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Published: 1996

Total Pages: 132

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On July 19, 1993, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board transmitted Recommendation 93-5 on the Hanford Waste Tank Characterization Studies to the Department of Energy. The recommendation was accepted on September 9, 1993. Recommendation 93-5 noted that there was insufficient tank waste technical information to ensure that Hanford Site wastes could be safely stored, that associated operations could be conducted safely, and that future disposal data requirements could be met. As a result the Board recommended that the characterization effort be upgraded and expedited. The original Implementation Plan was accepted by the Board in March 1994. This Implementation Plan revision presents a modified approach to achieve the original Implementation Plan objectives. The approach concentrates on actions necessary to ensure that wastes can be safely stored, that operations can be safely conducted, and that timely characterization information for the tank waste Disposal Program can be obtained. Since Recommendation 93-5 was issued, significant progress has been achieved in understanding tank safety- related phenomena, resolving tank safety issues, and enhancing the capability and efficiency of tank characterization. Reviewing this progress led to the realization that tank safety issues could not be resolved solely by accelerating sampling and analysis to improve the characterization of tank contents. The key to expediting resolution was to better understand safety-related phenomena that cause the safety issues. A revised characterization and safety strategy evolved. The characterization and safety strategy presented in this Implementation Plan revision builds on the improved understanding and significant progress made to date. The revision is multifaceted and consists of the key elements listed: (1) Maintain tanks in an interim configuration using safety controls and, where necessary, mitigative actions. (2) Upgrade and complete the Authorization Basis for the Tank Farms. This includes producing a Basis for Interim Operation, Final Safety Analysis Report, Technical Safety Requirements, Compliance Implementation Plan, and Safety Evaluation Report. (3) Complete the ongoing programs to resolve the ferrocyanide, organic complexants, organic solvents, flammable gas, high heat, and criticality safety issues. (4) Analyze core samples from key tanks (referred to as the High Priority Tanks) to understand phenomena and resolve issues associated with groups of tanks. These tanks were selected by integrating the information needs of the Safety and Disposal Programs. Appendix F provides a summary of the High Priority Tanks identified and the basis for information requested.