Sludge Watch ==> Washington state - Radioactive Waste into Water Line

[Maureen Reilly]

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/08/01/nuclear_waste_spill_linked_to_water_line/1177/


Published: Aug. 2, 2007 at 1:11 AM

Nuclear waste spill linked to water line
RICHLAND, Wash., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. officials say a spill of high-level 
radioactive waste in Washington state was traced to a water line not 
intended for such hazardous sludge.

Attempts to unclog a pump at Hanford Nuclear Reservation last Friday 
inadvertently forced the sludge from an underground tank into the water 
line, which sprung a leak, The (Portland) Oregonian newspaper said 
Wednesday.

"This water line was never designed to contain or have waste injected into 
it," said Delmar Noyes of the U.S. Department of Energy in a conference call 
with reporters.

Noyes said 50 to 100 gallons of radioactive waste was spilled onto the 
ground.