EIS-0113_Section_9 - Hanford Site

M f.1
r*, 1112
Closer inspection of two of the department's own studies of
flood potential sharply contradict the DEIS downplaying of
flood risks.
• [A) greet deal of re-working of sediment. -would occur
within the Pasco Basin during a Bissoula flood... we
conclude... that instability of at least the top meter
of the [200 .real surface material would ocour...xe
3.5.6.8
In the BEIS summary is the statement:
•The were is at an elevation that would not be reached
by any reasonably postulated surface flood. The potential
for flash flooding is remote.•
Consider gmite likely that greater depth. of sediment
would be involved in transportduring such a flood.,.-
(2)
So you see, the long-temn risk of a major :flood is a very
real mm. A flood -- the mixing of water with waste --
This confidence is undermined by the department'. two prior
reports.
Se the worst possible scenario in terms of causing
widespread contamination of our Columbia River and of our
agricultural lands.
tp
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In a 1983 Battelle asse....t of military waste issue., the
authoxa conclude:
The department moat not belie its own commitment to clean up
the problem by advocating, an unsound option that would
'A major flood would be nature-indnced...(and] could
leave part of that problem in unsafe tanks or trenches.
3.5.6.8
exhume the waste by innundation of both waste storage
areas. The occurrence of such a...flocd is estimated
to be...very likely in 10,000 year..' (1)
All high-level waste., defined according -toEPA's
definition, moat be cleaned up, glassified, and buried in an
acceptable deep geologic repository.
3.3.1.1
The impacts of such major flood on the buried waste are
O assessed in a 1985 Rest State/Battelle report. In that
3.5.6.8 report, we are introduced to the specter of the greet
Missoula flood and its threat of erosion of the 200 storage
area. According to the report:
M55SA03.2
RECEIVED DOE-RL
JUL14" OO(o0
WM DIVISION
Finally, let an echo the need for a tangible good faith
gesture from the department that will show Northwest
residents that we are an the verge of action with respect to
cleaning up a 40 year old problem, Oct more studies,
research and the like. RECEIVED DOE-RL
PB555.009.3
JUL 14 686 OQ bO
VIM DIVISION
2.2.1