PROTECTING GROUNDWATER & THE COLUMBIA RIVER AT THE HANFORD SITE

Journal Article · Thu Jun 29 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Radwaste American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:885424

GERBER, M S

Along the remote shores of the Columbia River in southeast Washington state, a race is on. Fluor Hanford, a prime cleanup contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at the Hanford Site, is managing a massive, multi-faceted project to remove contaminants from the groundwater before they can reach the Columbia. Despite the daunting nature and size of the problem--about 80 square miles of aquifer under the site contains long-lived radionuclides and hazardous chemicals--significant progress is being made. Many groups are watching, speaking out, and helping. A large. passionate, diverse, and geographically dispersed community is united in its desire to protect the Columbia River--the eighth largest in the world--and have a voice in Hanford's future. Fluor Hanford and the DOE, along with the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) interact with all the stakeholders to make the best decisions. Together, they have made some remarkable strides in the battle against groundwater contamination under the site.

• Research Organization: Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE - Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-96RL13200
• OSTI ID: 885424
• Report Number(s): HNF-30225 Rev 0
• Journal Information: Radwaste American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Radwaste American Nuclear Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUIFERS
COLUMBIA RIVER
CONTAMINATION
CONTRACTORS
ECOLOGY
PHOSPHORS
RADIOISOTOPES
SHORES
US EPA