Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 6, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Sheryl Hutchison, Department of Ecology, 360-407-7004
Bill Dunbar, Environmental Protection Agency, 206-553-1203
In February, the Bush Administration released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2003 that would have cut $300 million from cleanup efforts at Hanford. As part of the agreement, the DOE has made a commitment to restore $300 million to fully fund Hanford’s cleanup budget and provide an additional $150 million in fiscal year 2003 to pay for accelerated cleanup activities this year.
“This is the best news for Hanford since the signing of the original cleanup agreement,” Locke said. “During my recent trip to the nation’s capital I met with Energy Secretary Abraham to negotiate the agreement. At the time, I could not divulge the framework of the agreement, but it is clear that the trip paid off.”
“I want to thank Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Norm Dicks and Representative Doc Hastings for working with me to help get federal funding for the cleanup,” the governor noted. “I also want to thank Secretary Abraham and his staff for working with my office and the state Department of Ecology to provide funding certainty for the accelerated cleanup program.”
“If it weren’t for our resolve, there would have been little commitment to clean up Hanford in accordance with the terms of the Tri-Party Agreement,” Locke continued. “We’re going to get Hanford cleaned up faster and better -- and save money, too.”
The agreement also recognizes the need for predictable and stable funding beyond 2003. To this end, DOE managers have assured the governor and other state officials that they will create a budgetary approach that ensures full funding through FY-2006.
The DOE, Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency have co-signed a letter of intent that “documents a commitment … to accelerate Hanford Site cleanup” while continuing with work already agreed to under the Tri-Party Agreement of 1989. That agreement committed the federal government to clean up the nuclear contamination that remained after a half-century of weapons production.
The new agreement states: “This represents a transformation in Hanford Site cleanup, with the objective of accelerating completion from a 2070 timeframe to 2035, and possibly as soon as 2025. It establishes a bias for action and continuous improvement throughout cleanup.”
Over the past year, Ecology, EPA and DOE have developed a list of 42 ways to potentially accelerate cleanup at Hanford and save money. Seven of the ideas are already being implemented.
“The mutual satisfaction here is that the cleanup will occur faster and cheaper without reducing the scope or the quality of the cleanup,” said Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons, who signed the letter on behalf of Locke. "This is the big leap forward for Hanford, the one we have been hoping for and working on for several years.”
EPA Regional Administrator John Iani, who also signed the letter, said, “This agreement is a very positive step. It shows how committed the administration is to Hanford cleanup and to getting it done sooner rather than later. We look forward to keeping cleanup on a rapid course.”
DOE Assistant Secretary Jessie Roberson, Richland Operations Manager Keith Klein and Office of River Protection Manager Harry Boston signed on behalf of the Department of Energy.
The letter of intent charges the DOE and its contractors with primary responsibility for transforming their business practices to accelerate cleanup. Contamination that poses the greatest risk will continue to be the highest priority.
The next step is to develop specific goals to be achieved by 2007 and 2012. A draft work plan for the accelerated cleanup projects will be produced by May 1 and a final work plan will be adopted by Aug. 1.
Note: The Tri-Party Agreement, Letter of Intent, dated March 5, 2002 is available as a PDF file (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader ).
Related Links:
- Hanford Site
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Washington State Department of Ecology
- U.S. Sen. Patty Murray
- U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell
- U. S. Rep. Doc Hastings
- U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks
- Nuclear Waste Program
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- President George W. Bush
- Tri-Party Agreement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 6, 2002
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact: Sheryl Hutchison, Department of Ecology, 360-407-7004
Bill Dunbar, Environmental Protection Agency, 206-553-1203
Gov. Locke announces agreement for faster Hanford cleanup
OLYMPIA – Gov. Gary Locke today announced that he and U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham reached agreement to ensure that the Hanford Site near Richland could be cleaned up at least 35 years faster than originally estimated.In February, the Bush Administration released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2003 that would have cut $300 million from cleanup efforts at Hanford. As part of the agreement, the DOE has made a commitment to restore $300 million to fully fund Hanford’s cleanup budget and provide an additional $150 million in fiscal year 2003 to pay for accelerated cleanup activities this year.
“This is the best news for Hanford since the signing of the original cleanup agreement,” Locke said. “During my recent trip to the nation’s capital I met with Energy Secretary Abraham to negotiate the agreement. At the time, I could not divulge the framework of the agreement, but it is clear that the trip paid off.”
“I want to thank Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Norm Dicks and Representative Doc Hastings for working with me to help get federal funding for the cleanup,” the governor noted. “I also want to thank Secretary Abraham and his staff for working with my office and the state Department of Ecology to provide funding certainty for the accelerated cleanup program.”
“If it weren’t for our resolve, there would have been little commitment to clean up Hanford in accordance with the terms of the Tri-Party Agreement,” Locke continued. “We’re going to get Hanford cleaned up faster and better -- and save money, too.”
The agreement also recognizes the need for predictable and stable funding beyond 2003. To this end, DOE managers have assured the governor and other state officials that they will create a budgetary approach that ensures full funding through FY-2006.
The DOE, Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency have co-signed a letter of intent that “documents a commitment … to accelerate Hanford Site cleanup” while continuing with work already agreed to under the Tri-Party Agreement of 1989. That agreement committed the federal government to clean up the nuclear contamination that remained after a half-century of weapons production.
The new agreement states: “This represents a transformation in Hanford Site cleanup, with the objective of accelerating completion from a 2070 timeframe to 2035, and possibly as soon as 2025. It establishes a bias for action and continuous improvement throughout cleanup.”
Over the past year, Ecology, EPA and DOE have developed a list of 42 ways to potentially accelerate cleanup at Hanford and save money. Seven of the ideas are already being implemented.
“The mutual satisfaction here is that the cleanup will occur faster and cheaper without reducing the scope or the quality of the cleanup,” said Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons, who signed the letter on behalf of Locke. "This is the big leap forward for Hanford, the one we have been hoping for and working on for several years.”
EPA Regional Administrator John Iani, who also signed the letter, said, “This agreement is a very positive step. It shows how committed the administration is to Hanford cleanup and to getting it done sooner rather than later. We look forward to keeping cleanup on a rapid course.”
DOE Assistant Secretary Jessie Roberson, Richland Operations Manager Keith Klein and Office of River Protection Manager Harry Boston signed on behalf of the Department of Energy.
The letter of intent charges the DOE and its contractors with primary responsibility for transforming their business practices to accelerate cleanup. Contamination that poses the greatest risk will continue to be the highest priority.
The next step is to develop specific goals to be achieved by 2007 and 2012. A draft work plan for the accelerated cleanup projects will be produced by May 1 and a final work plan will be adopted by Aug. 1.
Note: The Tri-Party Agreement, Letter of Intent, dated March 5, 2002 is available as a PDF file (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader ).
Related Links:
- Hanford Site
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Washington State Department of Ecology
- U.S. Sen. Patty Murray
- U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell
- U. S. Rep. Doc Hastings
- U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks
- Nuclear Waste Program
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- President George W. Bush
- Tri-Party Agreement
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