KENNEWICK — The Hanford nuclear reservation is one of seven sites the Energy Department is considering as a national, long-term storage site for mercury.
The Environmental Protection Agency says the nation could have as much as 11,000 tons of mercury from private sources eligible for storage over 40 years, the Tri-City Herald reports.
The Energy Department is looking for storage sites because mercury exports will be banned beginning in 2013.
Mercury is toxic. It’s used in gold mining and manufacturing chlorine and caustic soda, and it’s reclaimed from recycling and waste recovery operations.
The Energy Department plans a public meeting in Richland July 28 to determine what should be included in an environmental study. A draft is expected to be issued this fall.
Ocean Shores: Two survive chopper crash
The Coast Guard says neither of the two people aboard a privately owned helicopter was seriously injured when the aircraft crashed into the waters of Grays Harbor, about a mile north of Ocean Shores.
The Coast Guard says a Good Samaritan rescued the two about 6 a.m. Tuesday. The pilot reportedly suffered minor injuries.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Seattle: Teen is charged in pit bull attacks
A 16-year-old suburban Burien girl accused of using a pit bull as a weapon has been charged in King County Juvenile Court with assault.
Prosecutors plan to seek more than a standard 90 days in detention if she is convicted.
Investigators say she and a group of boys used the dog June 21 to maul two women — one who thought they needed help with the dog and another who witnessed the first attack. The girl is also accused of being a minor in possession of liquor.
The girl surrendered Tuesday afternoon after her mother called police and said the girl was ready to turn herself in. Arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday.
The three boys — 11, 12 and 13 years old — were released to their parents. The dog was turned over to Animal Control.
I-90 bridge delays not as bad as feared
Horrendous traffic delays that were feared during a construction project on the I-90 floating bridge have failed to materialize during the first two commutes.
Transportation Department spokeswoman Sandy Lam in Seattle says the drive time from Bellevue to Seattle was about 30 minutes at the Tuesday morning peak — about 5 to 10 minutes longer than normal. Monday was also relatively light.
If drivers keep it up, Lam says traffic should flow smoothly during the two weeks westbound lanes are diverted to the express lanes for the work to replace expansion joints.
From Herald news services
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