The Benton County Sheriff's Office will continue to provide law enforcement services to the Department of Energy at the Hanford nuclear reservation under a new contract.

The contract, valued at about $5 million, covers five years, with a DOE renewal required at the end of each of the first four years. The sheriff's office has provided law enforcement services at Hanford since 1992, and the last contract, which covered four years, was valued at $4.3 million, according to DOE. It expires Dec. 31.

Services that the sheriff's office provides will remain largely the same, said Cameron Salony, DOE spokesman.

The sheriff's office will do traffic enforcement and will respond to traffic accidents, plus provide mutual aid to other agencies, as needed.

It also will investigate suspected or reported violations of the law, such as thefts. The contract includes making arrests and providing reports, testimony and evidence for prosecution of crimes.

Mission Support Alliance, the DOE site-wide support services contractor, will continue to provide security services with the Hanford Patrol.