Third tank at Hanford site suspected of leaking “highly” radioactive waste | News

Editor's note: An earlier version of the article and a push notification stated that the storage tank was leaking radioactive waste. The Ministry of the Environment has issued a correction stating that the tank is “suspected” of leaking radioactive waste.

BENTON COUNTY, Washington – Washington State Department of Environmental Protection Director Laura Watson says radioactive waste is suspected to be leaking from a third underground storage tank at Hanford.

The U.S. Department of Energy notified the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday of a possible leak in the T-101 tank. The possible new leak is a sign of the aging infrastructure and the danger it poses to the environment and surrounding communities, according to Watson.

Based on current information, the Department of Environmental Protection does not believe the suspected leak poses an immediate threat to workers or the public. Watson said the Department of Environmental Protection is currently working with the Department of Energy to ensure the leak is properly addressed.

There are 177 underground tanks at the Hanford Site. The Department of Energy found that tank B-109 was leaking in 2021 and T-111 in 2013.

Ecology has entered into an agreed order with Energy in 2022 to address leaks at B-109 and T-111, giving these tanks priority for waste retrieval, among other steps to minimize the impact of radioactive waste on the land.