Letter: State, DOE need to bring LAW regulations into the present
The Nov. 5 TCH article about Hanford waste (Hanford first: Tank waste could be treated off site) compelled me to respond.
Hanford low activity waste (LAW) will be vitrified because of an outdated state of Washington requirement that tank waste treatment form must be “as good as glass.”
Technology has moved on since the state developed this requirement as supported by South Carolina allowing DOE to grout LAW, and the findings presented in GAO Report 17-306, (refer to page 41).
It is time for the DOE and the state to have an adult discussion on the technological advancements of grout regarding treatment and on site storage of LAW.
The DOE might be able to get the state to allow grouting LAW and meet the intent of “as good as glass” by encasing the grout containers in several inches of glass.
When LAW is grouted and stored at Hanford, billions of dollars will be saved.
The state’s refusal to accept the advanced grout technology in today’s world is like not accepting our advancements in our communication systems.
At the time the state developed its waste form requirement “as good as glass,” we were all using hardwired telephones.
Garry Amidan, West Richland
This story was originally published November 24, 2017 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Letter: State, DOE need to bring LAW regulations into the present."