The Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Washington state lifted a take cover order about four hours after workers detected strange odors Wednesday morning in the 200 West Area of the cleanup complex.
Crews investigating reports of odors near the Reduction Oxidation (REDOX) plant found no evidence of radiation or a chemical release near the area and the order was completely lifted about 12:20 p.m. Pacific Time, according to a DOE spokesperson.
“Employees who smelled the odors are encouraged to visit the Hanford onsite medical provider if they have concerns,” according to a post on the Hanford emergency operations center website.
Two crews, one doing “non-intrusive ground scanning to check for subsurface materials in preparation for excavation work, and another, doing well drilling work, simultaneously smelled odors near the REDOX facility” in the 200 West Area at about 8:30 a.m., according to the website. An order was issued instructing staff in the vicinity to take cover inside.
Workers around the REDOX facility, which processed approximately 24,000 tons of uranium fuel rods in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the adjacent 222-S Laboratory, were affected by the temporary safety lockdown, according to DOE.
No injuries had been reported as a result of the Wednesday incident at deadline for Weapons Complex Morning Briefing.