In February 1983, the U.S. Department of Energy identified a reference repository location at the Hanford Site n Washington as one of the nine potentially acceptable sites for a mined geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive water. The site is in the Columbia Plateau, which is one of five distinct geohydrologic settings considered for the first repository. To determine their suitability, the Hanford site and the eight other potentially acceptable sites have been evaluated in accordance with the DOE's General Guidelines for the Recommendation of Sites for the Nuclear Waste Repositories. These evaluations were reported in draft environmental assessments, which were issued for public review and comment. After considering the comments received on the draft EAs, the DOE prepared the final EAs.