We're holding a 45-day public comment period addressing proposed modifications to the Hanford Dangerous Waste Permit for the 242-A Evaporator.
The Permittees are the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of River Protection, and Washington River Protection Solutions. The 242-A Evaporator is located on the Hanford Site in Southeast Washington.
Review and comment
The modification proposal and supporting documents are on our Hanford public comment periods page.
Proposed changes
This modification proposes allowing facility upgrades associated with the new waste transfer lines from the Double-Shell Tank (DST) System to the 242-A Evaporator. The original transfer lines failed pressure tests in 2018 and must be replaced. Specifically, this modification allows penetrating a wall to install the transfer lines and to perform modifications in the pump-room. These new transfer lines will allow 242-A Evaporator to continue to treat DST waste, reducing DST waste volume, and allowing for continued Single-Shell Tank waste retrievals.
The transfer lines themselves are administratively controlled by the DST system and are being built under applicable interim status regulations. Construction of the lines is not a part of this permit modification.
242-A Evaporator background
The 242-A Evaporator is situated in the 200 East Area of the Hanford Site. The facility was constructed in 1977 and has since removed more than 81 million gallons of liquid from Hanford's 177 underground waste tanks. To remove liquid from the tanks, the evaporator boils liquid waste from the tanks to evaporate water and reduce waste volume. The evaporator is currently shutdown for facility upgrades.
For more information see the Nuclear Waste Program public comment page.