Legislators urge GAO to review cleanup, environmental remediation at Hanford nuclear site after tunnel collapse

A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) asking them to review the nuclear waste cleanup and environmental remediation work underway at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington State.

A tunnel that stores radioactive waste partially collapsed at the mostly decommissioned site earlier this month.

“We were alarmed by the recent tunnel collapse at the Hanford site, and are concerned that future events could put the safety of workers, the public, and environment at risk,” the letter said. “This event was
another harsh reminder of the radioactive and toxic hazards that remain at the Hanford site, as well as the importance of ensuring the site has the resources necessary to expeditiously achieve its cleanup mission.”

The Trump Administration’s recently proposed budget includes a cut of nearly $124 million to the budget of the Hanford Richland Operations Office. The office is responsible for a large portion of the site’s cleanup. The legislators’ letter focused mainly on the work that the Hanford Richland Operations Office is required to complete.

Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Greg Walden (R-OR), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA.), and House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) signed the letter.