maddie katherine tenzin podcast

The Hanford nuclear site in the US is undergoing a multi-billion dollar cleanup due to leaks of radioactive waste. The cleanup is necessary to prevent further contamination of the environment and the Columbia River. The cleanup effort involves building vitrification plants to safely dispose of the waste. The project is expected to cost $300 to $640 billion and will take many years to complete. The cleanup is important for environmental justice as it affects low-income communities and populations of color. The Yakama Nation, a Native American tribe, has been particularly impacted and has been involved in the cleanup. The cleanup is necessary to protect the Pacific Northwest and its communities. This is Chemical Reactions, where we react to all things chemical. I'm Tenzin, your host. I'm Catherine, your co-host. Today we will be discussing the multi-billion dollar cleanup of the largest producer of plutonium in the U.S. One of the most substantial threats looming over the environment and locals of eastern Washington. This is the cleanup of the Hanford nuclear site. The first nuclear reactor made in Hanford was created in the early 1940s, towards the end of World War II. The total area of the site was about 500 square miles. And it had a total of nine different reactors. While the reactors were first created for use during World War II, they continued to be used all throughout the Cold War. Throughout this time, leaks of radioactive and toxic liquids and solids were reported. The first report being in 1956, confirmed in 1959. And how much is this waste affecting the environment? Well, by the 1980s, there was a total of 80 square miles of contaminated groundwater from the reactors. It was then, at the end of the 80s, that the Tri-Party Agreement was signed. This agreement, signed by the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and Washington State Department of Ecology, was an agreement to start cleaning up the Hanford nuclear site. And so, the cleanup began. To accomplish this cleanup, it will take a massive $300 to $640 billion effort, with $2.6 billion spent annually on the project. Why this massive price tag? Because to complete the biggest nuclear cleanup ever, the U.S. Department of Fisheries is employing 10,000 workers to build the vitrification plants that are needed to safely dispose of the waste. Storing it in large shield containers that will keep it safe for thousands of years. With low-level waste being stored on site and high-level waste going to national warehouses. And now, we are joined by Maddie, a social scientist familiar with the Hanford site. Thank you for joining us today. Happy to be here and be able to provide some insight into this threatening issue. How long have you been researching the Hanford site? Well, after I got my degree in social sciences from the UW, I've been fascinated with the topic of nuclear waste and wanted to make a difference. So, once I had my degree, I started working with groups involved in the cleanup. So, what is the risk of not cleaning up the Hanford site? The Hanford site is close to the Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest. And if the contamination spreads into the river, it could be a major environmental disaster, affecting the wildlife and humans in the region. You're an expert in social sciences. How does the Hanford site cleanup relate to environmental justice? The Hanford site is actually a great example of environmental justice. But more specifically, what environmental justice is not. The location of this hazardous site sits in the center of one of the largest populations of people of color in low-income households in the state. So, how long would this be an issue without the cleanup? Certainly, a long time. Nuclear waste is like that one person that never gets the hint to leave. It's always hanging around. So, obviously, there's some social inequality of who's affected by this, right? Yes, definitely. Native, indigenous, low-income, and populations of color have been and currently are being unequally affected by the nuclear waste. One of the bands of the Yakama Nation was even removed from the area at the Hanford site before it was built to make room for the construction. Yes. To this day, the Wanapum Tribe is still yet to receive compensation from the government after being evicted from their land. So, how is the cleanup going so far? Who else is involved with fixing this mess? Well, many locals enrolled in the Yakama Nation. Especially younger generations have chosen to assist with the cleanup. They feel the effect of the leftover waste on their community and environment and are motivated to take action. So, I guess you could say that the nuclear waste cleanup was receiving a lot of reactions from the public, right? I guess you could say that. Anyway, this project is expected to cost over $300 billion. What is the justification for this price tag? The Hanford site was built on the land of the Yakama Nation and the leaking of waste is mainly affecting natives, indigenous people, low-income communities, non-English speakers, and populations of color. Along with that, the waste risks leaking into the Columbia River, destroying the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest. It is the government's duty to protect all people that live in this country and that is what this cleanup is doing, protecting all of the PNWs. Thank you for joining us today and talking about the social justice issues to do with the Hanford site, Maddie. Thanks for having me, guys. And that's it, folks. This will overall be a massively expensive project. And depending on the funding, it could take many years for this disaster to be resolved. But at least it's in the process, so it could be worse. Try to remember, folks, it could always be worse. So, stay optimistic. Next time you think of the PNW environmental justice, remember the unequally affected communities, and the dark behind these issues. Thank you, Maddie, for joining us. This was Tenzin. And Catherine, speaking today on Chemical Reactions, where we react to all things chemical. Goodbye, everybody, and have a lovely day.