The toxic legacy of nuclear weapons production is far from being resolved, with the United States government currently leaving behind 54 million gallons of radioactive sludge for future generations to deal with at the Hanford Site in Washington State, a major plutonium processing facility during the Cold War. 

The tanks at Hanford are leaking, and the waste is seeping into the groundwater and the Columbia River.

The cleanup efforts at Hanford, marked by failures, budget constraints, and disagreements among experts, pose significant challenges and need a renewed commitment from the federal government, the public and the Department Of Energy (DOE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

News reports have come out that the DOE and EPA are working together behind closed doors to develop a plan for the long-term disposal of radioactive waste at Hanford. And this plan may include compromises that could undermine the quality and the speed of the cleanup. 

That’s why we’re sending a message to the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency right now. Sign and tell Secretary Granholm & Administrator Regan to prioritize the quality and speed of the cleanup of the Hanford site.