DoomsdaysCWHistoric #Hanford #Contamination is Worse Than Expected: #Oregon Experts Weigh In
July 7, 2023
"In late June, the U.S. Department of Energy reported that radioactive contamination beneath a building at the #HanfordNuclearSite is worse than originally thought.
"The Hanford 324 Building is located on the south end of Hanford – in what’s known as the 300 Area – just 1,000 feet from the #ColumbiaRiver. The US DOE has known about one spill under the building for over a decade, and has been working on a plan for cleanup of the area while also making progress in other areas of Hanford since production turned to cleanup at the site in the 1980s.
"The agency knew the contamination in the soil was serious, but sampling this spring found unexpected contamination deeper in the soil and outside the previously known spill area. So what does that mean? Oregon Department of Energy Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Maxwell Woods and Hanford Hydrogeologist Tom Sicilia weigh in.
"Q: Is the #groundwater or the Columbia River at risk of exposure to the contaminated soil?
"A: Based on data from monitoring wells, the US DOE reports that the spill has not migrated to groundwater, so at this time the groundwater that flows to the river poses a minimal risk. But it will be important moving forward that the area remain covered and protected and for monitoring to continue while a cleanup plan is identified.
"We hear US DOE may also be considering adding additional groundwater monitoring in the area to capture more data, which we support.
[...]
"Q: What are the risks with the new plan?
"A: If US DOE decides to construct the big metal shell, a next question will be whether work should continue with robots or remotely operated equipment to resume the digging, or if the agency should wait a few more decades to allow the #radioactive materials in the soil to decay further.
"Depending on how “hot” the soil really is – it could be hundreds of years before it would be safe enough for humans to manually excavate it. Remotely operated equipment is used across the Hanford site for safe cleanup activities.
"While the risk to groundwater and the river are low, there is a balance between the inevitable migration of #contaminants over time and the ability to safely complete the cleanup. In the near-term, US DOE seems to be doing the right thing, and is 'measuring twice' to avoid having to go back out and re-dig this complicated and dangerous soil. This pause will allow a more efficient and protective remedy to be developed for review by stakeholders, Tribal nations, the public, and site regulators."
#WaterIsLife #Oregon #WashingtonState #HanfordNuclearFacility #NoNukes #NoDumping
#FutureGenerations
#NoWar #NoNuclearWeapons #RethinkNotRestart #NuclearWaste #NuclearWeaponsDump
Historic Hanford Contamination is Worse Than Expected: Oregon Experts Weigh In — Energy Info
In late June, the U.S. Department of Energy reported that radioactive contamination beneath a building at the Hanford Nuclear Site is worse than originally thought. What does that mean? Oregon Department of Energy Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Maxwell Woods and Han
