nuclear-news

Hanford’s radioactive waste tanks producing unknown radionuclides

Official: Leaking tanks at U.S. nuclear site produce altogether new elements — “They’re just their own reactors… generating their own little world in there” http://enenews.com/official-leaking-tanks-nuclear-site-produce-altogether-new-elements-theyre-reactors-generating-little-world
Title: Will Hanford ever be cleaned up?
Source: The Associated Press
Author: SHANNON DININNY
Date: June 2, 2013
[…] The deadline for treating all of the waste at the Hanford nuclear reservation was once 2028. Now it’s 2047 […]
Technical problems, mismanagement and repeated delays have plagued the interminable cleanup of the 586-square-mile site, prolonging an effort that has cost taxpayers $36 billion to date and is estimated will cost $115 billion more. […]

One problem is knowing exactly what is in each tank. A database listing the contents of each is only a best guess, relying on historical information about the site and waste samples that are very limited, said Cheryl Whalen of the state Department of Ecology. […]

Whalen also said some elements that are in very small quantities, but could be very hazardous, aren’t even recorded. In addition, some of the radionuclides inside produce altogether new elements under the right conditions.

“The tanks create their own chemical environment. Between the heat and the radionuclides and the chemicals that are already in there, they’re just their own nuclear reactors,” Whalen said. “They’re generating their own little world in there.” […]
See also: TV: Leaking Strontium-90 is “boiling the material around it” at U.S. nuclear site — Eating through tank liners (VIDEO)

June 5, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes