Oregon officials are urging federal agencies to reconsider plans to move liquid nuclear waste from Washington’s Hanford Site through Oregon due to safety concerns and lack of transparency.
Alex Baumhardt reports for Oregon Capital Chronicle.
In short:
- A federal proposal aims to transport 2,000 gallons of liquid radioactive waste from Hanford, Washington, through Oregon to Utah and Texas for disposal.
- Oregon leaders, including Governor Tina Kotek, object to the plan, questioning why the waste won’t be solidified first and calling for a full environmental impact review.
- Critics are also concerned about the lack of community engagement along the proposed transport route, which could impact central Oregon and tribal lands.
Key quote:
“The ongoing process for receiving and accounting for input from the state of Oregon, tribal governments and the public on substantive issues relating to the solidification and transport of liquid tank waste is insufficient.”
— Tina Kotek, Governor of Oregon
Why this matters:
Transporting hazardous liquid nuclear waste raises serious environmental and public safety risks, particularly in the event of a spill. The lack of transparency and involvement of impacted communities only adds to the concerns over this proposed plan.
Related: The Indigenous Hanford Journey connects tribes to a radioactive past
