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Gov. Gregoire Thanks Congressional Delegation for Defeating Bush Administration's Attempts to Slash Funding for Clean-Up

For Immediate Release: December 19, 2005

OLYMPIA -- Governor Chris Gregoire today thanked members of Washington�s Congressional delegation for leading the charge to defeat the Bush administration�s attempts to cut $100 million in funding from the cleanup effort at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

The proposed cut would have dramatically impacted the waste treatment plant that is the cornerstone of the Hanford cleanup. The plant turn 53 million gallons of highly radioactive waste into a glass form that can be safely and permanently stored. �With the plant, we will have cleanup,� said Governor Gregoire. �Without it, we won't.�

�This is great news,� said Governor Gregoire. �Completing the Treatment Plant is not only doable, it's being done right now. The plant is more than 35% complete, with nearly $3 billion invested by the federal government. We need to finish the job without further delay, and this congressional action rejecting the Administration's proposed $100 million cut is an important step in that direction.�

Attorney General Rob McKenna joined the Governor in congratulating the delegation. �We commend our congressional delegation for its work in retaining this important funding for the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant,� he said. �The Governor and I agree that this is a high priority in our state and not a day can be wasted in our efforts to cleanup Hanford.�

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