Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board to Meet Virtually October 4

Contact: Jennifer Kalez, 503-480-9239

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SALEM – The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, October 4, 2021. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude after the public comment period at about 2 p.m. Public participation is encouraged.

The meeting agenda will include an update on Hanford Site tank waste; updates from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Washington State Department of Ecology; and a presentation from ODOE’s summer intern regarding the Natural Resources Damage Assessment process.

A complete meeting agenda, meeting materials, and information about how to connect to the meeting and participate will be available on ODOE's website prior to the meeting.

The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board provides input to the USDOE and its regulators on the cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear Site – one of the largest and most complex environmental challenges in the world. The Oregon Department of Energy and the Board work together to keep important cleanup issues visible, hold the USDOE and its contractors accountable, ensure good public involvement and outreach, and reinforce that Oregon has a major stake in the safe and timely cleanup of Hanford.

More than 40 years of plutonium production for America's nuclear weapons program left a legacy of radioactive and chemically hazardous waste at the Hanford Nuclear site, which sits on the Columbia River just 35 miles from Oregon’s border. From Hanford, the Columbia flows through prime Oregon farmlands, fisheries, communities, and popular recreational spots. Due to the potential threat of radioactive and chemical contamination affecting Oregon's resources, economy, and public health, the board's primary role is to ensure cleanup decisions are protective of the river.

Learn more about Hanford and Oregon’s role.

To request an interpreter for the hearing impaired or accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact ODOE at least 72 hours before the meeting at 1-800-221-8035 or fax 503-373-7806. TTY users should call the Oregon Relay Service at 711.