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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2003

The state of Washington sued the Department of Energy on Tuesday, alleging the federal government broke promises to clean up the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in exchange for storing more waste at the site.

The state asked a federal court to stop future shipments until the DOE agrees to a cleanup schedule that carries the weight of law. A DOE official said "we know what our obligations are," The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.

Hanford was part of Yakama Nation territory until it was ceded by a late 1800s treaty. Several tribes in the Pacific Northwest used the area for gathering and other purposes.

Up until the 1930s, when the site was converted to the nuclear reservation, the Wanapum Band, which is not federally recognized, lived on the land.

Get the Story:
State says U.S. reneged on deal to clean up radioactive materials (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 3/5)
State sues over waste shipments (The Seattle Times 3/5)

Relevant Links:
Revised tribal policy, Department of Energy - http://www.hanford.gov/doe/inp/proginfo.htm
Indian Nations Program, Hanford Site - http://www.hanford.gov/doe/inp/index.htm
Cultural and Historic Resource Program, Hanford Site - http://www.hanford.gov/doe/culres/native.html
Tribal Nations Involvement, Office of Environmental Management - http://www.em.doe.gov/em22/tribindx.html

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