Story at a glance
- The tank contains waste left over from the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons.
- The storage tank holds about 123,000 gallons of radioactive waste and received waste from the 1940s through the 1970s.
- Environmental cleanup of the site has been ongoing for decades
Federal officials say a nuclear waste storage tank stored underground in Washington state appears to be leaking contaminated materials, The Associated Press (AP) reports.
The tank located at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation site dates back to World War II and contains waste left over from the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons.
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The site is the most contaminated radioactive waste site in the country, as about two-thirds of the nation’s plutonium used for nuclear weapons was produced there.
The storage tank holds about 123,000 gallons of radioactive waste and received waste from the 1940s through the 1970s.
“There is no increased health or safety risk to the Hanford workforce or the public,” Geoff Tyree, a Department of Energy spokesman, told AP.
“Contamination in this area is not new and mitigation actions have been in place for decades to protect workers, the public and the environment,” Tyree said.
Officials suspected the tank was leaking in 2019 when they identified a slight decrease in the level of liquid waste inside. Another drop was reported in July 2020, kicking off an Energy Department investigation.
It’s believed to be the second tank leaking at the site left over from the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons, according to AP. The first was identified in 2013, and nearly 150 storage tanks are suspected of leaking.
Environmental cleanup of the site has been ongoing for decades.
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