Hanford In-Depth - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

Feds Add $2 Billion To Hanford Cleanup Work

Federal contractors that were fined for environmental and safety violations at Hanford will receive much of the $2 billion in... More>>

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30 to 50 People a Week Hiring on at Vit Plant
30 to 50 People a Week Hiring on at Vit Plant
As the temperatures heat up, so does work at the Vit Plant. More >>
As the temperatures heat up, so does work at the Vit Plant.

Bechtel is continuing to hire workers as construction gets more active. More >>
Vit Plant Could Start Up by 2013
Vit Plant Could Start Up by 2013
A new Department of Energy study reveals Hanford's Waste Treatment Plant may be operational years earlier than previously thought, but at an added cost.More >>
A new Department of Energy study reveals Hanford's Waste Treatment Plant may be operational years earlier than previously thought, but at an added cost.

DOE says if they can build a second pre-treatment facility, that should allow them to get the low-activity waste plant up and running, and some waste treated before the heart of the plant is complete. More >>
Full Vit Plant Construction Could Restart Before Previously Thought
Full Vit Plant Construction Could Restart Before Previously Thought
Department of Energy leaders now say they may be able to restart full construction on Hanford's Waste Treatment Plant before the previously declared October 1, 2007 date. More >>
Department of Energy leaders now say they may be able to restart full construction on Hanford's Waste Treatment Plant before the previously declared October 1, 2007 date.

John Eschenberg, who manages the project for DOE, says if all goes well, they could start early.More >>
Sand Mantis Unveiled
Sand Mantis Unveiled
CH2M Hill has developed the Sand Mantis, a new tool that takes rock salt type waste, and turns it into a fine, powdery waste.

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CH2M Hill has developed the Sand Mantis, a new tool that takes rock salt type waste, and turns it into a fine, powdery waste.

It's controlled with a Playstation 2 controller, allowing CH2M Hill to remotely clean the waste out of Hanford's tanks.More >>
Fluor Hanford Receives Safety Award
Fluor Hanford Receives Safety Award
Fluor Hanford workers at the Effluent Treatment Facility are being recognized for their safety record. More >>
Fluor Hanford workers at the Effluent Treatment Facility are being recognized for their safety record.

After eleven years in operation, the facility is now one of only 26 Department of Energy "Star Status" projects in the country. More >>
Senate Race Heats Up Over Hanford
Senate Race Heats Up Over Hanford
The Washington Senate race is heating up. More >>
The Washington Senate race is heating up.

The Hanford watchdog group Heart of America Northwest criticizes Republican challenger Mike McGavick over his stance on Hanford cleanup. More >>
Hanford Funding on the Senate Floor
Hanford Funding on the Senate Floor
Washington Senator Patty Murray was in front of the U.S. Senate Thursday fighting for continued federal cleanup dollars for the Hanford site.More >>
Washington Senator Patty Murray was in front of the U.S. Senate Thursday fighting for continued federal cleanup dollars for the Hanford site.

If the funding isn't passed tomorrow, it'll be delayed until the senate reconvenes a month from now. More >>
Bill in Olympia Being Called "I-297 Revisited"
Bill in Olympia Being Called "I-297 Revisited"
A bill in the state legislature that would stop nuclear waste shipments into Washington is losing support in Olympia.More >>
A bill in the state legislature that would stop nuclear waste shipments into Washington is losing support in Olympia.

A House committee heard the bill Tuesday, but the State Senate canceled their meetings on it.More >>
President Bush Issues 2008 Hanford Budget Proposal
President Bush Issues 2008 Hanford Budget Proposal
President Bush has proposed a $1.84 billion budget for Hanford cleanup in 2008.More >>
President Bush has proposed a $1.84 billion budget for Hanford cleanup in 2008.

That's more than in previous years, but it's getting a mixed reaction. More >>
Governor Optimistic About Hanford Budget
Governor Optimistic About Hanford Budget
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire is speaking out on the new Hanford cleanup budget.More >>
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire is speaking out on the new Hanford cleanup budget.

The Governor is happy with restored funding for the Waste Treatment Plant. More >>
Tax Exemptions for Hanford Contractors Could be Extended
Tax Exemptions for Hanford Contractors Could be Extended
A new bill in the state legislature would extend current tax exemptions for contractors on the site. More >>
A new bill in the state legislature would extend current tax exemptions for contractors on the site.

Right now, Lockheed Martin doesn't get the same tax breaks that other contractors do because they aren't involved in the "on-site" cleanup, they do the computer work. More >>
Work Begins to Prepare N Reactor for Cocooning
Work Begins to Prepare N Reactor for Cocooning
Demolition work begins to prepare Hanford's historic N Reactor for cocooning. More >>
Demolition work begins to prepare Hanford's historic N Reactor for cocooning.

Aside from the radioactivity contained in the reactor, most of the steam pipes are insulated with asbestos, there's still lead in some places and they have to make sure all of that's out before they can start demolition. More >>
New Study Shows New Nuclear Power Outlook Unlikely in the Northwest
New Study Shows New Nuclear Power Outlook Unlikely in the Northwest
Talk of nuclear expansion at Hanford, but a new study shows the chances of a new nuclear power plant in the Northwest are low, that's according to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. More >>
Talk of nuclear expansion at Hanford, but a new study shows the chances of a new nuclear power plant in the Northwest are low, that's according to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. More >>
Chemical Barrier Will Protect River From Strontium
Chemical Barrier Will Protect River From Strontium
Fluor Hanford is using a previously tested technology to install a 300-foot apatite barrier along the Columbia River shoreline near Hanford's N Reactor.More >>
Fluor Hanford is using a previously tested technology to install a 300-foot apatite barrier along the Columbia River shoreline near Hanford's N Reactor.

The calcium phosphate chemical is being injected into wells along the shoreline with the hopes it will bond to and encapsulate radioactive Strontium-90 in the groundwater.More >>
EPA says Record Fine Due to False Records and Lack of Oversight
EPA says Record Fine Due to False Records and Lack of Oversight
The Department of Energy faces a record fine after falsifying cleanup records and breaking part of the Tri-Party Agreement.More >>
The Department of Energy faces a record fine after falsifying cleanup records and breaking part of the Tri-Party Agreement.

The Environmental Protection Agency is being very strict and limiting the amount of waste that can go in Hanford's low-level waste landfill, and now DOE faces more than a million dollars in fines because of the violations. More >>
Another Part of Historic Plutonium Finishing Plant Coming Down
Another Part of Historic Plutonium Finishing Plant Coming Down
A highly contaminated building that once helped produce most of the nation's weapons grade plutonium is coming down.More >>
A highly contaminated building that once helped produce most of the nation's weapons grade plutonium is coming down.

Crews have worked for three years to clean out highly contaminated tanks below the building.More >>
Upgraded Exhibits at B-Reactor
Upgraded Exhibits at B-Reactor
Hanford's historic B-Reactor is getting upgrades in the effort to preserve it as a museum. More >>
Hanford's historic B-Reactor is getting upgrades in the effort to preserve it as a museum.

The organizations trying to save the reactor just unveiled a series of new exhibits and educational videos setups. More >>
CH2M Hill Installing "Umbrella" Over T-Farm
CH2M Hill Installing "Umbrella" Over T-Farm
Department of Energy contractor CH2M Hill Hanford Group is taking an interesting step to stop the further spread of radioactive tank waste toward the river.More >>
Department of Energy contractor CH2M Hill Hanford Group is taking an interesting step to stop the further spread of radioactive tank waste toward the river.

The plan is to cover a part of the T-farm with the same water proof technology sprayed in truck beds. More >>
TRIDEC Releases GNEP Citing Study
TRIDEC Releases GNEP Citing Study
TRIDEC submits its study on a controversial plan that could guide the area's economic future.More >>
TRIDEC submits its study on a controversial plan that could guide the area's economic future.

They just finished a million dollar citing study on their proposal to bring the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership to the area. More >>
Fluor Hanford Raises Ninth Safety Flag
Fluor Hanford Raises Ninth Safety Flag
The Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy grants the Department's highest safety honor to hanford's groundwater cleanup workers. More >>
The Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy grants the Department's highest safety honor to hanford's groundwater cleanup workers.

Just a couple years ago, the groundwater cleanup crew recorded 100 logbook concerns a year. Last year, only nine. More >>

Hanford In-Depth - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

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