C. E. Cushing
The Hanford Site lies within the semiarid Pasco Basin of the Columbia Plateau in southeastern Washington
State (Figure 1.2.1). The Site occupies an area of about 
(approximately 
) north of the
confluence of the Yakima river with the Columbia River. This land, with restricted public access, provides
a buffer for the smaller areas historically used for production of nuclear materials, waste storage, and waste
disposal; about 6% of the land area has been disturbed and is actively used. The Columbia River flows
eastward through the northern part of the Hanford Site and then turns south, forming part of the eastern
boundary. The Yakima River runs along part of the southern boundary and joins the Columbia River
downstream from the city of Richland. Adjoining lands to the west, north, and east are principally range
and agricultural lands in Benton, Grant, and Franklin counties. The cities of Richland, Kennewick, and
Pasco (Tri-Cities) constitute the nearest population center and are located southeast of the Hanford Site.
Population estimates for 1994 by the Forecasting Division of the Office of Financial Management of the
state of Washington place the totals for Benton, Franklin, and Grant counties at 127,000, 42,900, and
62,200, respectively. The 1994 estimates for the Tri-Cities populations are Richland, 35,430; Kennewick,
46,960; and Pasco, 22,170. The estimated populations of Benton City, Prosser, and West Richland totaled
11,985 in 1994. Estimates of the percent of the population exceeding 65 years of age are 9.72, 9.48, and
13.08 in Benton, Franklin, and Grant counties, respectively, in 1994. The census for 1990 (U.S. Bureau of
the Census) revealed that the population of Benton and Franklin counties is young, with 56% of the total
population under the age of 35, compared with 54% of the total state population. An examination of age
groups in 5-year increments reveals that the largest age group in Benton and Franklin counties ranges from
5 to 9 years old, representing 9.3% of the total bicounty population; the largest age group in the state
ranges from 30 to 34 years, which represents about 9% of the total state population.
The entire Hanford Site was designated a National Environmental Research Park (one of four nationally)
by the former Energy Research and Development Administration, a precursor to DOE.
The major operational areas on the Site include the following:
- The 100 Areas, on the south shore of the Columbia River, are the sites of eight retired plutonium prod2.4 uction reactors and the N Reactor, which has been permanently shut down since 1991. The 100 Areas occupy about
(
).
- The 200-West and 200-East Areas are located on a plateau and are about 8 and 11 km (5 and 7 mi),
respectively, south of the Columbia River. These areas historically have been dedicated to fuel
reprocessing and waste management and disposal activities. The 200 Areas cover about
().
- The 300 Area, located just north of the city of Richland, is the site of nuclear and non-nuclear research and
development. This area covers
().
- The 400 Area is about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the 300 Area and is the site of the Fast Flux Test Facility
(FFTF). Also included in this area is the Fuels and Materials Examination Facility.
- The 600 Area includes all of the Hanford Site not occupied by the 100, 200, 300, and 400 Areas.
Support areas near the Site in north Richland include the 1100, 3000, and Richland North Areas. The 1100
Area includes Site support services such as general stores and transportation maintenance. The 3000 Area
includes the facilities for ICF Kaiser Hanford Company. The Richland North Area includes the DOE and
DOE contractor facilities located between the 300 Area and the city of Richland that are not in the 1100 and
3000 Areas.
Other facilities are located in the Richland Central Area (located south of Saint Street and Highway 240 and
north of the Yakima River), the Richland South Area (located between the Yakima River and Kennewick) and
the Kennewick/Pasco area.
Several areas of the Site, totaling (
), have been designated as the Fitzner/Eberhardt Arid
Lands Ecology (ALE) Reserve, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Saddle Mountain National Wildlife
Refuge, and the Washington State Department of Game Reserve Area (Wahluke Slope Wildlife Recreation
Area) (DOE 1986). The ALE Reserve was established in 1967 by the Atomic Energy Commission, a
precursor to DOE. In 1971, the reserve was classified a Research Natural Area as a result of a federal
interagency cooperative agreement.
Land use in surrounding environs includes urban and industrial development, irrigated and dry-land farming,
and grazing. In 1993, wheat represented the largest single crop in terms of area planted in Benton, Franklin,
and Grant counties. Total acreage planted in the three counties was 207,890 ha (513,700 acres) and 24,120 ha
(59,600 acres) for winter and spring wheat, respectively (Washington Agricultural Statistics Service 1994).
Corn, alfalfa, potatoes, asparagus, apples, cherries, and grapes are other major crops in Benton, Franklin, and
Grant counties. Several processors in Benton and Franklin counties produce food products including potato
products, canned fruits and vegetables, wine, and animal feed.
Much of the above information is from Cushing (1994), where more detailed information can be found.
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