Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman Aug. 15 ordered construction to resume after nearly three years on the $12-billion nuclear waste-treatment plant being built by Bechtel National at the Hanford Site in Washington state, after certifying that the plant's design was revamped to reflect the seismic data that engineers have been collecting for more than two years.
In December 2004, DOE halted construction on some parts of the vitrification facility over concerns that it was not designed adequately to withstand the effects of a powerful earthquake. James Rispoli, DOE's assistant secretary for environmental management, said confirming the seismic data has been one of DOE's top priorities and toughest technical challenges.