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Contamination at Hanford tank did not come from leak

This May 9, 2017, file photo provided by the U.S. Department of Energy shows a 20-foot by 20-foot hole in the roof of a storage tunnel at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland. (U.S. Department of Energy / Associated Press)
Associated Press

RICHLAND – Radioactive contamination found on a piece of equipment on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation was not the result of a leak in an underground nuclear waste storage tank.

The U.S. Department of Energy said Wednesday that an analysis has ruled out that the contamination came from a leak within double-walled tank AZ-101.

The department and its contractor are now looking at other potential sources, such as historical contamination from previous work at the tank.

The contamination was found last Thursday on a robotic device doing an inspection of the space between the two walls of the underground tank. The contamination was found on the robot when it was removed.

A low level of contamination also appeared on the clothing of a worker, but the department said no skin contamination was found.