Opportunity to Provide Public Testimony

The Hanford Nuclear Site’s Dangerous Waste Permit is out for public comment and the Washington Department of Ecology wants to hear from you.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is holding a public hearing in Portland to solicit public testimony on the Hanford Nuclear Site’s Dangerous Waste Permit.

It’s not often Hanford regulators come to Portland seeking input, nor is it often that public testimony is gathered at Hanford public meetings any more. This is a great time to show up and speak up for communities downstream of Hanford. 

• When: Sept. 22, 2026, 5:30 p.m. 
• Where: Albina Library, 205 NE Russell Street, Portland, OR 97212 
• Why: Hanford’s Dangerous Waste Permit (also known as Hanford’s Sitewide permit) covers 52 waste sites and facilities at Hanford and is one of the primary resources that Ecology has for overseeing the U.S. Department of Energy’s treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous and radioactive waste. The last time the permit was up for public comment was in 2012. This iteration, known as Rev. 9A, is Ecology’s effort to have a current, enforceable, consistent, and implementable permit that is protective of human health and the environment from Hanford’s radioactive and chemical risks, as well as a response to comments gathered in 2012. Check out Ecology’s  Rev. 9A information page for more details.
• How: In-person only

Unable to make this in-person meeting? No problem, Ecology is holding an online hearing on Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. You can attend two ways:

• Zoom
• Phone
  253-215-8782
  253-205-0468

Meeting ID: 862 3423 5565
Passcode: 820026 

Not in Portland? Also no problem, Ecology is having the following in-person meetings: 

Seattle, Washington
Sept. 23, 2026, 6:00 p.m. PST
Ecology Northwest Regional Office
15700 Dayton Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

Hermiston, Oregon
Sept. 29, 2026, 5:30 p.m. PST
Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center – Meeting room 1
1705 E Airport Rd, Hermiston, OR 97838 

Richland, Washington
Sept. 30, 2026, 5:30 p.m. PST
Richland Public Library – Gallery room
955 Northgate Dr, Richland, WA 99352