Senators Cantwell, Murray and Rep. Newhouse Urge Trump Administration to Provide Strong Funding for Hanford Cleanup

Press Release

Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Dan Newhouse (WA-04) urged the Trump Administration to make cleanup at Hanford a priority in the wake of the recent tunnel collapse, and to fulfill the federal government's legal and moral obligations to the Tri-Cities community and Washington state. The request comes after a hole was discovered in Tunnel 1 adjacent to the Plutonium-Uranium Extraction Plant (PUREX) on May 9.

"This event highlighted the nuclear waste cleanup, environmental remediation, and radioactive and toxic hazards that must still be addressed at the Hanford site," the members wrote in a letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry about the May 9 event. "Strong and predictable funding is critical to continued cleanup progress and to the federal government fulfilling its legal and moral obligation to remediate the Hanford site."

The members continued: "Previous administrations and Congress have repeatedly supported the legal and moral obligation of the federal government to clean up the Hanford site, and we urge you to continue this important work to protect health and safety."

After contributing to the country's security through nuclear deterrence in World War II and the Cold War, the Tri-Cities region now faces the high costs of a decades-long nuclear waste cleanup program. Through the work of the federal government, State of Washington, Congress, and the Tri-Cities community, cleanup progress has been made by the Richland Operations Office (RL) along the Columbia River Corridor. However, much work remains within the RL mission to clean up non-tank waste and on the Central Plateau, including about 1,000 waste sites, 500 facilities, and contaminated soil and groundwater.

Following the discovery of contamination in a double shell tank last week, the members also reiterated their call for strong funding for the Office of River Protection, which is responsible for treating the approximately 54.6 million gallons of nuclear and radioactive waste stored in 177 underground storage tanks. In January, the members led the Washington Congressional Delegation in a letter urging the Trump Administration to prioritize the ongoing cleanup at Hanford. Any lapses in funding for the site puts workers, communities, and overall cleanup progress at risk.

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