Feds contend state Hanford request too expensive



RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — The federal government contends that new Hanford cleanup deadlines sought by the state of Washington would require an extra $18 billion over the next 14 years.

The U.S. Department of Justice says in court documents that is not realistic and would jeopardize other cleanup projects at Hanford.

The Tri-City Herald reports both the Justice Department and the state of Washington filed court documents on Friday in the federal lawsuit the state has filed to speed up the cleanup of Hanford, the nation's most polluted nuclear weapons production site.

The state criticized the government's management of Hanford. It urged the court to require tighter oversight of Hanford's leaky underground nuclear waste tanks and a plant being built to treat that waste.

Hanford for decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons.

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Information from: Tri-City Herald