Mark Hatfield: “the Pacific Northwest is home to what many believe is the worst environmental mess on Earth--the Hanford Nuclear…”

“the Pacific Northwest is home to what many believe is the worst environmental mess on Earth--the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Today, I am pleased to join with my colleague, Senator Wyden, to enhance the voice of Oregonians in the cleanup of this site of such tremendous importance to the health and safety of our State. Let me thank the Senators from the State of Washington, Senators Gorton and Murray, for their cooperation in resolving the technical details of this amendment. I look forward to continuing to the cooperative relationship our two States have shared with respect to this complex cleanup process. Let me also thank the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Thurmond, and the ranking member, Senator Nunn, for working with Senator Wyden and myself to resolve a number of concerns with this amendment. The Hanford facility is located on the Columbia River within the State of Washington. From the early 1940's to the late 1980's, the U.S. Government made plutonium for nuclear weapons at the Hanford site. In the process, Hanford emitted enormous volumes of radioactive and chemical wastes, much of which found its way--through air or water-- into the State of Oregon.”