Washington has the largest nuclear disaster on the western hemisphere (Pacific: power lines, tax rates)

[r6991b]

The Hanford site in Washington: https://www.hanford.gov/

To give a basic overview, in the last century the government needed to create and mine nuclear chemicals for the Manhattan Project among other things. In 1987 this project was decommissioned and trillions of gallons of nuclear waste was stored in large containers and dug underground. These containers have been leaking for years into all nearby groundwater and most importantly into the Columbia River, have been slowly releasing gases into the air, and there is a risk of explosion in some of them as well. This site has had lots of lawsuits, as they are continuing not only the underground leaking but actively dumping nuclear waste into the river, and denying allegations by bed-ridden radiation sickened employees. With this in mind, I have a few questions for people who may be more familiar in the matter or have better access to data:

1. Is eating Salmon safe in the PNW? Since Salmon come to hatch eggs in the Columbia river before going back into the Pacific, are they exposed to toxic levels of radiation?
2. How far does the groundwater contamination extend? Want to know as most vineyards and farms are in east Washington, so want to make sure excessive radiation is not consumed?
3. Why isn't the issue discussed more? What is the government doing to try and fix this? Is this a genuine concern or am I too paranoid about this issue?

[509]

It is simple.

Governor Inslee and the Democrats don't want to clean up Hanford.

The HIGHEST B&O taxes in the state of Washington were put onto the Hanford clean up activities by the Democrats.

Economics 102, if you don't want to do something....you tax it. The means the Democrats in Washington state don't want to clean up Hanford. Last I looked at the B&O tax rates, what the Democrats want to encourage in Washington state is HORSE RACING.

The reason the issue is NOT discussed more....well, the Democrats and the media in western Washington don't want to talk about it.

It is as simple as that.

[Hemlock140]

I only eat Salmon (and other fish) from Alaska. Most of the Salmon taken from local waters is by the Native Americans.
Unfortunately for them, that's from the Columbia Basin, and the Duwamish Waterway, also a source of pollution as a superfund location. Typical sport fishermen are not going to catch and eat enough to suffer much from residual radiation, since the volume of water dilutes it to barely detectable levels.

[leastprime]

Originally Posted by r6991b

The Hanford site in Washington: https://www.hanford.gov/

To give a basic overview, in the last century the government needed to create and mine nuclear chemicals for the Manhattan Project among other things. In 1987 this project was decommissioned and trillions of gallons of nuclear waste was stored in large containers and dug underground. These containers have been leaking for years into all nearby groundwater and most importantly into the Columbia River, have been slowly releasing gases into the air, and there is a risk of explosion in some of them as well. This site has had lots of lawsuits, as they are continuing not only the underground leaking but actively dumping nuclear waste into the river, and denying allegations by bed-ridden radiation sickened employees. With this in mind, I have a few questions for people who may be more familiar in the matter or have better access to data:

1. Is eating Salmon safe in the PNW? Since Salmon come to hatch eggs in the Columbia river before going back into the Pacific, are they exposed to toxic levels of radiation?
2. How far does the groundwater contamination extend? Want to know as most vineyards and farms are in east Washington, so want to make sure excessive radiation is not consumed?
3. Why isn't the issue discussed more? What is the government doing to try and fix this? Is this a genuine concern or am I too paranoid about this issue?

The fact source for "trillions of gallons" and other big fat claims.

1. Salmon from the Columbia is great, if you can get it. Salmon really don't send much time in the River, and don't eat all that much when they return from the ocean after 3-5 years. The Salmon collapse in the PNW is from many reasons, known and unknown. The toxicity in our major fish rivers can be traced more to mining operations, farming, and population issues.
2. I forget. Used to be a website for cleanup. Not all vineyards are as far east as the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. I would guess most of vineyards are further north and west of Hanford. Many vineyard acres in the Willamette Valley too. I am not that interested in discovering the exact acreage in the regions.
3. Billions and more billions have been spent and will be spent for cleanup. The Cleanup has been going on for 30 + (?) years. I was an 65+ years in Oregon, and now 4 years in Washington. The Government is trying to do something, but technology and MONEY seem to a major issues. At this time, you are over thinking this.

YRMV

[leastprime]

AFAIK, the "plume" has not reached the Columbia aquifer or the River.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by r6991b

The Hanford site in Washington: https://www.hanford.gov/

To give a basic overview, in the last century the government needed to create and mine nuclear chemicals for the Manhattan Project among other things. In 1987 this project was decommissioned and trillions of gallons of nuclear waste was stored in large containers and dug underground. These containers have been leaking for years into all nearby groundwater and most importantly into the Columbia River, have been slowly releasing gases into the air, and there is a risk of explosion in some of them as well. This site has had lots of lawsuits, as they are continuing not only the underground leaking but actively dumping nuclear waste into the river, and denying allegations by bed-ridden radiation sickened employees. With this in mind, I have a few questions for people who may be more familiar in the matter or have better access to data:

1. Is eating Salmon safe in the PNW? Since Salmon come to hatch eggs in the Columbia river before going back into the Pacific, are they exposed to toxic levels of radiation?
2. How far does the groundwater contamination extend? Want to know as most vineyards and farms are in east Washington, so want to make sure excessive radiation is not consumed?
3. Why isn't the issue discussed more? What is the government doing to try and fix this? Is this a genuine concern or am I too paranoid about this issue?

Trillions of gallons??? Explosions? I don't think heavy water that a nuclear plant produces and is stored can explode.

Hmmmm...and I thought Three Miles nuclear plant disaster in Pennsylvania was the worst in the US.

Oh and salmon don't return to the ocean after spawning. So no you won't able to eat spawned out salmon, well unless you like a mushy salmon stew.

[leastprime]

Originally Posted by rantiquity

Trillions of gallons??? Explosions? I don't think heavy water that a nuclear plant produces and is stored can explode.

Hmmmm...and I thought Three Miles nuclear plant disaster in Pennsylvania was the worst in the US.

Oh and salmon don't return to the ocean after spawning. So no you won't able to eat spawned out salmon, well unless you like a mushy salmon stew.

It's not the water. It's the radioactive residuals and chemicals used in the processing of uranium for fuel and concentration.

[jabogitlu]

https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/...anford-cleanup

Lots of factual information here. Don't get your news from a message board post.

[pnwguy2]

What Jabogitlu said. And greetings from Tri-cities where deaths are no higher than average for the entire State and have been for several decades.

[StealthRabbit]

I have a trucker friend who has been hauling waste from Hanford to Idaho for over 10 yrs. Lots of cleanup is wrapping up and it's very well monitored.

Buy a Geiger counter dosimeter monitor, they're not too expensive. You can wear dose devices that can be tested regularly, several retired nuke workers still wear them.

Realize that much of the USA has high concentration of uranium in the soils. As a wee child to age 30, The dirt I was breathing, eating, and digging in, and farming. (+ garden) has higher uranium content that the release at 3mile island. + I lived under power lines, and drove a diesel tractor belching soot in my face 16 hrs a day from age 10...

There is something gonna git ya.
Yes, be careful and wise. And look out for buses. (Currently driving in Texas where 4400 people / yr are traffic fatalities. ). Really scary and perilous out there.

Be safe.
Life is fragile, handle with care.