Act on Hanford

ACT: Demand Rightful Public Involvement in Hanford Cleanup

By Simone Anter, Staff Attorney

The Test Bed Initiative at Hanford will determine the future of radioactive tank waste. The public deserves a say in the future of Hanford’s waste. Urge the U.S. Dept. of Energy (Energy) to treat the initiative as a matter of public concern and open a public comment period.

Act Now

On August 17, Energy quietly released the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Test Bed Initiative (TBI) without notifying the public and without providing an opportunity for a public hearing or comment period. Energy’s outrageous attempt to exclude the public cannot be ignored because our role in Hanford cleanup is crucial.

Our asks: 

1. Establish a full 60-day public comment period on the draft Phase 2 TBI EA;
2. Hold a public hearing on the draft Phase 2 TBI EA; and
3. Conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement

What’s at stake? 

Phase 2 of the TBI draft EA plans to grout 2,000 gallons of liquid radioactive tank waste. The subsequent Phase 3 is expected to scale up to 500,000 gallons of tank waste. Public comment on Phase 2 is essential because it sets the stage for future treatment and disposal of radioactive tank waste at Hanford.

Our friends at Hanford Challenge caught this sneaky move by Energy and submitted detailed technical comments and requested a comment period on the public’s behalf; read those comments here. Select agencies and Tribal governments were only given 14 days to comment. Check out Yakama Nation’s technical comments here.

Join Columbia Riverkeeper and add your voice to the growing number of people holding the U.S. government accountable for decades of nuclear-waste pollution. Sign the petition today! 

This product is funded through a Public Participation Grant from the Washington Department of Ecology. The content was reviewed for grant consistency but is not necessarily endorsed by the agency.