nuclear-news

Washington State demands that federal govt pump out radioactive wastes from Hanford tank

Washington state wants the feds to start pumping nuclear waste out of Hanford waste tank Oregon live, 21 Mar 14 RICHLAND, Wash. — The state on Friday demanded that the federal government begin removing radioactive liquid waste from a nuclear waste tank at the Hanford Site by Sept. 1.

The Washington Department of Ecology’s order requires pumping of the double-walled tank to begin about 18 months sooner than what the U.S. Department of Energy has proposed.

Hanford for decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons, and the site contains the nation’s largest supply of radioactive wastes.

Double-walled Tank AY-102 was found to be leaking between its walls in October 2012. While many older single-walled tanks have leaked at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, this is the first of the newer double-walled tanks where leaks have been detected.

The Ecology Department said that after months of discussions it is clear the Energy Department is not willing to pump the tank in a timely manner. The agency said failure to comply with its administrative order could result in fines for the federal government.

“In order to meet legal requirements and to provide public health and environmental protection, the state believes this leaking double-shell tank must be addressed in the most aggressive manner possible,” Ecology Director Maia Bellon said. “Waiting another two years, at best, to initiate actions to address this hazardous condition is neither legally acceptable nor environmentally prudent.”……http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/03/washington_state_wants_the_fed.html

March 22, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized