The Umatilla Tribes of Oregon filed notice of a lawsuit against the Department of Energy over the nuclear waste contamination.

The tribes want DOE to assess damage from 40 years of plutonium production at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The tribes want to know how the waste affected natural resources, including fish.

Hanford was taken from the Yakama Nation by a late 1800s treaty. Up until the early 1900s, the area was still used by tribal members for gathering and other purposes.

The Yakama Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe and the states of Oregon and Washington are currently in mediation with DOE over environmental damage at Hanford.

Get the Story:
Umatilla tribes say they'll sue over environment at Hanford (AP 10/7)

Relevant Links:
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

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