Dear U.S. Department of Energy,
I agree with the Washington State Department of Ecology’s concerns, attempts to reroute pre-treated liquid tank waste from AP-106 for shipping and grouting offsite will only divert funding and attention away from accelerating and improving operations at the Low Activity Waste Vitrification facility (“LAW facility”). The LAW facility is still ramping up and effort must be made to ensure that the facility reaches its full potential.
Additionally, the increased mobilization of liquid tank waste, only increases the risk for spills and leaks, particularly as trucks are loaded and driven on public roadways. Energy has not provided the public any certainty in how far liquid tank waste will be shipped. Currently, it’s unclear if all or a portion of the liquid tank waste will be grouted locally. This opens up the possibility for shipments of liquid radioactive waste all the way to Utah and/or Texas. This threatens both human health and the environment if/when there is a spill on the road.
I remain deeply concerned that Energy is foregoing the most protective final form for tank waste, glass, in favor of grout— trading long term health and environmental protections for short term progress. I urge Energy to abandon the Dual-Path Approach and I urge Ecology to reject the proposed permit modifications requested by Energy to support this.
Sincerely,
Background:
On June 23, 2026, Energy announced that it wants to send some pre-treated tank waste from the 200 East Area tank farms, offsite for grouting and disposal. Since last October, with the start up of the Low Activity Waste Vitrification facility (“LAW facility”), over 200,000 gallons of this tank waste has been turned into glass and sent to the Integrated Disposal Facility. Now, Energy is abruptly seeking to change course. Washington State has concerns.
To support the new plan, Energy unilaterally submitted two proposed permit modifications to Ecology, which are out for public comment until Oct. 9.
The new “Dual-Path Approach” raises several questions and concerns:
- More trucks carrying liquid tank waste on the roads. Rerouting pre-treated liquid tank waste to ship and grout offsite will see an exponential increase in trucks on the road. Energy’s goal is to send up to 600,000 gallons offsite for grouting this year, and 1.2 million annually. Each tanker truck carries 5,000 gallons. That’s 120 shipments in the next three months alone if they were to start shipping now.
- It’s unclear how far liquid tank waste could be shipped. Once sent offsite, Energy has not indicated where the tank waste will be grouted. This could happen locally or further away in Utah or Texas.
- Grouting is riddled with technical uncertainties. For years Columbia Riverkeeper has echoed concerns raised by our partners at Hanford Challenge about grout. From long-lived radionuclides’ ability to leach out of grout, to unclear grout expansion factors, the uncertainties haven’t been answered. What remains clear is that turning tank waste into glass is still the most protective final form for this type of waste.
- Liquids are more prone to leak. From weeping pipes, accidental spills, and truck accidents, the increased mobilization of liquid tank waste increase the risk to human health and the environment. In addition, a truck accident would cause a radioactive spill of liquid much hard to clean up than a solid material.
Funded in part by a Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
