Newsroom

Cleanup at Hanford will take several decades, but there are always rapidly developing stories, regular public events, and lots of information worth knowing. Hanford Challenge tracks the news, makes some of its own, and has built up a library of fact sheets, reports, and primary source documents that will help you make sense of what happened, what is happening, and what’s next for Hanford. This page is constantly updated to keep you informed of the latest news, press releases and calendar events.

The Latest News:

May

Ring the alarm: Hanford’s lack of a nuclear safety culture, Crosscut, May 17, 2012
National Defense Authorization Act Threatens to Roll Back Safety Standards at Nuclear Sites, Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, May 16, 2012
Analysis of Sections Relating to Nuclear Weapons in H.R. 4310, Robert Alvarez, May 16, 2012
HAMTC worries bill could erode Hanford worker safety, Tri-City Herald, May 16, 2012
Executive Office of the President Statement on HR 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act, May 15, 2012
Federal Oversight Team Visits Hanford This Week, OPB, May 15, 2012
Hanford Challenge Dangerous Waste Permit Questions, May 15, 2012
ANWAG says proposed safety changes in nuke weapons workplace ‘unconscionable’, knoxnews.com, May 15, 2012
Don’t let foxes guard our nuclear henhouse, The Hill, May 9, 2012
Nuclear waste plan alarming, The Olympian, May 9, 2012
Ecology releases draft of state permit for Hanford, Tri-City Herald, May 9, 2012
Asbestos levels at Hanford tested OK, Tri-City Herald, May 9, 2012
Hanford Challenge Concerned Over Audit of Vitrification Plant, KOHO radio, May 2, 2012
Department of Ecology Focus on Single-Shell Tanks, May 2012
Single-Shell Tanks Permit Unit Info Card, May 2012
Say What? Guide for Hanford’s Dangerous Waste Permit, May 1, 2012
New doubts about Hanford tanks’ safety, Crosscut, May 1, 2012
Report: Hanford vessels fail to meet requirements, Seattle Times, May 1, 2012
Vit plant tanks failed to meet quality assurance, contract requirements, Tri-City Herald, May 2, 2012
Hanford Facility Dangerous Waste Permit Workshop on May 3rd, Washington Department of Ecology

April

Press Release on OIG report, Hanford Challenge, Serious Safety and Quality Flaws Documented by IG, April 30, 2012
Department of Energy Comes Down Hard on Bechtel and Hanford Cleanup, Seattle Weekly, April 30, 2012
Inspector General Audit Report on Black Cell technology at the Waste Treatment Plant, Results in Brief, April 30, 2012
House Subcom Proposes Dramatic Shift Toward Self-Regulation of Contractors Managing Nuclear Weapons Complex, Project on Government Oversight, April 27, 2012
Safety Culture Sounding Board video, Hanford Advisory Board
Hanford Dangerous Waste Permit, Tank Waste Units, WA Department of Ecology presentation, April 17, 2012
Hanford: Can’t anybody here clean up a mess?, Crosscut, April 9, 2012
Group raises concerns about boxes storing waste at Hanford, Tri-City Herald, April 4, 2012
$1.3M grant to benefit Hanford workers who were laid off, Tri-City Herald, April 4, 2012
Rainwater exposes waste chemicals at Hanford, Seattle Times, April 3, 2012
Workers dig deep to clean up contaminated soil at Hanford (w/ video), Tri-City Hearld, April 3, 2012
Hanford offers sent to hundreds, Spokesman Review, April 1, 2012
Once a Hanford engineer, now Washington’s poet laureate, Seattle Times, April 1, 2012

March

Video of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board hearing on technical issues at the Waste Treatment Plant
Tribe Works to Revegetate Hanford Site, Northwest Public Radio, March 29, 2012
Hanford workers breathe in radioactive contamination; levels well below limits, Tri-City Herald, March 27, 2012
Department of Ecology says Department of Energy must fix leak, NBC, March 26, 2012
Hanford’s tank wastes disaster waiting to happen, Tri-City Herald, March 25, 2012
DOE says URS muddied Hanford investigation, Tri-City Herald, March 24, 2012
Despite strides, safety culture still in question at Hanford site, KPLU, March 23, 2012
New complaint filed about Hanford nuclear waste site, USA Today, March 23, 2012
Hanford Treatment Plant Components Need To Be Reexamined For Safety, KUOW, March 23, 2012
Safety culture at Hanford vit plant called key, Tri-City Herald, March 23, 2012
Questions Remain About Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant’s Mixing Tanks, KUOW, March 23, 2012
DOE Safety Office: URS Mgmt. acted improperly in WTP safety probe, Weapons Complex Monitor, March 22, 2012
Hanford contractors admit big safety problems remain, Seattle Times, March 22, 2012
Hanford Waste Plant Vessels May Have To Be Redesigned Says Energy Official, KUOW, March 21, 2012
Fukushima: Lessons for the Northwest Workshop Agenda, March 17, 2012
Sen. Murray presses Steven Chu about confidence in vit plant technical issues, Tri-City Herald, March 15, 2012
Nuclear Industry Leader Joins WTP to Advance Project’s Safety Culture, The Wall Street Journal: Market Watch, March 14, 2012
Michael Johnson named head of Hanford tank farm, Tri-City Herald, March 13, 2012
Nobel winner Caldicott here for Japan nuclear crisis anniversary, Seattle Times, March 13, 2012
The Stories Kids Touring Hanford’s Nuclear Plant Won’t Get to Hear, Seattle Weekly Blog, March 13, 2012
No Nuclear Nirvana, Huffington Post, March 6, 2012
HANFORD: All tour seats claimed in record time this morning, Tri-City Herald, March 6, 2012

February

Hanford whistleblower lawsuit reconsideration denied, Tri-City Herald, February 29, 2012
HAB taking the time to give well thought out advice, Tri-City Herald, February 26, 2012
Hanford’s Toxic Avengers, Seattle Weekly, February 22, 2012 (PDF)
Hanford Nuclear Reservation tours registration opens March 6, Yakima Herald, February 19, 2012
Energy Secretary Says Hanford Plant Schedule Might Slip, OPB, February 16, 2012
Hanford Advisory Board split on vit plant safety, Tri-City Herald, February 13, 2012
Small Radiation Leak Contained At Hanford, KUOW, February 13, 2012
Amid Broad DOE Safety Review, Sproat Named To Fix WTP Issues, The Energy Daily, February 9, 2012
New cost for Hanford cleanup projected at $112 billion, Tri-City Herald, February 9, 2012
Hanford Contractor Hires New Safety Culture Manager, KUOW, February 6, 2012
Top Hanford Scientist Says Treatment Plant Pipes Not Strong Enough, KUOW, February 6, 2012

January

Extra scrutiny urged on design of Hanford nuke waste plant, USA Today, January 26, 2012
Watchdog group calls for Hanford revamp after audit, Greenwire, January 16, 2012
Problems Plague Cleanup at Nuclear Waste Site, USA Today, January 18, 2012 (pdf of article)
Hanford Nuclear Safety Manager Questions Waste Treatment Plant, NPR, January 17, 2012
Report: Hanford Tanks May Have More Plutonium Than Estimated, KUOW, January 17, 2012
Hanford Challenge Press Statement on HSS Safety Culture Report, January 13, 2012
Selected Excerpts from DOE HSS Report, January 13, 2012
HSS Report on Safety Culture at WTP, January 13, 2012
HSS Supplemental Safety Culture WTP Report, January 13, 2012
Draft report: Problems with vit plant quality control, potential overpayment, Tri-City Herald, January 13, 2012
Whistleblower lawsuit dismissed, Tri-City Herald, January 11, 2012
Judge says he will rule later on Hanford whistleblower case, Tri-City Herald, January 10, 2012
Former Hanford worker pleads guilty to timecard fraud, Tri-City Herald, January 4, 2012

December

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow’s interview of Tom Carpenter & Walt Tamosaitis, December 16, 2011
DOE plan commits to safety at vit plant, Tri-City Herald, December 30, 2011
Senator McCaskill: Are Taxpayers Reimbursing Federal Contractor Accused of Wrongdoing?, Press Release, December 21, 2011
New concerns about Hanford nuclear waste plant, Seattle P-I, December 11, 2011
After complaint, he landed in basement, Washington Post, December 8, 2011
Senate Hearing on Federal Contractor Whistleblower Protections is Eye-Opening, Government Accountability Project, December 8, 2011
Hanford whistleblower seeks stronger protection laws in Senate testimony, OPB, December 6, 2011
Senator would expand whistleblower protections to contractors, Government Executive, December 6, 2011
Senate Hearing: Whistleblower protections for government contractors, Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee, December 6, 2011
Federal Nuclear Watchdog Says Hanford Safety Culture Still An Issue, OPB, December 5, 2011
Soaring Hanford costs raise new clean-up questions, Crosscut, December 5, 2011
Hanford Challenge Statement: Bechtel’s Report on Safety Culture at Hanford finds No Problem, Blames Safety Oversight for Causing Hostility, December 1, 2011. Here’s a link to the Bechtel Report.

November

Markey Queries Energy Department on Whistleblower Retaliation, Unsafe Operations at Hanford Nuclear Waste Plant, November 22, 2011, Letter to DOE from Rep Markey, Business Week article
Lack of Nuclear Safety Culture to Blame for Vit Plant Costs and Delays, Hanford Challenge, November 21, 2011
Some vit plant legal deadlines at risk, DOE reports, Tri-City Herald, November 22, 2011
HANFORD: DOE says vit plant may miss new consent decree deadlines, Tri-City Herald, November 21, 2011
DOE review raises concerns about Hanford plant, Seattle P-I, November 21, 2011
$12B may not be enough to finish Hanford vit plant, The Columbian, November 21, 2011
Summary of Donna Busche Complaint, Ms. Busche is the Manager of Environmental and Nuclear Safety for Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant, Hanford Challenge, November 17, 2011
Washington’s Nuclear White Elephant? Letter from Tom Carpenter, Hanford Challenge Executive Director, November 16, 2011
DOE solicits bids for occupational medicine services contract at Hanford, Tri-City Herald, November 16, 2011
Report Calls for Changes in the Energy Department, New York Times, November 15, 2011
Second Hanford vit plant official files claim, Tri-City Herald, November 13, 2011
State Poised to cut money to Hanford public interest groups, Tri-City Herald, November 11, 2009
Hanford Challenge Comments on the 2011 Hanford Lifecycle, Scope, Schedule and Cost Report.
HANFORD: DOE and URS sued by whistleblower Tamosaitis in federal court, Tri-City Herald, November 9, 2011
Hanford Whistle Blower Files Lawsuit Against Department of Energy in U.S. Federal Court, Seattle Weekly, November 9, 2011
Oregon Department of Energy’s Comments on the 2011 Lifecycle, Scope, Schedule, and Cost Report
Hanford Challenge’s Say What? Guide to Commenting on the Revised Hanford Public Involvement Plan. Comments due Nov 28, 2011.
Meeting set for Hanford public involvement plan, Tri-City Herald, November 7, 2011
Interview with Marco Kaltofen about Airborne Radiation Spread after Fukushima, Mind Over Matters, November 5, 2011
Hanford board: $115B may not be enough to finish, Seattle Times, November 6, 2011
Former Hanford worker pleads guilty to conspiracy, Seattle Times, November 3, 2011
Radiation Exposure to the Population in Japan after the Earthquake, Marco Kaltofen’s presentation to the American Public Health Association
FFTF’s irradiated fuel treatment done, Tri-City Herald, November 2, 2011

October

Radiation Exposure to the Population in Japan After the Earthquake, Marco Kaltofen, MS, PE (Civil, MA) Presented Oct 31, 2011 to the American Public Health Association in WA, DC
Say What? Guide to the 2011 Hanford Lifecycle, Scope, Schedule and Cost Report. Comments due November 10, 2011.
Hanford’s Nuclear Option, Seattle Weekly, October 19, 2011 (link)
Hanford’s Nuclear Option, Seattle Weekly, October 19, 2011 (pdf)
Hanford safety issues dog new plant, Crosscut, October 19, 2011
Safety issues at Hanford Nuclear Reservation at pretreatment plant remain in question, Oregonian, October 9, 2011
HANFORD: Maintenance of radioactive capsules criticized by defense board, Tri-Cities Herald, October 13, 2011
Cleaning Hanford’s Groundwater A Huge Challenge, OPB, October 12, 2011
Feds make first decision about central Hanford contaminated soil, Tri-City Herald, October 8, 2011
Hanford tank farms lay off 244 workers, Tri-City Herald, October 4, 2011
Nuclear relic, Oregon Public Radio, October 2, 2011

September

Can DOE health team put vit plant on right track?, Tri-City Herald, September 28, 2011
Senate Passes Resolution Honoring Sick Nuclear Workers with a National Day of Remembrance, Canada Views, September 27, 2011
Meet the new boss, Letter to the Editor from Hanford Challenge Executive Director, September 25, 2011
Government Accountability Office to review vit plant management, Tri-City Herald, September 21, 2011
Safety Board warns of lethal risk of ammonia risk at vit plant, Tri-City Herald, September 20, 2011
DOE to hold follow-up at vit plant, Tri-City Herald, September 17th, 2011
DOE Letter and findings Plutonium Finishing Plant, JULY 7, 2011 – DOCUMENTING SYSTEMATIC BREAKDOWN IN RADIATION SAFETY AT HANFORD’S PFP.
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s letter to Assistant Secretary of Energy Huizenga on the Waste Treatment Plant Ammonia Control System. September 13, 2011
Hanford regulators will postpone some cleanup deadlines, Tri-City Herald, September 9, 2011
Hanford whistleblower plans to move case to federal court, Tri-City Herald, September 9, 2011
Senate’s proposed DOE budget adds to tank farm money, Tri-City Herald, September 8, 2011
Temporary storage proposed for vit plant waste, Tri-City Herald, September 8, 2011
Oregon DOE Supplemental Comments on PW-1,3,6 and CW-5, Mobility of Plutonium, September 6, 2011
Hanford Challenge Comments on PW-1,3,6 and CW-5, September 6, 2011
Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant Gets Large Scale Testing, KUOW, September 5, 2011
Highly radioactive material moved from Hanford to PNNL, Tri-City Herald, September 2, 2011

August

Vit plant budget reviewed: DOE document says $12.2B target may be hard to meet, Tri-City Herald, August 30, 2011
B Reactor moves toward being a museum, Tri-City Herald, August 30, 2011
DOE prepared to take steps toward Hanford land transfer, Tri-City Herald, August 26, 2011
The Fukushima Project’s Hanford to Fukushima: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, August 2011
Independent review of vit plant safety culture under way, Tri-City Herald, August 23, 2011
Compensating ill nuclear workers topic of meetings, Tri-City Herald, August 21, 2011
1,100 Hanford layoffs planned, Tri-City Herald, August 19, 2011
Project leaking money, Spokesman Review, August 21, 2011
Hanford Union Raises Concerns With Waste Treatment Plant, KUOW, August 16, 2011
DOE told to take second look at vit plant safety culture, Tri-City Herald, August 16, 2011; Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s most recent letter to Secretary Chu on safety culture at the Waste Treatment Plant
Hanford Radioactive-Waste Cleanup Scandal: Contractor “Underplayed Safety Risks”, Seattle Times, August 15, 2011
Vit plant mixing system raises safety concerns, Tri-City Herald, August 14, 2011
Safety Doubts raised at U.S. Nuclear Waste Site, Los Angeles Times, August 13, 2011
Press Release: Suppression of Safety Concerns Intensifies at Hanford, August 13, 2011
Plume leads to Hanford tank farm evacuation, Tri-City Herald, August 10, 2011
DOE picks office manager for Richland, Tri-City Herald, August 10, 2011
Nagasaki bomb dropped 66 years ago today, Tri-City Herald, August 9, 2011
Vit plant installs 19-ton piping module, Tri-City Herald, August 5, 2011
Workers digging up some of Hanford’s worse waste, Seattle Times, August 4, 2011
Hanford vit project 60 percent complete, Tri-City Herald, August 3, 2011
850 HAMTC jobs included as part of Hanford layoffs, Tri-City Herald, August 2, 2011
Blue Ribbon Commission’s draft report causes concern among people with Hanford interests, Tri-City Herald, August 1, 2011

July

Whistleblowers at Hanford, Oregon Public Radio, July 28, 2011
More Hanford Workers Raise Safety Concerns, Northwest Public Radio, July 28, 2011
Independent Panel, Manager’s Firing Raise Question about safety culture at nuclear site, New York Times, July 22, 2011
Nuclear Watchdog defends Hanford whistleblower, Rebukes DOE, National Resources News Service, July 20, 2011
Oregon DOE Comments for PW-1,3,6 and CW-5, July 19, 2011
Hanford Challenge Say What? Guide to writing comments on PW-1,3,6 and CW-5
Editorial: DOE has more work ahead to resolve vit plant query, Tri-City Herald, July 17, 2011
Judge keeps URS in vit plant lawsuit, Tri-City Herald, July 15, 2011
New investigation planned for Hanford safety culture, Northwest National Public Radio, July 12, 2011
Energy official focuses on nuclear safety at Hanford, Tri-City Herald, July 12, 2011
July 12, 2011 Ice Cream in the Park
Delay proposed to treat Hanford tank waste, Tri-City Herald, July 10, 2011
Ines Triay leaving DOE cleanup post, Tri-City Herald, July 9, 2011
Safety Board says Hanford has “atmosphere adverse to safety“, EHS News, July 7, 2011
Nuclear cleanup: Whistle-blowing engineer is backed up by watchdog agency, Los Angeles Times, July 6, 2011
Tamosaitis talks about life after Hanford whistleblowing, NPR, July 4, 2011
DOE Agrees to Recommendations but questions findings, Tri-City Herald, July 1, 2011
Upcoming Public Meetings on Plutonium and Cesium Contamination on Hanford’s Central Plateau!

June

Follow the Document Trail: DOE letter requesting to review the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s confidential investigation records; The Defense Board’s letter in response denying access to communications from concerned employees and the public. Here is the original Defense Board report.
Editorial: DOE must make safety paramount at Hanford, Spokesman-Review, June 24, 2011
Department of Energy Forgoing Safety for Time and Money, The Washington Examiner, June 21, 2011
Take Action for a Safer Hanford: Comment on Safety Culture at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, Hanford Challenge, June 20, 2011
Fluor to pay $4M to settle P-card fraud, kickback allegations, Tri-City Herald, June 18, 2011
Defense safety board blasts DOE, Bechtel, Tri-City Herald, June 14, 2011
Bosses imperil cleanup at Hanford, agency says, Seattle Times, June 13, 2011
Film on Hanford wins NW Emmy, Tri-City Herald, June 14, 2011
Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, letter from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, June 9, 2011.
Cuts proposed for 2012 Hanford cleanup budget, Tri-City Herald, June 2, 2011
House bill gives boost to Hanford field office, Tri-City Herald, June 1, 201

May

Cancer survivor seeks help for ill Hanford workers, Tri-City Herald, May 26, 2011
Hanford downwinder dies of thyroid cancer, Tri-City Herald, May 25, 2011
Did You Know? Health sacrifices were made by PNNL and Hanford workers, KNDO/KNDU, May 24, 2011
Oregon Senator Speaks Out Against Potential Hanford Plan, KEPRTV, May 20, 2011
Hanford avoids most budget cuts, Tri-City Herald, May 20, 2011
Research shakes up seismic knowledge near Northwest nuclear plant, King 5, May 19, 2011
Sen. Murray questions DOE spending priorities, Tri-City Herald, May 19, 2011
Radioactive waste focus of Hanford meeting, Tri-City Herald, May 19, 2011
Hanford’s got enough problems without more radioactive waste, The Oregonian, May 18, 2011
Wash., Ore. oppose hauling more waste to Hanford, Tri-City Herald, May 18, 2011
Hanford tank nearly emptied of all waste, Tri-City Herald, May 17, 2011
Washington leadership pushes for stable 2012 Hanford budget, Tri-City Herald, May 17, 2011
Federal Blue Ribbon Commission: DOE Shouldn’t Determine Home For Nation’s Nuclear Waste, OPB, May 16, 2011
Northwest could store nation’s nuclear waste, King 5, May 13, 2011
Hanford’s fiscal 2012 fund proposal released, Tri-City Herald, May 12, 2011
DOE Presentation to the HAB RAP Committee on the Proposed Plan for PW-1,3,6 and CW-5, May 11, 2011
Hanford’s Old Pipes Vs. An Old City’s Sewer System, OPB, May 9, 2011
Nuclear Watchdog Says Hanford’s Tank Farm Piping ‘Not As Safe As It Could Be’, KUOW, May 5, 2011
Group questions costs of storing nuclear waste, Tri-City Herald, May 4, 2011
Federal Nuclear Board Criticizes Hanford’s Piping System, OPB, May 3, 2011; Related Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Letter

April

Questions Remain About Piping Hanford’s Nuclear Waste, KUOW, April 27, 2011
Vit plant whistleblower case set for trial May 2012, Tri-City Herald, April 23, 2011
DOE Video to tell story of Hanford, Tri-City Herald, April 21, 2011
$80M cut in DOE cleanup spending proposed, Tri-City Herald, April 13, 2011
Dangers lurk at America’s worst nuclear site, Agence France-Presse, March 24, 2011
Hanford Challenge Director in the news: Interview: The trouble with nuclear power, Real Change
Vit plant safety attitude concerns national panel, Tri-City Herald, April 7, 2011
DOE names Samuelson as new Hanford manager, Tri-City Herald, April 7, 2011
Board calls for improvement at Hanford tank farms, Tri-City Herald, April 6, 2011
Response to comments made on Tom Carpenter’s Op Ed in the Seattle Times by Energy Northwest CEO – response written by Rober Alvarez, Senior Scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, April 4, 2011

March

Hanford contractor faces lawsuit over waste spill, Tri-City Herald, March 30, 2011
Japan Nuclear Plant Crisis & Chernobyl Anniversary, C-Span, March 25, 2011
What is the state of the Hanford Nuclear Waste Site? Come find out! Meetings in Seattle on Tuesday, March 29th and in Portland on Thursday, March 31st.
Hanford Challenge Director in the news: Lessons for Washington in Japan’s nuclear crisis, Seattle Times editorial, March 23, 2011
Nuclear waste, and worries, fester at US site, AFP, Now found on SpaceDaily March 23, 2011
Emails raise questions about DOE’s role in firing of official, March 22, 2011
New Evidence Shows DOE Role in Tamosaitis Removal, Sheridan Law Firm Release, March 21, 2011
Hanford Challenge Executive Director in the news: Concerns raised over Washington state reactor, CBC, March 17, 2011 & Activist warns of nearby nuke risk, Vancouver 24 Hours, March 17, 2011
Hanford officials say work will need to focus on innovation, Tri-City Herald, March 17, 2011
Hanford needs $2.9 billion in 2013 for cleanup, Seattle Times, March 17, 2011
Struggling to Cope With the Crisis in Japan, New York Times, March 16, 2011 (LTE from Nancy Dickeman, Richland native)
Japanese Nuclear Crisis, Hanford & Washington State, letter from Tom Carpenter, March 14, 2011
DOE should alter its view of safety board’s oversight, Tri-City Herald, March 9, 2011
Board probes alleged DOE witness tampering, Tri-City Herald, March 8, 2011
Use of steam for Hanford cleanup creates concern, Tri-City Herald, March 2, 2011

February

Hanford landfill cells ready for busy year, Tri-City Herald, February 24, 2011
Federal Audit Says Hanford’s K-Basins Cleanup Mishandled, NPR, February 22, 2011. Here’s a link to the audit (it is short & pithy.)
DOE developing policies for reuse of Hanford land, Tri-City Herald, February 22, 2011
Draft study includes no recommendation for radioactive waste disposal, Tri-City Herald, February 19th, 2011
Huge decon tank arrives at vit plant, Tri-City Herald, February 18, 2011
Empathetic health contractor sought for Hanford, Tri-City Hearld, February 16 2011
Obama proposes Hanford budget increase, Tri-City Herald, February 15, 2011
Washington Closure begins to plan end of Hanford operations, Tri-City Herald, February 6, 2011
Energy Northwest considering mixed plutonium fuel at nuclear plant near Richland, February 4, 2011
Testing toxic cleanups, one gator at a time, USA Today, February 2, 2011

January

A New Generation Begins Taking The Reins At Hanford, KUOW, January 31, 2011
No proof Hanford mixers will work, Seattle Times, January 23, 2011
Big cleanup questions still loom at Hanford, Seattle Times, January 22, 2011
ARTICLE: Hot Milk: The Discovery of the Milk-Iodine Pathway, by Jim Thomas (2011). In this article, Jim Thomas discusses the effects of radioactive iodine from Hanford’s releases on children — downwind of Hanford – in the years of Hanford’s operations. Critical to the debate is when Hanford scientists and managers knew of the health impacts of humans consuming contaminated milk. Jim Thomas convincingly demonstrates that Hanford managers were well aware of the pathway even before Hanford began operations, and not, according to the “official version”, in the mid-1950′s. Thanks to Jim for contributing this article to Hanford Challenge readers.
Renewable energy company eyes Hanford land, Tri-City Herald, January 14, 2011
Hanford Challenge Submits Comments on Waste Treatment Plant, January 6, 2011
Knolls Leaks Cost $1.8M, Times Union, January 7, 2011

December

Hanford officials claim waste cleanup victory, Tri-City Herald, December 21, 2010
Press Release, Vit Plant Whistleblower Names DOE, Bechtel in Labor Complaint, December 15, 2010
- Read OSHA Complaint
Study of Baby Teeth Sees Radiation Effects, The New York Times, December 13, 2010
Hanford cleanup of ALE finished, Tri-City Herald, December 14, 2010
Toxic Soil Shows Rigors of Nuclear Cleanup, Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2010
Ex-Hanford worker gets 20 months in prison, Tri-City Herlad, December 10, 2010

November

Highly contaminated soil found at Hanford, Tri-City Herald, November 18, 2010
Hanford workers seek radioactive mouse, Tri-City Herald, November 18, 2010
Audit raises concerns about Hanford cleanup, Washington Post, November 15, 2010
Hanford ‘big dig’ under way, Tri-City Herald, November 9, 2010

The Hanford Radioactive Rabbit saga continues – once contamination gets into the environment, it can spread through many different pathways, in this case, bunnies.

Radioactive rabbit trapped near Richland, Tri-City Herald, November 5, 2010
WRPS Problem Evaluation Request from 2009 documenting rabbit droppings found near S-112 Control Trailer
WRPS Problem Evaluation Request from 2008 stating that rabbit feces in the S Complex indicate a “serious contamination source.”
WRPS Problem Evaluation Request from 2008 finding rabbit feces outside of the controlled areas.

October

Chemical Vapor Program Improvements Recommended by Independent Panel, Tri-City Herald, October 28, 2010
Hanford Challenge & Washington River Protection Solutions issue a joint statement on the independent review of WRPS’ chemical vapors industrial hygiene strategy. Hanford Concerns Council, October 27, 2010
Judge signs Hanford consent degree, Tri-City Herald, October 27, 2010

Hanford probes contents of burial grounds, Tri-City Herald, October 24, 2010
System helps workers understand hazards of job, Tri-City Herald, October 20, 2010
Hanford’s Vit Plant Moves Forward Amid Debate Over Design And Safety Culture, KUOW, October 19, 2010
Hanford: The good, the bad and the unremediated, The Daily News Online, October 19, 2010
Court asked to OK new Hanford cleanup schedule, The Washington Post, now found on Mother Nature Network, October 6, 2010
Report favors tearing down K East reactor, Tri City Herald, October 19, 2010
Veteran Hanford Engineer Says DOE’s Multi-Billion Dollar Hanford Nuclear Waste Processing Plant Might Not Work Properly and Has Serious Potential Safety Problems, DC Bureau, October 12, 2010
Hanford faces technical woe, The Dalles Chronicle, October 10, 2010
Safety board says Hanford vit plant solutions cannot wait, Tri-City Herald, October 8, 2010
DOE: Safety culture needs improvement, Seattle Times, October 7, 2010
Agreement on new commitments for Hanford tank waste cleanup sent to federal judge, Washington Department of Ecology, October 6, 2010
Hearing on Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, Hanford Challenge Announcement and Analysis, October 3, 2010
Hearings Planned on Waste Treatment Plant, Tri-City Herald, October 3, 2010
Hanford Challenge Comments on the Environmental Management Advisory Board, October 3, 2010
National Panel Says Vit Plant on Track, Tri-City Herald, October 2, 2010

September, 2010

Bechtel Fined Over Quality Issues at WTP, Tri-City Herald, 09/25/2010

August

Hanford workers close to answers about burial pits, Tri-City Herald, August 27, 2010
Three Part Radio series covering Dr. Walt Tamosaitis & the Waste Treatment Plant on KBOO, August 24-26, 2010. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Former Hanford vit plant executive claims retaliation, Tri-City Herald, August 21, 2010
Heart of America files suit over sending waste to Hanford, Tri-City Herald, August 10, 2010
DOE Sends in Investigation Team on Vit Plant Whistleblower Issues, Tri-City Herald, August 6, 2010
Whistleblower Charges Beyond Personnel Issue, Tri-City Herald Editorial, August 5, 2010

July

Ex-vit plant official raises safety concerns, alleges retaliation at Hanford, Tri-City Herald, July 28, 2010
Plans for Hanford rail cars gain steam, Tri-City Herald, July 20, 2010
Plutonium Wastes from the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex, Summary & link to report on new estimate of US plutonium waste totals, by Robert Alvarez at the Institute for Policy Studies, July 2010
Nuclear Next? Editorial about nuclear safety regulation, Seattle Times, July 12, 2010
A New Analysis Triples Plutonium Waste Figures, New York Times, July 10, 2010
Lawmakers gather support for Yucca Mountain, Tri-City Herald, July 7, 2010

June

Panel: Yucca Mountain waste dump process continues, Las Vegas Sun, June 29, 2010
Wash. senators urge fix to slow Hanford program, Tri-City Herald, now found at Seattle Times, June 27, 2010
Possible deadlines at odds with repository, WIPP could close before shipments arrive, Tri-City Herald, June 23, 2010.
Hanford meetings set in Seattle, Portland, Tri-City Herald, June 14, 2010
Hanford field research center proposed, Tri-City Herald, June 7, 2010
Some Hanford work ahead of schedule, DOE official says, Tri-City Herald, June 4, 2010
New Beryllium Report Calls for Corrective Actions at Hanford, June 2, 2010 — Also see,
- Hanford Officials Criticized for Lack of Focus on Beryllium, KPLU
- Report: Hanford Beryllium Program Has Weaknesses, AP, now found at Seattle Times
- Hanford: Study Calls for Better Beryllium Disase Prevention, Tri-City Herald, now found at The Olympian

May

Adding Waste to Hanford will Hurt Cleanup Process, May 30, 2010, Tri-City Herald guest editorial by Tom Carpenter, Gerry Pollett and Brett VandenHeuvel
Stimulus Workers Confront Legacy of Contamination at Nuclear Sites, May 3, 2010, Propublica Special Report – Awesome article on beryllium disease and Hanford.
Hanford Challenge and NRDC Comments on Tank Closure and Waste Management EIS, May 3, 2010

April

New Report Raises Design Safety Issues at Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, April 15, 2010
Energy Park proposed for Hanford Site, Tri-City Herald, March 19, 2010, “small modular nuclear production has also been added to the mix”
State of Oregon Calls for Offsite Waste Ban: Letter to DOE lays out rationale for ending offiste waste “folly” once and for all, March 23, 2010
DOE may face new Central Plateau Cleanup Deadlines, April 1, 2010

March

CH2M Joins Hanford Concerns Council, March 23, 2010
The Government Accountability Office Releases Report on EEOICPA, March 2010
CH2M Hill Joins Hanford Concerns Council, March 22, 2010
Nine years in, sick nuclear workers still fighting for benefits, By Laura Millsaps, The Iowa Independent, 3/15/10

February

Study finds imported waste would increase contamination in Hanford groundwater, Feb 16, 2010, Tri-City Herald
DOE To Improve Beryllium Disease Protection at Hanford, Feb. 17, 2010, Tri-City Herald
Hanford Tank Waste Being Pumped Again, Feb. 17, 2010, Tri-City Herald
Study Finds Imported Waste Would Increase Contamination in Hanford Groundwater, Feb. 16, 2010, Tri-City Herald
Hanford Challenge Issues Perspective on Newest Round of Vapor Exposures, Feb. 12, 2010
Vapor Concerns Stop Tank Work, Feb. 6, 2010, Tri-City Herald
Lung Disease Risk Too High at Hanford, Feb 5, 2010

January

DOE Nuclear Waste Commission is “Seriously Imbalanced”, Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, January 29, 2010
Secretary Chu Announces Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, Department of Energy, January 29, 2010
Climate change, economy portend revival of U.S. nuke power, McClatchy Newspapers, January 24, 2010
Crowd in Richland wants B Reactor named national park, Tri-City Herald, January 22, 2010
More former Hanford workers eligible for money,Tri-City Herald, January 22, 2010
More Hanford downwinder claims will go to trial, Tri-City Herald, January 21, 2010
Vit plant mixing hazards raises worries, Tri-City Herald, January 19, 2010
DOE looking for risky remains at Hanford, The News Tribune, January 14, 2010
Stimulus job count changed to 1,423 by DOE, Tri-City Herald, January 13, 2010
Hanford contractor begins retrieving waste from tank, Tri-City Herald, January 13, 2010
A report and letter by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board regarding safety issues with pulse jet mixing technology used at the Waste Treatment Plant, January 6 , 2010
A letter from the Oregon Department of Energy regarding the Tank Closure and Waste Management Environmental Impact Statement, Posted January 6, 2010

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DOE Letter and findings Plutonium Finishing Plant, JULY 7, 2011 – DOCUMENTING SYSTEMATIC BREAKDOWN IN RADIATION SAFETY AT HANFORD’S PFP.

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The Hanford Radioactive Rabbit saga continues – once contamination gets into the environment, it can spread through many different pathways, in this case, bunnies.

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September, 2010

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