Hanford's "N" Reactor Stored Away

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By Kyle Trompeter

Summary

The "N" Reactor is being cocooned for safe keeping over the next 75 years.

Story Published: Apr 15, 2009 at 5:02 PM PST

HANFORD - "The N Reactor is unique from all the other reactors here at Hanford. It's because it not only produced plutonium for national defense, but it also produced electricity, enough to power a city like Seattle," said Dept Of Energy Spokesman Cameron Hardy.

Now, the remains of the dual reactor are being stored away.

The reactor will remain in a steel cocoon for 75 years.

"Basically we put it inside a structure with a roof to protect those while radioactive sources decay away. So the rest of the structure will be demolished around it, and then we'll cocoon it with a roof over it," said Hanford D-4 Director Bobby Smith.

Project managers told Action News this phase of the project is important for many reasons.

"It's adjacent right to the river, so from an environmental standpoint it's a major focus for all the stake holders to clean this up and reduce the risk to the workers, environment, and to protect the river," said Smith.