4th Congressional District Rep Dan Newhouse has taken a big step towards perhaps helping the Hanford cleanup effort by officially extending an invitation for the new Energy Secretary to see Hanford in person.

Donald Trump has already named former Texas Governor Rick Perry to be his Energy Secretary when he takes office later this month, and Newhouse wants him to see the progress, but also get a first-hand view of what needs to be done. Part of the letter sent to Perry read:

“The Hanford site is the largest defense nuclear cleanup site in the country and is one of 17 such sites being remediated under DOE’s Environmental Management (EM) program. As you begin your tenure as our next Secretary of Energy I would like to personally invite you to tour the Hanford site, which will provide you with a unique understanding of the challenges facing Hanford and the importance of ensuring the site has the adequate support and resources necessary to complete its cleanup mission. The federal government, and DOE more specifically, is responsible for the cleanup of radioactive and nuclear waste at Hanford, which is critical to the Tri-Cities community, the State of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest region.”

Many political experts and observers believe the Trump Administration will take a more 'serious' and attentive look at trying to solve the cleanup issues facing Washington state and the nation at Hanford.  The Obama Administration did very little to further or meaningfully grow the efforts to deal with the 167 tanks full of the most lethal waste matter on the planet.  Obama also shut down the Nevada Yucca Nuclear Waste Repository, meaning treated and lower level wastes have nowhere to go but Hanford or other nuclear sites. By the accounts of most experts, the Hanford cleanup has just 'treaded water' during the last 8 years.

It is hoped the new administration will work with the state, and listen to the local experts, and heed their advice and ideas for meaningful cleanup and disposal of the waste.

 

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