Showing posts with label AP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AP. Show all posts

Friday, February 15, 2013

Northwest Now: Nuclear Tank in Washington State Leaking Radioactive Waste


Northwest Now

Nuclear Tank in Washington State Leaking Radioactive Waste

In a report circulated by the Associated Press, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced late Friday afternoon a tank at the Hanford Nuclear Plant, the nations most contaminated nuclear site, is currently leaking radioactive waste. According to the report, the tanks which are “long past their intended 20-year lifespan” hold millions of gallons of nuclear waste. The suspected leaking tank holds nearly 447,000 gallons of radioactive sludge from decades of plutonium production. Inslee stated the leak could vary from 150 to 300 gallons over the course of a year, likely resulting in a long term contamination threat to groundwater and rivers. Inslee blamed spending cuts and the incompletion of a $12.3 billion plant to safely convert the waste into a more stable form for the tank’s neglect. The nuclear site sits directly on the Columbia river, the biggest waterway in the Pacific Northwest.
 
 Photo Via No Water-No Life
 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Our Pacific Northwest: Shell's Rigs Set Sail for Asia

Our Pacific Northwest

Shell's Rigs Set Sail for Asia

Last month, Empirical brought to light a story circulated by the Associated Press stating the Department of the Interior will review Shell Oil’s 2012 offshore drilling exploits in Alaskan waters. Today, the Anchorage Daily News has reported Shell will tow its two drills used in 2012 to Asia for repair and further inspection. The report speculated the move by Shell indicates major work on the rigs may be necessary, and casts doubts on whether the oil mogul will be able to resume its drilling before season’s end. The AP report last month laid out several problems Shell encountered with its drills last year, including a drill barge which ran aground New Year’s Eve, a drill ship which was found to have numerous safety violations, and an oil barge which did not gain certification before the start of last year’s drilling season. According to the Daily News' report, Shell invested almost $5 billion in leases, oil spill response equipment, and infrastructure. But environmentalists in the region claim the risks are too high and call for all offshore drilling to cease.

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