AP NEWSBREAK: WASHINGTON NUKE WASTE TANKS FLAWED?

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HANFORD_TANKS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-03-01-03-54-35

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- While one of the newer double-walled nuclear waste storage tanks at a Washington state complex has leaked, six others have "significant construction flaws" that could lead to additional leaks, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The 28 double-walled tanks at Hanford nuclear waste complex hold some of the worst radioactive waste at the nation's most contaminated nuclear weapons site.

One of those giant tanks was found to be leaking in 2012. But subsequent surveys of the other double-walled tanks performed for the U.S. Department of Energy by one of its Hanford contractors found at least six shared defects with the leaking tank that could lead to future leaks, the documents said. Thirteen additional tanks also might be compromised, according to the documents.

Questions about the storage tanks jeopardize efforts to clean up radioactive waste at the southeastern Washington site. Hanford cleanup already costs taxpayers about $2 billion a year.

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1. K&R.... /nt