Another Hanford reactor secured
HANFORD, Wash.-- A two decade long project closes another chapter.
Carol Johnson, President of Washington Closure Hanford, spoke on sight about the progress made.
She says, "we're able to celebrate another tremendous step towards protecting the Columbia River by cocooning the N reactor."
Another milestone in the Hanford cleanup has been reached. The N reactor is the sixth reactor to be secured. Workers cocooned the reactor by cleaning out what waste they can and seal off the core to contain any remaining active radioactive materials that are too harmful to dispose of.
Johnson says, "We have removed 800,000 tons of contaminated debris and hazardous material from this location."
The next step in the cocooning process takes decades for the radiation to drop off in the core.
Ruben Trevino, Project Manager, says the core is still too dangerous.
He says, "for the next 75 years, it decays off to a half life. Then we can come back in and remove the remainder of the facility to remove the core and take it away."
Project leaders recognized workers for their commitment to the site.
David Huizenga, U.S. Department of Energy Advisor was in town for the occasion to congratulate the team members.
He says, "I think that we see here today demonstrated the same willingness to focus on the important things for our country."
In addition to cocooning the reactor project, officials hope to restore the surrounding area back to its original state.
Gary Petersen, Vice President of the Tri-Cities development is hopeful for the projects future.
He says, "within the next year and a half, you're going to see all of this turned to sage brush and brown fields just like it was before N reactor was ever here."
They hope to have the rest of the area secured in a few years.
Petersen says, "2015 is the vision for the entire river corridor to be cleaned up, that is a big thing for our community."
Carol Johnson, President of Washington Closure Hanford, spoke on sight about the progress made.
She says, "we're able to celebrate another tremendous step towards protecting the Columbia River by cocooning the N reactor."
Another milestone in the Hanford cleanup has been reached. The N reactor is the sixth reactor to be secured. Workers cocooned the reactor by cleaning out what waste they can and seal off the core to contain any remaining active radioactive materials that are too harmful to dispose of.
Johnson says, "We have removed 800,000 tons of contaminated debris and hazardous material from this location."
The next step in the cocooning process takes decades for the radiation to drop off in the core.
Ruben Trevino, Project Manager, says the core is still too dangerous.
He says, "for the next 75 years, it decays off to a half life. Then we can come back in and remove the remainder of the facility to remove the core and take it away."
Project leaders recognized workers for their commitment to the site.
David Huizenga, U.S. Department of Energy Advisor was in town for the occasion to congratulate the team members.
He says, "I think that we see here today demonstrated the same willingness to focus on the important things for our country."
In addition to cocooning the reactor project, officials hope to restore the surrounding area back to its original state.
Gary Petersen, Vice President of the Tri-Cities development is hopeful for the projects future.
He says, "within the next year and a half, you're going to see all of this turned to sage brush and brown fields just like it was before N reactor was ever here."
They hope to have the rest of the area secured in a few years.
Petersen says, "2015 is the vision for the entire river corridor to be cleaned up, that is a big thing for our community."
