The comment period will run from Dec. 7, 2021, through Feb. 11, 2022. A virtual public meeting will be held Jan. 11, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. PT. To participate via Microsoft Teams, please follow the instructions below:

Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)
+1 509-931-1284 United States, Spokane
(833) 633-0875 United States (Toll-free)
Phone Conference ID: 932 584 692#

Please submit comments by Feb. 11, 2022, electronically (preferred) or by mail to:

Washington State Department of Ecology
3100 Port of Benton Boulevard
Richland, Washington 99354
https://nw.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=WtRkH (preferred)

Copies of the proposed permit modification and supporting documentation will be available online during the public comment period on the Hanford public involvement website at https://go.usa.gov/xVmew, in the Administrative Record at https://go.usa.gov/xew4w, and in the Hanford Public Information Repositories at https://go.usa.gov/xVDTS.

The permittee’s compliance history during the application of the relevant permit is available from the Washington State Department of Ecology contact person.

Please see the attached summary fact sheet for more information.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Colborn at Jennifer_M_Colborn@rl.gov or (509) 376-5840.

To request disability accommodation, please contact Jennifer Colborn, Jennifer_M_Colborn@rl.gov or (509) 376-5840 at least 10 working days prior to the event. DOE makes every effort to honor disability accommodation requests.

Fact Sheet

Public Meeting Presentation

400 Area Waste Management Unit Public Meeting Recording - Jan 11, 2022 - YouTube