hanford.jpg
Governor Jay Inslee reported Friday a tank storing radioactive waste at Hanford is leaking between 150 to 300 gallons per year. (DOE image)

Radioactive tank leaking at Hanford

BY Josh Kerns  on February 15, 2013 @ 1:22 pm (Updated: 3:28 pm - 2/15/13 )

The U.S. Department of Energy reported Friday a tank storing radioactive waste at Washington's Hanford nuclear reservation is leaking between 150 to 300 gallons per year.

The news raises concerns about the integrity of similar tanks at Hanford and puts added pressure on the federal government to resolve construction problems with the plant being built to alleviate environmental and safety risks from the waste.

According to the DOE, the leaking tank was built in the 1940's and was stabilized in February 1995, when all pumpable liquids were removed by agreement with the State.

The DOE said in a statement the tank contains 447,000 gallons of sludge, a mixture of solids and liquids with a mud-like consistency. It's the first tank which has been documented to be losing liquids since interim stabilization was completed in 2005.

Governor Jay Inslee said there is "no immediate public health risk," and the newly discovered leak may not reach the groundwater for years.

Inslee also said the the tank is one of the farthest from the Columbia River.

"I am alarmed and deeply concerned by this news," Inslee said. "This was a problem we thought was under control, years ago, when the liquids were pumped from the tanks and the sludge was stabilized. We can't just leave 149 single-shell tanks with high-level radioactive liquid and sludge sitting in the ground, for decades after their design life. Let me be clear: Washington State has a zero tolerance policy on radioactive leakage. We will not tolerate any leaks of this material to the environment."

DOE reports there are 177 tanks at the Hanford site, 149 of which are single shell tanks including the leaking tank.

The tanks, which are already long past their intended 20-year life span, hold millions of gallons of a highly radioactive stew left from decades of plutonium production for nuclear weapons.

"I am alarmed about this on many levels," Inslee said at a news conference. "This raises concerns, not only about the existing leak ... but also concerning the integrity of the other single shell tanks of this age."

Inslee said the state was assured years ago that such problems had been dealt with and he warned that spending cuts - particularly due to a budget fight in Congress - would create further risks at Hanford. Inslee said the cleanup must be a priority for the federal government.

"We are willing to exercise our rights using the legal system at the appropriate time. That should be clear," Inslee said.

Inslee said the state has a good partner in Energy Secretary Steven Chu but that he's concerned about whether Congress is committed to clean up the highly contaminated site.

Inslee said he plans to meet with Chu next week to discuss clean up options.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (13)


  • Add A Comment

  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    In a statement, Inslee said there is "no immediate public health risk," and the newly discovered leak may not reach the groundwater for years.
    February 15, 2013 1:01 pm
    He also said "liquid water"? Is there some other kind? So in addition to math, liberals can't graps basic science either. I'm pretty sure my 6 yr old g-daughter knows water is a "liquid".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    In Science
    February 15, 2013 6:31 pm
    We refer to water in all of its states (solid, gaseous, and liquid) as water.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    I didn't hear the part where
    February 15, 2013 1:19 pm
    Inslee blamed all the previous Democratic Governors for letting this happen on their watch.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    This is a highly secure FEDERAL site
    February 15, 2013 3:23 pm
    Not in control of any governor.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    I call B..S.
    February 15, 2013 1:24 pm
    This is all a lie in order to promote the solar and wind scam...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ibedavey wrote...
    Hanford
    February 15, 2013 3:37 pm
    OH NO!!!! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!! This is worse than Chenobyl. At least by media standards.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    This is obviously Owebama's fault...
    February 15, 2013 4:20 pm
    .....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    He also said "liquid water"? Is there some other kind?
    February 15, 2013 4:47 pm
    1)liquid 2)solid 3)gas U 2 E Z!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Thanks again for proving me correct. Libs ARE STUPID.
    February 16, 2013 11:01 am
    H2O in a liquid state is water. In a gaseous state is steam and in a solid state is called ice. Morons. Can't blame you though. You and Inslee graduated f r on public school.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    If they reported a leak.
    February 15, 2013 4:47 pm
    Its in the ground water. A nuclear reactor is just a steam engine that could be ran by natural gas. Nuclear is so retarted its off the charts.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    That's one way to save or create federal jobs
    February 15, 2013 8:17 pm
    My guess is Hanford will come off the funding cuts list now. Coincidence?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    The part of his big speech I thought was funny
    February 15, 2013 8:29 pm
    Was when he stood tall and proud and stole a line from Obama... "Let me be clear." I am pretty sure Obama has all the rights to that line and will be suing Inslee soon! Oh yea how is it he has a zero tolerance policy agaist leaks? I thought that normal use of a tank was to hold stuff and not leak but I guess I am wrong. I just thought it was funny like he was trying to hit this hard and just looked like and sounded like a buffoon...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    He is a buffoon
    February 16, 2013 11:03 am
    ....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }