Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following statement regarding reports of potential tank vapor exposures today near the Hanford Tank Farm. He filed a lawsuit in September 2015 regarding worker safety issues at Hanford.

OLYMPIA — Finding that, “given the preventative measures available and now mandated by the agreement of the parties, there is little to no chance of an imminent and substantial endangerment,” U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Judge Thomas Rice today declined to require safety measures by court order in advance of trial. The federal government implemented those safety measures only after Attorney General Ferguson Bob Ferguson filed a motion for preliminary injunction with the court in July.

“Today, the court set a date for argument on our motion asking for enhanced safety and vapor monitoring measures at Hanford, and ordered preliminary measures to keep workers safe as we work toward a longer-term solution.