Hanford tank vapor website expanded, updated

The Hanford website providing information on chemical vapors at the nuclear reservation’s tank farms has been expanded and given its own internet address, www.hanfordvapors.com.

The website has a list of frequently asked questions, maps of where suspected chemical vapors have been reported and sampling data.

“Our goal is to help educate and inform those with concerns about the hazards we encounter as we continue our critical mission to safely and efficiently manage Hanford’s tank waste,” said Mark Lindholm, president of Washington River Protection Solutions, the Hanford tank farm contractor, in a message to employees.

The website was launched in early June as part of the contractor’s web page and has been given an independent address to make it easier to find and to improve navigation on the site.

In recent months, about 53 Hanford employees have received medical checks for possible exposure to chemical vapors associated with Hanford’s underground tanks storing waste from the past production of weapons plutonium. Workers are concerned that chemical exposure could lead to long-term health problems.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Hanford tank vapor website expanded, updated."