Emergency declared at Hanford nuclear site in Washington State

[rubecube]

Well this isn't going to do the nuclear power movement any favours. Hopefully they can get the workers out safely and contain the radiation.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/emergency-d...social_fb_abcn

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Well this isn't going to do the nuclear power movement any favours.

Although I don't disagree, this site has basically nothing to do with modern nuclear power, correct?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Although I don't disagree, this site has basically nothing to do with modern nuclear power, correct?

No, it's a waste facility, but that won't stop the anti-nuclear crowd from getting riled up.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Although I don't disagree, this site has basically nothing to do with modern nuclear power, correct?

Probably most famous for its production of plutonium for the Manhattan Project and later on for the Cold War.

[REDVAN]

Don't you guys remember the Mt. St. Helens eruption?

If this leaks out, we're all screwed!

[puckedoff]

Would this be a good time to drive through the area and attempt to pick up some superpowers?

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Would this be a good time to drive through the area and attempt to pick up some superpowers?

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Don't you guys remember the Mt. St. Helens eruption?

If this leaks out, we're all screwed!

No. I was 3mos old.

[ernie]

Hanford is the site of the plutonium reactors for weapons materials. It's not really a waste site except that it is a waste site! I mean it's not a long term disposal site. Like all defense waste the material will eventually find its way to the waste isolation pilot plant in New Mexico (fascinating facility to tour and what not btw).

But Hanford is a horrendous mess to begin with and somewhat running out of goodwill...this won't help them with the stakeholders. This site is famous for changing management and then new management redoes plans etc so nothing gets done and people can spend 40 years working while achieving virtually nothing.

Believe me I know. At one time we did a project dealing with a certain type of waste on site. Our method reduced cycle time by well over an order of magnitude. We never made it through screening because and I quote someone at the DOE directly "you threatened too many jobs. Many on the council want to see a career 30 year solution not a 3 year one".

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by ernie

We never made it through screening because and I quote someone at the DOE directly "you threatened too many jobs. Many on the council want to see a career 30 year solution not a 3 year one".

Ha. Well that's good to know.

Growing up in Calgary, all the American channels we got came from Spokane. There were an awful lot of those promos that went along the lines of "coming up on KHQ news at 11, another incident at the Hanford Nuclear Plant".

It seemed to be a dodgy place even 30 years ago.

[ToewsFan]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Don't you guys remember the Mt. St. Helens eruption?

If this leaks out, we're all screwed!

I was too young to remember.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Don't you guys remember the Mt. St. Helens eruption?

If this leaks out, we're all screwed!

I remember it like it was yesterday. I had an onion on my belt. . Which was the style at the time...