State review criticizes oversight at Hanford

A new state review faults federal monitoring of chemical vapors venting from Hanford storage tanks, vapors that some workers say have caused bloody noses, fatigue and other health problems.

The state review, released yesterday by Gov. Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire, says it is unclear what materials are in the 177 underground tanks that store more than 50 million gallons of chemical and radioactive wastes.

Moreover, the review says there needs to be better measurement of potentially toxic vapors that could waft through tank vents.

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Federal Department of Energy officials said yesterday they had not had time to read the state review and thus could not comment on the findings.

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The tanks are grouped in "farms" and contain a mix of liquids, salt cakes and thick slurries left over from nuclear processing that produced materials for atomic bombs at the 586-square-mile Hanford nuclear reservation in Eastern Washington.

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more:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001925276_hanford11m.html