Hanford Tank Farms

Hanford Cleanup Slows While Tanks Leak, Treatment Plant Stalls

Anna King — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:01:01 +0000

At the Hanford Nuclear Reservation more than 200 employees received layoff notices this month. There could be 2,500 furloughs, all because of the federal budget cuts known as the sequester. That would further slow cleanup at the southeast Washington site. Meanwhile, radioactive waste at Hanford continues to leak from underground tanks.

Inslee: Leaking Tank Waste Removal Can’t Begin For Two To Four Years

Anna King — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 01:52:45 +0000

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says it may take two to four years to begin removing liquids from leaking tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

Wyden Calls For Investigation Into Hanford's Leaking Tanks

Anna King — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:17:30 +0000

RICHLAND, Wash. – Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is calling for a federal investigation into the leaking tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southeast Washington. Tuesday the senator asked the federal Government Accountability Office to look into the six single-hulled tanks that are losing radioactive waste.

Wyden is the new chair of a committee that closely watches and funds work at Hanford.

Hanford Tanks Could Be Leaking Three Gallons Per Day

Anna King — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:53:52 +0000

RICHLAND, Wash. – A new detail has emerged on the leaking tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The federal Energy Department acknowledged last week that six single-shelled tanks are holding less radioactive waste than they used to. Monday the agency said those tanks are losing less than three gallons a day.

Worst case: Three gallons per day adds up to 1,095 gallons of radioactive waste per year.

Sen. Wyden Wants Investigation Into More Tank Leaks At Hanford

Anna King — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:58:07 +0000

RICHLAND, Wash. – Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will be asking the federal Government Accountability Office to investigate the Hanford Nuclear Reservation’s tank monitoring and maintenance program. This after Friday’s revelation that a total of seven tanks are leaking at Hanford, and there might be more.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee met with Energy Secretary Steven Chu Friday. The Democratic governor says Chu told him that the agency is looking for faster ways to secure the leaking underground tanks of waste.

There’s Little Space To Pump Out Hanford’s Possible Leaking Tank

Anna King — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:50:01 +0000

A Hanford Nuclear Reservation watchdog says U.S. Energy officials have bigger problems than the waste that is possibly leaking from a tank in southeast Washington. The tank, called T-111, is losing about 150 to 300 gallons of liquid waste a year.

Apparent Hanford Leak Raises New Questions About Buried Tanks

Austin Jenkins — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:35:47 +0000

There are renewed concerns about the condition of buried waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southeast Washington. The U.S. Department of Energy says one of those mammoth World War II era containers – thought to have been stabilized - is losing highly radioactive waste at a rate of 150 to 300 gallons a year.

Inslee Calls Apparent Hanford Tank Leak 'Disturbing News'

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:56:54 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington Governor Jay Inslee says the state has a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to radioactive leaks from the Hanford reservation in southeast Washington. The Democrat made his comments Friday in response to news of an apparent leak of high level nuclear waste from an underground tank.

This would be the first leak of its kind since 2005.

Hanford Advisory Board Recommends New Waste Tanks For Hanford’s Leak Situation

Anna King — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:19:17 +0000

The Hanford Nuclear Reservation needs new storage tanks for radioactive waste, now that one of the aging double-hulled tanks has been found to be leaking. That was the consensus Friday of a board that advises federal Hanford managers.