Radioactive Waste Cleanup Continues At Hanford Nuclear Reservation

RICHLAND, WA - JUNE 30: Construction work continues on the new Waste Treatment Plant on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation June 30, 2005 near Richland, Washington. The plant which is critical to cleanup efforts on the Hanford site is designed to process radioactive and chemical wastes now being stored in 177 underground tanks from the Cold War era with a process called vitrification which blends the wastes into molten glass, then it will be placed into stainless-steel canisters for permanent disposal. The $5.8 billion plant is about 35 percent complete, but a congressional subcommittee is requesting an audit of the project and seismic concerns have slowed some future construction aspects. (Photo by Jeff T. Green/Getty Images)