Mayor Lisa Brown opposes hazardous waste shipments through Spokane [Video]

SPOKANE, Wash. — In a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Washington, Mayor Lisa Brown voiced her strong opposition to plans that would transport millions of gallons of hazardous waste through Spokane.

According to a press release from the City of Spokane, the hazardous waste, originating from the Hanford Nuclear Site, is scheduled for shipment in liquid form to facilities in Texas and Utah. Mayor Brown said that if an initial transport of 2,000 gallons is deemed successful, plans are in place to send millions more through Spokane by rail or truck.

The decision to route the shipments through Spokane followed concerns raised by partners in Oregon about the risks associated with trucking hazardous materials through their communities.

“I am extremely disappointed to learn that, following the expression of serious concerns by our friends from the State of Oregon …