ML20211H038
| ML20211H038 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07003091 |
| Issue date: | 08/23/1999 |
| From: | Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | J. J. Barton, Domenici P, Inhofe J, Murkowski F, Packard R HOUSE OF REP., APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE, SENATE, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES, SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9909010112 | |
| Download: ML20211H038 (12) | |
Text
h August 23, 1999
- Ths Honorsbis Jim s M. Inhofa, Chairman t
Subcommitta on Clein Air, Watlands,
_ - Private Property and Nuclear Safety -
j g:
Committee on Environment and Public Works N
- United States Senate -
Washington, DC 20510 -
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive wadestored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase--Phase l--and a full-scale operations phase--Phase ll. DOE proposed to transfer Phase 11 regulatory authority to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this'end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase ll. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure necessary to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress, " Treatment and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phese I of the project. In the new contract, Phase 11 is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and calls into question the originalintent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter.. If you or your staff would like such a briefing, please contad Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Directbr?iOffice'6f wwmde Congressione! Affairs, at 301'415-1795.
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- IDENTICAL LETTERS TO THOSE ON ATTACHED LIST: The Honorable Jo.gu.. don 6
Honorable Frank Murkowski, The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, The Honorable Ron Packard Distribution:
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b August 23, 1999 Ths Honor:bla Jim s M. Inhofs, Chairman
' Subcommitta on Clxn Air, Watlands, l
Private Property and Nuclear Safety Committee on Environment and Public Works
. United States Senate Washington, DC 20510-k
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of apprcximately 204 1
million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at
- the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective a
manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase -Phase l--and a full-scale operations phase--Phase 11. DOE proposed to transfer Phase 11 regulatory authority to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase 11. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure necessary to assume regulatory. oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress, " Treatment and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited Inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phase 1 of the project. In the new contract, Phase 11 is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has becoms less defined and calls into question the original intent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. If you or your staff would like such a briefing, please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs,'at 301 415-1795.
Sincerely, gg D.Tmwes William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations cc: Senator Bob Graham IDENTICAL LETTERS TO THOSE ON ATTACHED LIST: The Honorable Joe L. Barton, The Honorable Frank Murkowski, The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, The Honorable Ron Packard Distribution:
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f Subcommittes on CI:an Air, Wctlands, J.,
' Tha Honortbla Jamts M. Inhofa, Chairman Privats Proparty and Nuclear Safety Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, DC _20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to develop a contract which established two phases to the project; a demonstration phase--Phase l--and a full-scale operations phase--
Phase ll. Contingent on future legislative authorization, DOE proposed to transfer Phase 11
- regulatory authority to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissio (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MO ) that was intended to facilitate the potential transition of the project to NRC regulatory over ight in Phase 11. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, through fiscal y ar 2000, that enabled the NRC to 1
establish the infrastructure necessary to provide suppo or DOE's development of a regulatory i
program that would be compatible with the NRC's, and authorized, to permit NRC to assume i
regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to th project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress, " Treatment and Immobiliza ' n of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July 1998. This report, which preceded the sig ng of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited I,, on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phase i of the project. n the new contract, Phase ll is currently undefined. Because of the change in the c tract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and calls into questi the originalintent of the MOU.
' In light of the uncertainty of NRC's futu role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future parti pation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to eet with your staff to discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to th current Congressional thoughts on this matter. Please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Dire or, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301415-1776, to coordinate a time we could meet ith your staff.
Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations cc: Senator Bob Graham IDENTICAL LETTERS TO THOSE ON ATTACHED LIST: The Honorable Joe L. Bahn, The Honorable Frank Murkowski, The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, The Honorable Ron Packard Distribution:
Docket No. 70-3091 NRC File Center PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f SPB r/f NMSS Dir Off r/f 0:\\SPB\\ SSK2%LTRsmple wpd
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Th3 Honortbla Jrm:s M. Inhofe, Chairman
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Subcommitt:0 on CI: n Air, Wcticnds,
)
Private Property and Nuclear Safety k(p Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
l The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of I
million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 undergr dn,approx d tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sou, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize atment operations. The 1
original contract established two phases to the project, a demons tion phase--Phase l--and a l
full-scale operations phase--Phase 11. DOE proposed to transf Phase ll regulatory authority to i
the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward t end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intend to facilitate the transition of the i
project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase ll. As a r ult, NRC received a specific line item I
appropriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled e Agency to establish the infrastructure i
necessary to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes the project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress, " Treatment and Immobilizatio of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July j
1998. This report, which preceded the si ing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limite Inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, j
and schedule of Phase I of the proje. In the new contract, Phase ll is currently undefined.
Because of the change in the cont ct, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and calls into question t originalintent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of RC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to' revise the MOU to reflect NRC's ure participation and working arrangements between agencies. As a
part of this process, we uld like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insighls as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. Please
,~
contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301415-1795, to coordinate a time w/could meet with your staff.
Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations cc: Senator Bob Graham IDENTICAL LETTERS TO THOSE ON ATTACHED LIST: The Honorable Joe L. Baron, The Honorable Frank Murkowski, The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, The Honorable Ron Packard Distribution:
Docket No. 70-3091 NRC File Center PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f SPB r/f NMSS Dir Off r/f g/7 G \\SPO\\ SSK2\\LTRsmple wpd
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OFC EDO OGA NAME WTravers DRathbun DATE
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ll Th3.Honorsbb.Jrm:s M: Inhofa, Chairman Subcommittas on Cban Air, Wztlands,
- Privrta Property and Nuclsar S:faty-L
' Committee on Environmtnt and Public Works i
United States Senate
. Washington, DC 20510
SUBJECT:
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE HANFORD TANK WASTE REMEDIATION SYSTEM PRIVATIZATION PROJECT
Dear Mr. Chairman:
' The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective l
manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The
' original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase-Phase I-and a full-scale operations phase-Phase 11. DOE proposed to transfer Phase ll regulatory authority to the U, S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase ll. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure necessary to assume regulatory oversight.
l There'have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's Report l
to Congress, " Treatment and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited Inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phase I of the project. In the new contract, Phase ll is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and l
calls into question the original intent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. Please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301415-1795, to coordinate a time'we could meet with your staff.
Sincerely, William D. Travers l
Executive Director I.
for Operations cc: Senator Bob Graham i
IDENTICAL LETTERS TO THOSE ON ATTACHED LIST: The Honorable Joe L Baron, The Honorable Frank Murkowski, The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, The Honorable Ron Packard Distribution:
Docket No. 70-3091 NRC File Center PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f '
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2 In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the NRC staff was directed by its Commission to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. Please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at (301) 415-1795 to coordinate a time we could meet with your staff.
Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations cc: Senator Bob Graham IDENTICAL LETERS TO THOSE ON ATTACHED LIST: The Honorable Joe L. Baron, The Honorable Frank Murkowski, The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, The Honorable Ron Packard Distribution:
Docket No. 70-3091 NRC File Center PUBLIC NMSS r/f FCSS r/f SPB r/f
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i i The Honorable James M. Inhofa, Chiirman i
/ Subcommittee on CI cn Air, WItlands, Privits Property and Nuclear S ftty ittee on Environment and Public Works U ' ed States Senate Wa ington, DC 20510 I
l SUBJ T: NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE HANFORD TANK WASTE REMEDIATION SYSTEM PRIVATIZATION PROJECT Dear Mr.
arman:
The Tank aste Remediation System Program was established by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 1 1 to mana08, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 54 million gallons of ra active waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, l
Richland, Was ington, in a safe, environmentally-sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's 1
approach to ting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two ases to the project, a demonstration phase, Phase I, and a full-scale operations phase, hase ll. The DOE proposed to transfer Phase ll regulatory authority to the
?
Nuclear Regulato Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Un erstanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to the NRC ulatory oversight in Phase ll. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation thr gh fiscal year 2000 that enabled the agency to establish the infrastructure necessa to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, ' nificant changes to the project that were articulated in the DOE Report to Congress, Treat nt and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste, dated July 1998. This report, whi preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear uels Limited (BNFL) Inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of P se I of the project. In the new contract, Phase ll is currently undefined. Because of the chan e in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has 3
become less defined and calls int question the originalintent of the MOU.
The NRC staff was directed by its Co mission to revise the working arrangement between agencies. As part of this process, we uld like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insight as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. Please contact Mr. Dennis Rathb n, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at (301) 415-1795 to coordinate a time,
- incerely, Wi am D. Travers Exe tive Director for erations cc: Senator Bob Graham IDENTICAL LETERS TO THOSE ON ATTACHED UST: The H orable Joe L Baron, The Honorable Frank FAurkowski, The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, The Honorable Packard Distribution:
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pa at49k UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 2006H001
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August 23, 1999 The Honorable Ron Packard, Chairman Committee on Energy and Water Development Committee on Appropriations United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase--Phase I--and a full-scale operations phase--Phase 11. DOE proposed to transfer Phase 11 regulatory authority to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase ll. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appronriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure nece,wy to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress," Treatment and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phase I of the project. In the new contract, Phase 11 is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and calls into question the originalintent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. If you or your staff would like such a briefing, please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301 415-1795.
Sincerely, Oh William D. travers Executive Director for Operations l
cc: Representative Peter J. Visclosky
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The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Committee on Appropriations United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 l
million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase--Phase l--and a full-scale operations phase--Phase 11. DOE proposed to transfer Phase il regulatory authority to the U. S. Nucl ar Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memoran' 1 of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC ulatory oversight in Phase 11. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, thwugh fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure j
necessary to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress, " Treatment and immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phase I of the project. In the new contract, Phase ll is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and calls into question the originalintent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. If you or your staff would like such a briefing, please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301 415 1795.
Sincerely, IL %~~
William D. T' avers r
Executive Director for Operations i
cc: Senator Harry Reid
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August 23, 1999 The Honorable Frank Murkowski, Chairman Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase--Phase I--and a full-scale operations phase--Phase ll. DOE proposed to transfer Phase 11 regulatory authority to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase 11. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure necessary to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress, " Treatment and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated j
July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited Inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phase I of the project. In the new contract, Phase Il is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and calls into question the originalintent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise i
the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As l
part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. If you or your staff would like such a briefing, please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301 415-1795.
Sincerely,
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William D. T avers Executive Director for Operations cc: Senator Jeff Bingaman
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August 23, 1999 The Honorable Joe L. Barton, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Power Committee on Commerce United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase--Phase I--and a full-scale operations phase--Phase 11. DOE proposed to transfer Phase ll regulatory authority to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase 11. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure necessary to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's Report to Congress, " Treatment and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, cost, and schedule of Phase I of the project. In the new contract, Phase 11 is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has become less defined and calls into question the original intent of the MOU.
In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. If you or your statf would like such a briefing, please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301 415 1795.
Sincerely, a
William D.1 ravers Executive Director for Operations cc: Representative Ralph M. Hall
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August 23, 1999 I
The Honorable James M. Inhofe, Chairman Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, l
Private Property and Nuclear Safety Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Tank Waste Remediation System Project was established by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1991 to manage, retrieve, treat, immobilize, and dispose of approximately 204 million liters (54 million gallons) of radioactive waste stored in 177 underground tanks located at the Hanford site, Richland, Washington, in a safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective manner. DOE's approach to meeting this objective was to privatize treatment operations. The original contract established two phases to the project, a demonstration phase--Phase l--and a full-scale operations phase--Phase 11. DOE proposed to transfer Phase 11 regulatory authority to the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Toward this end, DOE and NRC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was intended to facilitate the transition of the project to NRC regulatory oversight in Phase ll. As a result, NRC received a specific line item appropriation, through fiscal year 2000, that enabled the Agency to establish the infrastructure necessary to assume regulatory oversight.
There have been recent, significant changes to the project that were articulated in DOE's
)
Report to Congress, " Treatment and Immobilization of Hanford Radioactive Tank Waste," dated 1
July 1998. This report, which preceded the signing of a follow-on contract between DOE and j
the contractor, British Nuclear Fuels Limited Inc. on August 24,1998, expanded the scope, i
cost, and schedule of Phase I of the project. In the new contract, Phase ll is currently undefined. Because of the change in the contract, the purpose of NRC's involvement has j
become less defined and calls into question the originalintent of the MOU.
i In light of the uncertainty of NRC's future role, the Commission directed the NRC staff to revise j
the MOU to reflect NRC's future participation and working arrangements between agencies. As part of this process, we would like to meet with your staff and discuss the project in more depth and receive some insights as to the current Congressional thoughts on this matter. If you or your staff would like such a briefing, please contact Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301 415-1795.
l Sincerely, J)
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William D. Iravers Executive Director for Operations cc: Senator Bob Graham
.