OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – The office of Washington
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that a U.S. District Court judge
has resolved the state’s lawsuit against the federal government in the case of
nuclear waste cleanup at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
"This ruling represents a big step in the right
direction for our state. Cleaning up the legacy waste at Hanford is the federal
government's legal and moral responsibility to the Tri-Cities community and the
Pacific Northwest,” Governor Jay Inslee said. “I have been repeatedly
frustrated by the delays and lack of progress toward meeting key milestones in
waste cleanup and treatment. We cannot consider any further delays, and I am
pleased that the court clearly agrees. I hope this ruling commences a new level
of and progress and collaboration in clean up.”
Hard deadlines have been set for the three main components
of the waste treatment plant’s completion and operation. By 2023, a plant to treat
low-activity waste must be completed. This is a crucial step in the cleanup
effort. By 2031, a pretreatment facility to separate Hanford’s tank waste into
low-activity and high-level waste streams must start operations. By 2032,
treatment must begin at the high-level waste facility.
“This ruling is a significant victory for the people of
Washington,” Ferguson said. “The federal government has long been more focused
on excusing its delays than being a good partner in cleaning up the toxic mess
they left behind at Hanford.”
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Governor Jay Inslee
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