Categorical Exclusion Determination
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 15, 2017
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On the morning of Tuesday, May 9, 2017, a partial collapse of PUREX Tunnel 1 was discovered. A portion of the roof had collapsed into the tunnel, creating a hole resulting in a hole approximately 19 feet wide and 17 feet long. DOE submitted its structural integrity analysis of Tunnel 1, which found there was a significant risk of additional collapses, and proposed using engineered grout to stabilize the tunnel. The grout will provide additional radiological protection. Hanford has used engineered grout in a several applications to provide interim shielding and containment of radioactive waste.