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Summary
Washington Closure says the nests were all built in 2003 when water was used to dampen dust during demolition of an H Reactor basin. That attracted the wasps that used the mud to make tube-shaped nests for eggs.
Story Published: Jun 11, 2009 at 8:52 AM PDT
Story Updated: Jun 11, 2009 at 11:43 AM PDT
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - Workers cleaning up the Hanford nuclear reservation are going after radioactive wasp nests.
The Tri-City Herald reports 6 to 12 inches of top soil are being dug up this month from 6 acres near the H Reactor. And, workers will dig up more individual mud dauber wasp nests over about 75 acres of the nuclear reservation in southeast Washington.
The contractor handling the clean-up, Washington Closure, says the nests were all built in 2003 when water was used to dampen dust during demolition of an H Reactor basin. That attracted the wasps that used the mud to make tube-shaped nests for eggs.
Spokesman Todd Nelson says the nests are "fairly highly contaminated."
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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