Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hanford Safe?

Is radiation monitored in the Columbia River?

Is it safe to swim in the Columbia River?

Does anyone get drinking water from the Columbia River?

Who monitors the safety of the agricultural products produced along the Columbia River and in nearby communities?

Is it safe to eat fish from the Columbia River?

What is being done to monitor the groundwater plumes heading toward the Columbia River?

What would happen if we did nothing to stop the plumes from reaching the river or to cleanup the waste in the tanks?

What has been done to prevent further migration of contaminants and stop tank leaks?

Who is responsible for cleaning up Hanford?

What are 'normal' environmental radiation levels?

Is Hanford Safe?

At public meetings, Hanford cleanup managers are often asked that question.

The Hanford Site is about half the size of the state of Rhode Island. The government wanted a large buffer zone around the production facilities both for secrecy and public safety. Fortunately, only about ten percent of the 560-square mile site has radioactive or chemical contamination. So, yes, Hanford is generally “safe”. Further, it isn’t accessible to the public, and employees who perform cleanup work wear protective gear when necessary.

Hanford currently has no active nuclear production facilities likely to cause a nuclear or chemical release. While there is no 100% guarantee that nothing will ever happen, a highly trained security force ensures no one will wander onto the site with ill intent. In the unlikely event there is an emergency at Hanford, there are many emergency management professionals and health experts working at Hanford, and for the nearby counties and Washington State, who are trained in how to protect the public. Regular practice drills help keep people alert and prepared.

Much of the original Site is now part of the Hanford Reach National Monument, and includes the Wahluke Slope north of the Columbia River along Highway 24, and the lands within about a quarter mile of the Columbia River. The Arid Lands Ecology Reserve, the area west of Highway 240, and the sand dunes across from Ringold are still closed to the public. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will manage those lands in a manner that protects the fragile shrub steppe habitats left untouched since WWII.

The rivershore below the Vernita Bridge is part of the Hanford Reach National Monument and the river may be safely navigated by experienced jet boaters, kayak or canoe. Some locations along the Hanford shoreline do have no trespassing signs. There are groundwater sampling tubes in the shoreline that have radiation protection signs nearby to discourage contact.

Is radiation monitored in the Columbia River?

Both the state and federal government are actively monitoring the river to ensure we are aware of all possible risks to human health and the environment. Numerous samples of soil, groundwater, river water, seeps, sediments, and vegetation are taken at regular intervals each year. The entire Hanford Site and the river are also periodically surveyed for radioactivity using various geophysical tools. Those supplies meet the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The results of these surveys are published in the Hanford Site Groundwater Monitoring reports.

Additionally, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Energy and the Washington State Department of Health, we sample sediments in the river behind the dams from McNary Dam down to Bonneville Dam to determine that there is no health threat from river sediments.

Is it safe to swim in the Columbia River?

The above findings show that there is no known risk of picking up Hanford contaminants from swimming in the Columbia River. Many residents of the Tri-Cities have boats, jet skis, etc., and make full use of the river from May through September.

Does anyone get drinking water from the Columbia River?

The public does not have access to Hanford groundwater, and there are currently no potable water supplies on Site. However there were 11 public water systems on the Hanford that are still monitored as part of the Annual Hanford Site Environmental Report.

There are many communities downstream of Hanford that draw water from the Columbia for all or part of their domestic water supply. The City of Richland's water uptake is the closest to the Hanford Site. They have nearly sixteen thousand residential and commercial customers - including the office where the Ecology Nuclear Waste Program is housed. Most people here drink the tap water - though some opt for bottled water for flavor! As do all cities within the U.S., the city provides an annual drinking water report to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. No alternate water sources have been required due to contamination resulting from Hanford.

Who monitors the safety of the agricultural products produced along the Columbia River and in nearby communities?

In Washington State the crops grown closest to Hanford are irrigated with water from the Yakima River, or the Columbia above Grand Coulee Dam (Banks Lake). As part of the Annual Hanford Site Environmental Report, samples of alfalfa, asparagus, cherries, honey, leafy vegetables, milk, potatoes, tomatoes, and wine were collected from sites both up and down wind of Hanford.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, regularly sample those products to ensure consumer safety. The Washington State Department of Health takes 'split samples' to verify the results are correct. Radionuclide concentrations in samples of food and farm products were at normal environmental levels.

Is it safe to eat fish from the Columbia River?

At this point there are no fish consumption advisories for the Salmon or other popular food fish such as steelhead or sturgeon. However there is a statewide advisory from the Department of Health for mercury in all water bodies.

What is being done to monitor the groundwater plumes heading toward the Columbia River?

To monitor and track the plume heading toward the Columbia River, more than a thousand groundwater and soil testing wells have been installed and are sampled on a regular basis. We also have installed groundwater treatment systems to control further migration of plumes. These plumes are large, complex, and lie at a depth sometimes exceeding 250 feet. The success of the effort depends on the effectiveness of existing treatment, the use of innovative technologies, and continued effort.

What would happen if we did nothing to stop the plumes from reaching the river or to cleanup the waste in the tanks?

If we do nothing to address the existing problems or to clean up the waste in the tanks, some of the contaminants could reach the Columbia River in the next few decades. Other contamination may take more than a thousand years to migrate to the river. A number of contaminants such as tritium, chromium, nitrate, and strontium-90 have already entered the river from activities that took place on Hanford.

What has been done to prevent further migration of contaminants and stop tank leaks?

A number of actions were taken in the past to reduce further migration of contaminants from the tanks and from the surrounding soil column. All pumpable liquids were removed from the single-shell tanks. Leaky underground water lines were repaired or removed to reduce further migration of contamination from the soil column to groundwater. In addition, surface water ponding in the area of the tanks was eliminated by engineering controls to divert the water to other locations.

Who is responsible for cleaning up Hanford?

We are working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to achieve a safe and effective cleanup of the Hanford site. We have established cleanup milestones that are intended to ensure that the cleanup is thorough and protective of human health and the environment. For this to occur in a timely manner and on a predictable schedule, Hanford needs adequate and stable funding. You can help us by communicating your concerns and views on Hanford cleanup to your legislators. Washington was there for the entire country when it produced material throughout the Cold War. It is only fair that the entire country be behind efforts to clean up the toxic and radioactive legacy that remains from Hanford’s mission which now threatens the Pacific Northwest.

What are 'normal' environmental radiation levels?

Every place on earth there is background radiation, from the soil, rocks, and the sun. As such, scientists can determine baseline numbers for normal environmental radiation levels in an area prior to examining whether plants, animals or people are getting contamination from Hanford. If you'd like to know more about radiation follow this link to the Department of Health Office of Radiation Protection.