The entire Washington state congressional delegation on Monday urged President-elect Donald Trump to make environmental cleanup, worker health, and the safety of nearby communities at the Hanford Site a priority in his administration. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) organized the letter sent to Trump, which was also signed by Sen. Patty Murray (D) and the state’s four Republican and six Democrat U.S. representatives. The lawmakers said they looked forward to discussing Hanford issues in more detail with Trump and his administration in the coming days and moths.
The letter provided background information to explain the cleanup of the site and its importance, and also emphasized worker safety. “This is the largest and most complex environmental remediation project in the nation and is critical to ensuring the safety and well-being of those who live both in the Tri-Cities and downstream of Hanford along the Columbia River,” the lawmakers said. “Furthermore, the federal government is subject to legally enforceable milestones on tank waste retrieval and treatment through a Consent Decree between the State of Washington and DOE.”
Strong and predictable funding is crucial to fulfilling the federal government’s legal and moral obligation for Hanford cleanup, the letter says. Strong funding also allows progress in remediation and “ensures our top priority – worker safety – is achieved while these dangerous cleanup operations take place,” it adds. “It is essential that the safety of the more than 9,000 workers comes first as they are doing a remarkable job and their efforts keep surrounding communities safe.”
