Low Levels Of Airborne Contamination Escaping Demolition Area At Hanford
Listen
Top state health officials are concerned that radioactive waste in the air is spreading around the Hanford site in southeast Washington. It’s mostly from that same demolition site that’s contaminated two workers, dozens of vehicles and closed down nearby offices.
Both state and federal officials are monitoring the air around the Plutonium Finishing Plant with metal disks called “cookie sheets” and air-sipping filter machines. They’re finding traces of plutonium and americium.
Some of that contamination is escaping the demolition site and getting into areas that are publicly accessible.
John Martell is the manager of the state Department of Health’s Office of Radiation Protection. He said in his more than two decades there, he’s never seen anything like it.
“We want to make sure that contamination stays within the work area within the contamination area that it’s expected to be in,” Martell said. “And so seeing those numbers out there is an indication their [federal contractors] controls are not working.”
Martell did stress the levels of contamination are low, and he doesn’t believe there is any serious public health risk.
Related Stories:
Library to host ‘Caregiving’ documentary screening, panel discussion
Actor Bradley Cooper’s experience caring for his terminally ill father led him to produce a documentary called “Caregiving”. Part of the film will be shown May 29 at the Lewiston City Library followed by a panel discussion.
Washington Legislature approves hiking Discover Pass price to $45
The price for a Washington state Discover Pass would rise by $15 later this year, under a bill headed for Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desk.
This 86-year-old has officiated 8,000+ games — and counting
Referees and umps don’t often get the spotlight. But the city of Walla Walla has declared today “Vic Walker Day” in honor of one of Washington’s longest tenured school sports officials. He’s helped bring sports to the community for almost six decades.
