Radioactive and mixed waste are currently handled in several ways. High-level waste is stored in single- and double-shell tanks. Low-level waste is stored in double-shell tanks, on storage pads, or is buried. The method used to manage low-level waste is dependent on the source, composition, and concentration of the waste. Transuranic waste is stored in vaults or on underground storage pads from which it can be retrieved.
Approximately 200 Hanford Site facilities have the capacity to generate dangerous waste. An annual report lists the dangerous wastes and extremely hazardous wastes generated, treated, stored, and disposed of onsite and offsite (DOE 1995b). Dangerous wastes are treated, stored, and prepared for disposal at several Hanford Site facilities or are shipped offsite for disposal, destruction, or recycling.
Nondangerous wastes generated at the Hanford Site are buried in the Solid Waste Landfill, located in the 200 Areas. These wastes originate at a number of areas across the Site. Examples of these wastes are construction debris, office trash, cafeteria waste, and packaging materials. Other materials and items classified as waste include solidified filter backwash and sludge from the treatment of river water, failed and broken equipment and tools, air filters, uncontaminated used gloves and other clothing, and certain chemical precipitates such as oxalates. Nonradioactive friable asbestos is buried in designated areas at the Solid Waste Landfill. Ash generated at powerhouses in the 200-East and 200-West Areas is buried in designated sites near those powerhouses. Demolition waste from 100 Areas decommissioning projects is buried in situ or in designated sites in the 100 Areas.
Annual reports document the quantities and types of solid waste generated onsite, received, shipped offsite, and disposed of at the Hanford Site (WHC 1995b). Solid waste program activities are regulated by the RCRA and TSCA, discussed in Section 2.0, "Environmental Compliance Summary." Solid waste quantities generated onsite, received from offsite sources, shipped offsite, and disposed of at the Hanford Site annually from 1989 through 1994 are shown in Tables 3.3.1 through 3.3.4.
The quantities of liquid wastes generated in 1994 and stored in underground storage tanks are included in the annual dangerous waste report (DOE 1995b). Table 3.3.5 is a summary of the liquid waste generated from 1989 through 1994, which are stored in underground storage tanks.
Subtitle B of the Act contains requirements for reporting information to local communities on hazardous materials existing in or released from a facility near those communities. The Hanford Site was in compliance with the reporting and notification requirements of the Act in 1994. The 1994 Hanford Tier-Two Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory (DOE 1995a) report will be issued in 1995 to the State Emergency Response Commission, local county emergency management committees, and the local fire departments. This report contains information on hazardous materials stored across the Hanford Site. Table 3.3.6 summarizes the information reported, listing the 10 chemicals stored in greatest quantity on the Hanford Site.
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