Nuclear cleanup funds criticized

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2002

The Department of Energy's is proposing to cut funds to cleanup the the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington, one of the biggest projects facing the department.

The fiscal year 2003 budget reduces funds from $1.72 billion to $1.46 billion. Washington state officials and members of Congress said the amount is not sufficient to continue efforts and said they plan to fight the request.

The reservation is located on land ceded in an 19th century treaty. Tribes in Washington and Idaho still use the area for traditional purposes and researchers believe tribal members may have been exposed to more radiation than previously thought.

Get the Story:
Funding for Hanford cleanup falls way short, lawmakers say (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 2/5)

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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