Hanford Nuclear Reservation

17 Stories

A long-awaited solution to Hanford's nuclear waste may be weeks away

Earlier this month, it looked like a pivotal part of the effort to clean up the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in south central Washington was going to be stuck in limbo. Plans to build an important and long-awaited radioactive waste treatment plant appeared to be put on hold, but then the US Secretary of Energy's Office confirmed the plant would be operational by Oct. 15. Hanford is one of the largest Superfund sites in the United States. It was established in 1943 to create plutonium for atomic bombs. Northwest Public Broadcasting senior correspondent Anna King gave KUOW’s Kim Malcolm this update.
- John O'Brien
Project 2025 and Hanford: What Trump’s second term could mean for WA’s toxic sludge

A conservative policy roadmap — and past actions from the new president's first term — could offer clues as to what he might have in store for one of the most radioactive places in the world.
- Jeanie Lindsay
'RICHLAND' shows the way history echoes through communities

In the documentary, "RICHLAND," director Irene Lusztig looks at how the legacy of the atomic age ricochets through generations and across communities, touching on identity, patriotism, and the many stories people hold about a single place.
- Hans Anderson
Behind the FBI's search for the 'Manhattan 8'

“Oppenheimer” opened this weekend, Hollywood’s version of the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb.” While the movie paints a compelling picture of how the Manhattan Project came to be, it only gives a cursory look into the lives of the scientists who moved to the remote places involved in building the first nuclear weapons.
- Libby Denkmann
Washington, Oregon officials prep up for worst-case radiological event scenario from Russia and Ukraine conflict

Northwest officials are preparing in case a radiological event should occur anywhere in the world because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Anna King
High schooler directs new feature film “HANFORD” to be distributed on Amazon Prime

A Richland, Washington, high schooler has been hard at work on his side-gig – directing a feature film about the Hanford radioactive cleanup site. The hour-long film is set to debut on Amazon Prime March 2nd and VIMEO on March 3rd.
- Anna King
Hanford's Plutonium Finishing Plant Demolition Job Reaches Even More Delicate Phase

At Hanford, in southeastern Washington, contractors have just completed much of the demolition work at the site’s Plutonium Finishing Plant. But now crews have to finish the job. And that’s the tough part.
- Anna King
Feds Say Hanford’s PUREX Plant Is Degrading, Needs Stabilizing Soon

A new federal report says that a massive building at the Hanford Nuclear Site is worse off than managers thought. The so-called PUREX -- Plutonium...
- Anna King
After scathing report, work may stop at Hanford's waste treatment plant

Kim Malcolm talks with Northwest News Network Richland correspondent Anna King about a report from the Government Accountability Office that raises...
- Andy Hurst
What we know about the escaped radioactive contamination at Hanford

Marcie Sillman talks to Anna King, Northwest News Network's Richland correspondent, about the radioactive contamination that was found on six workers...
- Marcie Sillman

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Hanford Nuclear Reservation

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