WASH. GOV. GREGOIRE SPEAKS OUT ON HANFORD VIT PLANT

Washington State Gov. Chris Gregoire is confident that Energy Secretary Chu working with the state will be able to resolve issues at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant before she leaves office in January, she said in a visit to the Hanford area Tuesday. She expects the plant to be on a path forward with no more interruptions, said the governor, who is not running for re-election. She and Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna sent a letter to Chu late last month giving him a Sept. 26 deadline to show the Department of Energy is serious about meeting requirements of a court-ordered consent decree that include having the plant in full operation in 2022. After a phone conversation Friday, she’s agreed to wait a few more weeks for a full briefing before taking any action. She also agreed with Chu’s proposal that she assemble a group of state technical experts for the briefing. The consent decree provides for dispute resolution that starts with negotiations and then can escalate to court intervention, but she does not believe that will be necessary, she said. The plant is a top priority for Chu and he’s spending 10 hours a week on technical issues, she said.