Governor Gregoire: Hanford Cleanup Vital to All Washingtonians

For Immediate Release: June 27, 2006

�I applaud Senators Murray and Cantwell on their efforts to secure full federal support for the construction of the Hanford vitrification plant and thank Chairman Domenici and Senator Reid for their dedication to this issue,� said Governor Chris Gregoire. �Hanford presents a real risk to the health, safety and economic well-being of Washingtonians and all other Columbia River area residents. This is a positive step forward and I continue to work closely with Washington�s congressional delegation to make sure the federal government fulfills their responsibility to all Washingtonians.�

Governor Gregoire in April traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, Senator Domenici and Senator Reid to discuss the vitrification plant and other projects at Hanford.

As director of the Washington Department of Ecology from 1988 to 1992, Governor Gregoire negotiated the Tri-Party Agreement that secured the federal government�s commitment that they would fund and complete the site cleanup within established milestones. As Attorney General, she fought to ensure that the Tri-Party Agreement stayed on track.

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