6 leaking tanks are Hanford nuke site's latest woe

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10672259
<snip>
Federal and state officials say six underground tanks holding toxic and radioactive wastes are leaking at the country's most contaminated nuclear site in south-central Washington, raising concerns about delays for emptying the aging tanks.

The leaking materials at Hanford Nuclear Reservation pose no immediate risk to public safety or the environment because it would take perhaps years for the chemicals to reach groundwater, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday.

"None of these tanks would be acceptable for use today. They are all beyond their design life. None of them should be in service," said Tom Carpenter of Hanford Challenge, a Hanford watchdog group. "And yet, they're holding two-thirds of the nation's high-level nuclear waste."

Just last week, state officials announced that one of Hanford's 177 tanks was leaking 150 to 300 gallons a year, posing a risk to groundwater and rivers. So far, nearby monitoring wells haven't detected higher radioactivity levels.

[Journeyman]

1. "Beyond their design life," and yet they hold poisonous garbage that will be with us for millennia…

Such shortsighted assholes who have peopled the hot garbage trade for such a very few years.

[malaise]

2. What amazes me is how they love to talk about the debt accumulating

for the children but never mention the environment.

As long as the boys are making money, it's OK.