Hanford meeting HR

Department of Energy, Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency representatives spoke at the Hanford public meeting July 11 at the Hood River Hotel. Audience members shared concerns and gave input on proposed changes to Hanford’s consent decree.

 Flora Gibson photo

HOOD RIVER — About 25 people attended the last of three public meetings on proposed changes to the Hanford nuclear waste site’s consent decree, held at the Hood River Hotel on July 11.

The proposed changes could alter plans for how waste is retrieved, treated and transported. Audience concerns ranged from the leaking Tank B-109, to transport of waste through their communities, safety of tribal resources and the Columbia River, grouting low-activity waste and whether another Trump administration could impact the clean up’s procedures under the new agreement.