Hanford

6 challenges facing Hanford’s nuclear site cleanup mission

Stories by Tri-City Herald journalists, with AI summarization

The Hanford, WA nuclear site cleanup mission faces many challenges from environmental waste management to workforce issues andguard lockout.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Dave Einan has been named manager of the Hanford Project Office for the Environmental Protection Agency, one of three agencies that sets cleanup plans and deadlines for the Hanford nuclear reservation under the legally binding Tri-Party Agreement. By File

NO. 1: FEDS CRITICIZE HANFORD CONTRACTOR FOR ‘EXCESSIVELY IDLE’ EMPLOYEES, LIMIT COMPANY PAY

The contractor received $15 million of nearly $21 million in annual incentive pay. | Published January 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary

Lights shine at night at the Hanford vitrification plant, which is being commissioned to glassify the least radioactive tank waste at the nuclear reservation for disposal.

NO. 2: 10-YEAR, $45 BILLION CONTRACT AWARDED FOR HANFORD NUCLEAR WASTE CLEANUP IN EASTERN WA

The federal government had picked a winner for the contract last year, but a U.S. judge ruled the award invalid. | Published February 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary

A single-shell tank is shown under construction at the Hanford nuclear reservation. Construction on the tanks to store radioactive waste began in 1943.

NO. 3: ‘DEEPLY CONCERNING.’ WWII TANK LEAKING RADIOACTIVE WASTE INTO GROUND IN WA, FEDS SUSPECT

It would be the 3rd tank known to be actively leaking waste into the soil at the Hanford nuclear site. | Published August 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary

Candice Robertson, Department of Energy senior adviser for environmental management, tours the Low Activity Waste Facility at the Hanford vitrification plant with Bechtel vice president Rick Holmes.

NO. 4: NATION’S NEW NUCLEAR SITE CLEANUP BOSS TALKS OF PLANS FOR HANFORD, WHERE 13,000 WORK

Two federal offices charged with Eastern WA nuclear cleanup are merging after 25 years. Why? | Published October 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary

Central Plateau Cleanup Co. crews demolish a chemical storage area near the defunct REDOX plant.

NO. 5: 60 WORKERS LOSE JOBS AT HANFORD NUCLEAR SITE. HERE’S WHAT IS CHANGING

Layoffs followed a 6 month contractor hiring freeze. | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tri-City Herald staff

NO. 6: LOCKED OUT GUARDS AT HANFORD NUCLEAR SITE REACH CONTRACT DEAL ON 23.5% PAY INCREASE

A union leader called the approved contract a compromise. “It was not what we were hoping for.” | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Annette Cary

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.