Privatization of Hanford's radioactive waste cleanup sparks environmental controversy.
The US Department of Energy is working with private companies to clean up radioactive waste at the Hanford Site in Washington. This waste, leftover from making plutonium for nuclear weapons, has been stored in underground tanks since 1944. The goal is to safely retrieve, treat, and dispose of the waste. The current plan involves using technology to turn the waste into a solid form for disposal.