ENVIRONMETNAL ASSESSMENT FOR SELECTION
AND OPERATION OF THE PROPOSED
FIELD RESEARCH CENTERS

March 7, 2000

5.0

Cumulative Effects of the Alternatives

5.2 Cumulative Effects of Siting and Operating an FRC on the PNNL/100-H Area

The actions that DOE considers reasonably foreseeable and pertinent to the analysis of cumulative effects for the PNNL/100-H Area are described in the section below.

Interim Remedial Action at the 100-HR-3 Operable Unit. The proposed FRC lies within the 100-HR-3 CERCLA Operable Unit that falls under the Tri-Party Agreement. This operable unit is currently undergoing an interim remedial action (pump-and-treat system) for chromium contamination in accordance with a CERCLA Interim Record of Decision. The proposed FRC would be located hydraulically upgradient of the pump-and-treat system. The system is currently pumping contaminated groundwater from two wells immediately adjacent to the Columbia River, passing the water through an ion-exchange filter, and injecting the treated water into several wells located 600 to 700 yards upgradient of the river. Through the CERCLA Interim Record of Decision, the EPA and DOE are scheduled to review the status and success of this pump-and-treat effort in 2002.

Excavation of the 107-H Retention Basin. The 107-H Retention Basin is currently undergoing excavation, which will continue into FY 2000. The excavation requires the removal of large quantities of contaminated soils by truck across the 100-H Area. The 107-H Retention Basin is located southeast of the proposed contaminated area and east of the proposed background areas. The proposed FRC was located in conjunction with the site environmental contractor to avoid the planned remediation activities. Due to the small number of investigators that would be involved at an FRC, there would be no increase in the overall traffic though the 100-H area.

H Reactor Building Cocooning. Within the next five years (1999 to 2004) the H Reactor Building is scheduled for "cocooning." Cocooning involves the dismantlement of ancillary reactor facilities and placement of the reactor core into safe, interim storage. The core will be kept within a storage enclosure designed to provide safe storage for up to 75 years with minimal maintenance required. The H Reactor is located outside the proposed FRC contaminated area. The cocooning process will require a short-term increase in the traffic and number of workers traveling across the 100-H area.

Comprehensive Land Use Plan-Columbia River Corridor. The 100-H Area lies within an area defined in the Record of Decision for the Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan EIS as the Columbia River Corridor (DOE/RL November 1999b). The Columbia River is used by the public and tribes for boating, water skiing, fishing and hunting of upland game birds and migratory waterfowl. Along the southern shoreline (access restricted) of the Columbia River Corridor, the 100 Areas occupy approximately 26 miles (68 km). RCRA closure permit restrictions have been placed in the vicinity of the 100-H Area, which is associated with the 183-H Solar Evaporation Basins. Additional deed restrictions or covenants for activities that potentially extend more than 15 feet (4.6 m) below ground surface are expected for the CERCLA remediation areas.

Back to the top

5.2.1 Earth Resources

Operation of the proposed FRC would not contribute to the cumulative impact on geology or soils of the 100-H Area or surrounding areas. As described in Section 4.2.1, no significant problems have been identified with regard to site stability or the soil medium that would constitute impacts by themselves or, combined with existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts. None of the projects or reasonably foreseeable activities described above would be expected to affect the earth resources of the 100-H Area, thus the minimal effects from proposed FRC activities would not contribute to cumulative impacts.

5.2.2 Climate and Air Quality

Operation of the proposed FRC would not contribute to the cumulative impact on climate or air quality of the Hanford Site. The Hanford Site (in Benton County) is in attainment for NAAQS except for particulate matter (PM). Benton County is "unclassified" for PM. No activities (e.g., drilling or small-area land clearing) planned for the FRC would constitute an impact by themselves (see Section 4.2.2) or, combined with existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts. None of the projects or reasonably foreseeable activities described above would be expected to affect the climate or air quality of the 100-H Area, thus the minimal effects from proposed FRC activities would not contribute to cumulative impacts.

Back to the top

5.2.3 Water Resources

Operation of the proposed FRC would not contribute to the cumulative impact on the surface water and groundwater of the 100-H Area or surrounding areas. The possible addition of tracers, electron donors and acceptors, nutrients and microorganisms, and other substances (see Section 4.2.3) would have little consequence on the quality of the surface water (the Columbia River) or the surrounding groundwater. These activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts. None of the projects or reasonably foreseeable activities described above would be expected to affect the water resources of the 100-H Area, thus the minimal effects from proposed FRC activities would not contribute to cumulative impacts.

Back to the top

5.2.4 Ecological Resources

Terrestrial and aquatic species within the area of the proposed FRC would not be impacted (see Section 4.2.4). Section 4.2.3 discusses the potential impacts to the Columbia River and demonstrates that no impacts would be expected. The addition of the proposed FRC activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts. None of the projects or reasonably foreseeable activities described above would be expected to affect the ecological resources of the 100-H Area, thus the minimal effects from proposed FRC activities would not contribute to cumulative impacts.

5.2.5 Archaeological, Cultural, and Historic Resources

According to PNNL, no cultural resources have been identified within the proposed contaminated area and background area (Appendix E). A portion of the contaminated area is located within 440 yards (400 m) of the Columbia River. The Columbia River and its shorelines are considered culturally sensitive; however, consultation with PNNL’s cultural resource experts would be required before any activities could take place in that area. The addition of the proposed FRC activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts.

Back to the top

5.2.6 Land Use, Recreation, and Aesthetic Resources

The proposed contaminated area and background area would not conflict with or have any adverse impacts to any existing land uses in the 100-H Area, including ongoing remediation activities. The designation in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan EIS as the Columbia River Corridor does not preclude the types of activities that have been discussed. Section 4.2.3 concluded that there were no impacts to the Columbia River by the injection of tracers, electron donors and acceptors and nutrients, microorganisms, and other substances. Therefore, use of the Columbia River for boating, fishing and water skiing would not be effected. The addition of the proposed FRC activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts.

5.2.7 Socioeconomic Conditions

Employees of the proposed FRC would be existing employees from PNNL and researchers would be small in number (see Section 4.2.7). The addition of the proposed FRC activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts. When combined with the number of workers and researchers expected to be present at the cocooning operations at the H-Reactor and the cleanup work at the 107-H Evaporative Basin, workers on the FRC could contribute to minor positive economic impacts, and only minor effects on housing availability and regional community services.

Back to the top

5.2.8 Human Health

The proposed activities conducted at the FRC would not pose any potential for adverse impacts to workers or the offsite public (see Section 4.2.8). These activities would not add any significant quantities of radioactive emissions to the air, would not impact groundwater to levels above drinking water standards, and workers would not be exposed to any doses of radiation or chemicals that would be of concern. These activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts.

5.2.9 Waste Control

The approximate volume of waste generated and requiring storage for the proposed FRC would be minimal (see Section 4.2.9) in comparison with the quantities generated through the environmental remediation activities on the Hanford Site (DOE 1998). The volumes of waste produced by the FRC would be less than one percent of the total waste produced on the Hanford Site. These activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts.

Back to the top

5.2.10 Transportation

The employees of the proposed FRC are currently employed by PNNL so there would be no impact to traffic within the 100-H area. In addition the number of expected visitors to the FRC would be expected to be minimal (see Section 4.2.7). It is expected that the FRC-related traffic would be very light and would not create any incremental or cumulative impacts. The majority of FRC-related traffic in the 100-H Area would occur during the start-up period of the FRC and then would decrease; this would occur approximately half-way through the expected ten-year life of the FRC..

Transportation of minimal quantities of hazardous materials would be expected throughout the course of FRC operations (see Section 4.2.10). These activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts.

5.2.11 Utilities and Services

Impacts to utilities and infrastructure such as housing, education, health care, police and fire protection, and water and sewage would not be anticipated as a result of the small number of individuals involved in the operation or research activities of the proposed FRC. No new construction would be required for operation of the FRC. The siting of trailers and small staging areas for support equipment would be in previously disturbed areas and therefore would have impact on existing infrastructure. These activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts.

5.2.12 Environmental Justice

No potential impacts have been identified that would affect 100-H employees or offsite public. The Columbia River is the only resource that could possibly cause disproportionate risk or significantly high and adverse impacts to low-income and minority populations, as it is potentially used for subsistence fishing (Neitzel et al. 1999). However, Section 4.2.3 concluded that there would be no impacts to the Columbia River as a result of FRC research. Therefore, the addition of the proposed FRC activities would not constitute an impact by themselves or, combined with the existing or future conditions, create cumulative impacts.