The U.S. Department of Energy - Office of River Protection, Washington State Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection are conducting a public comment period on two documents – a Consent Decree between the State of Washington and the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and changes to the Tri-Party Agreement (TPA).  The Consent Decree has milestones (commitments with deadlines) for the construction, commissioning and start up of the Waste Treatment Plant, as well as continued retrieval of waste from Hanford’s single-shell tanks.  The TPA agencies have proposed changes to the TPA that would go into effect once the Consent Decree is approved by the Court. The proposed TPA changes would add milestones to require USDOE to develop and submit a new Lifecycle Scope, Schedule and Cost report.  In addition, milestones are proposed for tank waste treatment (e.g., select supplemental treatment for Low Activity Waste and permit, design, construct and operate this facility), and tank waste retrievals and tank farm closures (e.g., remove the waste from all 149 single-shell tanks by 2040).

The public comment period will run from October 1 through December 11. Comments should be sent by to Lori Gamache, Department of Energy, Office of River Protection, PO Box 450, MSIN H6-60, Richland WA 99352,  Email: TPACH@rl.gov or  Annette Carlson, Washington State Department of Ecology, 3100 Port of Benton Blvd., Richland WA 99354, Email: Annette.Carlson@ecy.wa.gov

A workshop and five regional public meetings are scheduled:

Workshop
October 6, 2009
Hampton Inn
486 Bradley Blvd
Richland, WA  99352
Columbia Pointe Ballroom, 9:00 a.m. – 4pm

Regional Public Meetings:

October 26, 2009
Best Western Hood River Inn
1108 E Marina Way
Hood River, OR  97031
The Gorge Ballroom, 5:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.

October 27, 2009
Double Tree Hotel (near Lloyd Center)
1000 NE Multnomah St
Portland, OR 97232
Mount St. Helen and Mt. Hood, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
*Free Parking Pass*

October 29, 2009
Hampton Inn
486 Bradley Blvd
Richland, WA  99352
Columbia Pointe Ballroom, 5: 00 p. m.  – 10:00 pm

November 9, 2009
Double Tree Hotel (City Center)
322 North Spokane Falls Court
Spokane, WA  99201
Salon A & B, 5:00 p.m.  – 10:00 p.m.

November 12, 2009
Quality Inn & Suites (Seattle Center)
618 John Street
Seattle, WA  98109
Directions: 
From I-5 North or South, Exit 167 ( Mercer Street). Left onto Fairview Ave. Right onto Denny Way. Right onto 6th Ave. N. Right onto John St. at the end of the block. From Hwy 99 South (Aurora Ave), take exit John St. Hotel is on the right hand side.
Olympic Room, 5pm – 10pm
*Check in at the front desk and let them know you there for the Dept Of Energy Meeting for a Free Parking Pass. *

Fact Sheet with Links

Proposed Consent Decree and Tri-Party Agreement Change Packages