The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Riverkeepers to host discussion on Hanford

At Solstice in Bingen

March 05, 2013

Columbia Riverkeeper and Friends of the Columbia Gorge are hosting a community discussion about Hanford, and the impact of transporting nuclear waste through the Gorge, on March 12 at 6 p.m. at Solstice Cafe in Bingen.

Currently, there is a moratorium on most, but not all, shipments of nuclear waste to the Hanford Nuclear Site. Even so, in 2011, 27 shipments of radioactive material were transported on Interstate 84, through the Columbia River Gorge. These shipments included waste from hospitals, nuclear power plants, industries, universities and the Navy destined for disposal or treatment at Hanford.

But, transport of nuclear waste upstream to Hanford isn't the only threat that Hanford poses to our communities. Hanford is the most contaminated site in the western hemisphere, and contaminants such as chromium, strontium, uranium, and iodine-129 leach into the Columbia River.

The import of additional nuclear waste to Hanford could increase the damage to human health and the Columbia River.

Columbia Riverkeeper and Friends of the Columbia Gorge will discuss what they are doing to stop the transport of new nuclear waste and other hazardous materials through area communities to Hanford, and what individuals can do to help.

Ken Niles, administrator of the Oregon Department of Energy's Nuclear Safety and Energy Emergency Preparedness Division will join the discussion. Niles manages Oregon's involvement in cleanup at the Hanford Nuclear Site, the safe transport of radioactive materials through Oregon, and emergency preparedness in the event of a nuclear accident.

Admission is $5 and includes pizza and salad.

For more information, contact Theresa Labriola at theresa@columbiariverkeeper.org or 541-490-2411.