Small, unexplained hole stops work at Hanford tank farm

RICHLAND — Video inspections are planned out of an abundance of caution after a small, unexplained hole in the ground was discovered near an underground tank storing radioactive waste at the Hanford nuclear reservation.

Work was being done Thursday to compact earth in preparation to add an asphalt covering over the soil at the SX-Tank Farm in the center of the reservation.

The farm has 15 single-shell tanks, each with a 1-million gallon capacity. The asphalt covering will keep precipitation from driving any waste that has previously leaked or been spilled deeper into the ground.

A worker noticed a hole up to 2 feet in diameter about 6 feet from one of the tanks as the worker prepared to make a second pass to compact the soil there.

Workers left the tank farm. It was the appropriate action when faced with an uncertain condition, said Jerry Holloway, spokesman for contractor Washington River Protection Solutions.

Employees were preparing for work in another part of the tank farm Friday morning when one or more of them called a stop to work out of concern that the hole could be a sign of a problem with the integrity of a nearby tank. Workers may stop work if they have a safety concern.