Judge agrees to another delay in Hanford tank vapors trial

A federal court trial in a case demanding better protection for Hanford nuclear reservation workers has been delayed until July 25, 2018.

U.S. Judge Thomas Rice set the new trial date this week after parties in the case asked for more time to pursue a settlement agreement.

It’s the fourth delay requested and granted since the parties announced near the start of this year that they planned to enter mediation. Then the trial was set for October 2017.

Most recently the trial was delayed by about six weeks, and other deadlines for filings in the case have been postponed about four to six weeks.

The state of Washington, Hanford Challenge and union Local 598 sued the Department of Energy and its tank farm contractor, Washington River Protection Solutions, in September 2015.

The plaintiffs are asking that the court require increased protection for workers from chemical vapors associated with underground tanks.

This story was originally published August 29, 2017 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Judge agrees to another delay in Hanford tank vapors trial."