Nuclear Waste May Be Leaking Into Soil from Hanford Site

June 23rd, 2013

Via: AP:

An underground tank holding some of the worst radioactive waste at the nation’s most contaminated nuclear site might be leaking into the soil.

The U.S. Energy Department said workers at Washington state’s Hanford Nuclear Reservation detected higher radioactivity levels under tank AY-102 during a routine inspection Thursday.

Spokeswoman Lori Gamache said the department has notified Washington officials and is investigating the leak further. An engineering analysis team will conduct additional sampling and video inspection to determine the source of the contamination, she said.

State and federal officials have long said leaking tanks at Hanford do not pose an immediate threat to the environment or public health.

The largest waterway in the Pacific Northwest — the Columbia River — is still at least 5 miles away and the closest communities are several miles downstream.

However, if this dangerous waste escapes the tank into the soil, it raises concerns about it traveling to the groundwater and someday potentially reaching the river.

4 Responses to “Nuclear Waste May Be Leaking Into Soil from Hanford Site”

  1. freeacre says:

    Wonder how long it will be before letting us know about the threat of radiation will be considered giving away state secrets…

  2. prov6yahoo says:

    Seems possible that nuclear power was being used all along, and now frakking, to hopefully spoil the countryside, so that everyone will have to move into the cities, and therefore be easily controlled.

  3. scrod says:

    freeacre:

    It looks like we’re already there (to say nothing of the ag-gag laws):

    http://slashdot.org/story/187871

  4. alvinroast says:

    Is this really news? I’ve spent virtually my entire life within a couple hundred miles of the Columbia river including living a few miles from Hanford for years. I thought everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before this entire ecosystem was destroyed. As I recall, the tanks were leaking back in the 70s.

    Once the river floods, say from Mt. Rainier erupting – not likely in our lifetimes, but certainly likely over the longer term – Hanford and everything downstream will likely be destroyed.

    @prov6yahoo Bingo! I think you’ve got it.

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