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Nuclear Safety Division
The Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State used to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. The production process resulted in large amounts of chemical and radioactive waste. These wastes pose a long-term threat to the Columbia River.
(Map of the Hanford Nuclear Site)
 
The Nuclear Safety Division of the Oregon Department of Energy is responsible for:
  1. Technical review of the Hanford cleanup and assessment of potential impacts on the Columbia River and Oregon

  2. The safe transport of radioactive material in and through Oregon, including portions of deactivated nuclear-powered submarines and cruisers on the Columbia River

  3. Staffing the Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board, which is the center of policy discussions regarding disposal of high-level radioactive waste

  4. Emergency preparedness for a nuclear accident at Hanford or Energy Northwest´s Columbia Generating Station Nuclear Plant.

  5. Informing the public about Hanford issues. If you´re interested in a presentation to your school, organization or group, contact Susan Hughs at (503) 373-7429.

  6. Representing Oregon on the Hanford Natural Resources Trustee Council, the committee of trustees with legal responsibility for overseeing the natural resource damage assessment and restoration (NRDAR) process at Hanford under the federal Superfund law.


  7. Oversight and regulation of the cleanup of the White King and Lucky Lass Mines in southern Oregon.

Need Further Information?

 
If you have other questions about our work, please contact:
 
Ken Niles
Oregon Department of Energy
Nuclear Safety Division
625 Marion Street NE
Salem, OR  97301-3737

Phone: 1-800-221-8035 (in Oregon) or 503-378-4906
Nuclear Safety Division Brochure (PDF)
 
 
Oregon Department of Energy letters and position papers on key Hanford issues  
 
 
Links to Other 
Hanford-Related Places

 
The Risk Posed by Hanford´s Tank Waste: The Columbia River at Risk (pdf)

Protecting the Columbia River
(Streaming video regarding the cleanup at Hanford. Requires Windows Media Player v6.4 or greater. Run time is 9 minutes)
 

Oregon´s Perspective: The First 15 Years of Hanford Cleanup

Summary (html)

Complete Report (pdf)

  Oregon Native American Interests at Hanford

Hanford Advisory Board (summary of past advice)
 

 
Page updated: May 07, 2008

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