The Tri-Party Agreement (TPA) agencies -- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Washington State Department of Ecology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – have begun a comment period on an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) that evaluates alternatives for removal actions for excess buildings and structures in the 200 East Area of the Hanford Site. The EE/CA also proposes onsite disposal of waste generated from the removal activities.  The comment period runs from November 22 through December 27, 2010. 

This EE/CA addresses 57 Tier 2 buildings and structures in the 200 East Area on the Central Plateau of the Hanford Site. These buildings contain chemical and/or radiological contamination because of their previous missions or because of their proximity to Hanford Site contamination in the 200 East Area. The preferred cleanup alternative will place the identified buildings and structures in a condition that is most protective of human health and the environment.  Tier 2 buildings/structures (e.g., 209-East Criticality Mass Laboratory) are addressed in the TPA Action Plan and defined as chemically and/or radiologically contaminated buildings/structures that require a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) response action because of their potential for substantial threat of release of CERCLA hazardous substance

The EE/CA evaluates three alternatives:  Alternative 1. No action. Alternative 2. Continued Surveillance and Maintenance with Future Decontamination, Deactivation, Decommissioning, and Demolition (D4) of Buildings and Structures. This alternative assumes a 10-year period of building and structure surveillance and maintenance, followed by decontamination, deactivation, decommissioning, and demolition of buildings and structures at a future date.  Alternative 3. Near-Term D4 of Buildings and Structures. This alternative consists of near-term D4 of the buildings and structures and associated waste disposal.
Near-term D4 of the Buildings and Structures (Alternative 3)  is the preferred alternative because it provides both long-term protection of human health and the environment and near-term cost-effectiveness. This alternative would proceed with cleanup and environmental restoration, and render further surveillance and maintenance of these contaminated buildings and structures unnecessary. It reduces the time human health and the environment are exposed to the threats posed by the hazardous substances by eliminating the threat.
A 30-day public comment period on the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for 200 East Buildings/Structures Decommissioning runs from November 22 through December 27, 2010. The Tri-Party Agencies will consider all comments before issuing an Action Memorandum.

Please submit comments by December 27, 2010 to:

Paula Call
U.S. Department of Energy
Richland Operations Office
P.O. Box 550, A7-75
Richland, WA 99352
Email: 200E_Area_EECA@rl.gov

Fact Sheet
Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for 200 East Area Tier 2 Buildings/Structures