K East Basin Declared Sludge-Free

YouNewsTV™

Story Published: Jun 1, 2007 at 1:21 PM PDT

By Rob Roxburgh

After years of delays, Hanford workers made an important cleanup deadline Thursday.

The leaky K East Basin tanks are finally free and clear of nuclear sludge.

As little as two months ago many feared the milestone wouldn't be met on time. But workers put in extra time on weekends to get the job done.

"There's euphoria amost the workforce yesterday and today," said Fluor Hanford V.P. of K Basin Closure Pet Knollmeyer. "I first felt it Wednesday when people realized the end was in sight, there was so little sludge in the tank and we'd actually have it all transferred early today."

Thursday the tanks got one last rinse.

Workers moved the sludge in the K East Basin to K West. It'll be stored there until a treatment facility is built.

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