03.04.03

State of Washington to sue DOE over Hanford Waste Murray, Cantwell concerned about DOE’s commitment to Hanford clean up

WASHINGTON, DC - Governor Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced the State of Washington will sue the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The state and the DOE were negotiating to set milestones for DOE's plans to ship transuranic and mixed waste to Hanford and the shipment of that waste to a site in New Mexico, the deadline for negotiations was March 1.

"Clearly, good faith negotiations are preferable to litigation on the complex issues associated with Hanford cleanup," Cantwell said. "Unfortunately, DOE has left the state no choice by backing away from its commitments. The failure of DOE to finalize an agreement with the state calls into question DOE’s long term intentions regarding Hanford, and puts greater doubt about the cleanup process in the minds of Washington residents."

"This is truly disappointing. Attorney General Gregoire and Governor Locke clearly made an effort to resolve this issue through negotiation," Murray said. "Unfortunately, it appears that after two and a half months of negotiations, the Department of Energy unwisely and unnecessarily pulled the plug in the final week. It is in the interests of Hanford cleanup and the credibility of DOE for the Department to resolve this issue. I hope this can be brought back to the negotiation table."

The state was close to finalizing a deal with DOE on the timetable under which transuranic waste at Hanford would be characterized and certified for shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.

Under the Tri-Party Agreement, the state can in coming weeks issues its own certification milestones. DOE will then have the option of appealing them.