area, hanford is just an expensive curiosity.e: but the work will continue for decades at hanford and other sites across the country and so will the mounting costs. the gao is calling for the department of energy to better manage the clean-up process, so congress can make better decisions about where to spend taxpayer dollars. david: everyone needs to take a hard look at their operations things smarter, better, quicker, cheaper. so this is certainly an area where there's great opportunity for that given the dollars we're talking about. sharyl: the gao says no one knows what the true cost will be to finish the clean-up years down the road. the energy department says part of the challenge in managing the clean-up costs are the rules put in place after all the waste was created that now tie their hands on how to get rid of it. coming up on "full measure." the age of information. we talk with one expert about the downside of too much knowledge. >> today at 10:30 on "government matters," the sharyl: what we see, taste, measure, and to

the hanford nuclear facility in washington state is often described as america's most toxic place and now it's crumbling and more dangerous incidents are likely such as the damaging conclusion of a top energy department official working on the site speaking to associated press last week said that the infrastructure was not going to last long enough for the cleanup and talking about the deadline for the completion of two thousand and sixty he said some facilities were not going to withstand that time he continued by saying we're sending people into environments no one was expected to go to is there a potential for more alarms absolutely and of quote now they had for nuclear side produced up to seventy percent of plutonium for the u.s. nuclear arsenal including material for the bomb dropped on japan in one thousand forty five but after the cold war was over the facility became irrelevant and the cleanup operation of all the toxic waste kicked off in one thousand eighty nine currently the five hundred eighty square mile area houses one hundred seventy seven underground shelter tanks whic

i've done that before. >> i wanted to ask you about worker safety at hanford. this is a critical -- i know we only have a few minutes here, but all of these issues are critically important to our state and very much in the forefront of what's concerning. what specific steps are you taking on worker safety? and will you look at this air tank issue for us? the workers at various sites have come up with what they think are more workable solutions that are being implemented at d.o.e. on other locations to help the workers continue to do the cleanup they need but to be safe and secure on their air systems? >> senator, one of the things that i want to in a global way just kind of share with you one of the first videos i sent out agency wise was about worker safety, about our commitment to it, about if they see -- if workers see an issue, that they should never fear that they cannot report that back to the secretary of energy, all the way up if that's what's required. and i think that was an important message that we sent out there, our commitment to the safety of the

extensively reported on a string of incidents in april and may last year when at least forty two hanford workers were exposed to toxic fumes and sought medical attention on may ninth this year hundreds of them were evacuated when the roof of a one hundred fifty stunnel storing contaminated waste collapsed and months later on june eighth radiation was released during a demolition work at a plutonium plant and three hundred fifty workers were told to take cover all the levels of radiation detected later were deemed safe enough if that doesn't show clear enough that the facility is becoming a serious problem nothing probably will and unlike a year ago when we reported on hanford amid relative silence from the media and officials now at least it's sparking concerns and making some noise starting with measures to protect hanford workers from exposure to a call from a number of lawmakers to review how the cleanup work is being conducted but it still remains unclear as to how exactly the vicious cycle of america's most toxic place could be fixed and whether throwing even more money at it could

and i'm incredibly disappointed to see the administration's approach to the hanford cleanup. it demonstrates a disregard for had health and safety of the individuals who are working in our state. the trump administration needs to understand if we do not prioritize hanford funding and the safety and security, we are going to have security problems. these recent sthents are a wake up call for the administration. and that's why i'm working to ensure the resources are there for the public. now, i know i have probably have a little sheet of all the ideas and themes people have come up with in the past. we had secretary watson delay the treatment plan. for two years the clinton administration planned the prioritization of the plan to pay contractors. we saw secretary avidson try to cleanup the plan. we had secretary muniz explore new ways. so all i'm saying that every energy secretary comes into office pressured, pressured more by some omb person who knows nothing about science trying to do cleanup on the cheap. i guarantee it can't be done. we have to remain resolute and committed

and this information has been referred to the local district attorneys office here in hanford, so we can address your concerns. i want to make sure you understand why you're going to be detained here and the d.a. process. do you have any other concerns, sir? >> this -- it's just -- >> do you have any other concerns? >> no other concerns, besides the fact that -- >> thank you. you have a nice day. >> it seems it's going to be overlooked again. >> ed duane's cellmate and co-defendant in the murder case is more outspoken with his displeasure about the charges. >> that man right there is part of it. that's the man right there. captain fields. you can take a picture of him. >> you know you're wrong. >> what did i do? >> you know you're wrong, fields. you know me and these four brothers haven't done anything. you know that. there is no way possible. i showed you the time restraints. >> while i was at smith's cell door, his cellmate took the opportunity to vent a little bit on me, and understanding that these inmates need the opportunity to vent, he took his opportunity. >> i've come to you

hanford, yes. nuclear waste storage? yes. those are the things i think we should look at taxpayer investment and then build the organization from there. i've never been a fan of saying we're cutting x dollars and figure out the programs. i'd rather say what's the core mission and the important programs and build it from there. i think you get better policy. >> it's your sense the deep cut will resonate with the republicans? >> part of the issue that i've had and others in the conference have had is an epa that lost track of the mission and got into all kinds of things that perhaps exceeded the law. certainly congressional intent. and caused consternation in many quarters, especially in rural america. and so, again, if you get back to a core mission and find the things that matter most, get them out of the politics, we get things done. >> the president withdrew us from the paris agreement a few weeks ago. some states said they'll try to comply. is there a role for congress in here to give direction or to take their -- >> the r

murray and i are particularly concerned about your national monument strategy, concerned about the hanford reach monument. in the state of washington. it is also clear there are many other areas. it took the trump administration less than 100 days to launch an unprecedented war on 111 years of bipartisan land conservation which began with president roosevelt's leadership. the most glaring example is an attack on the antiquities act in general and bear's ears national monument in particular. trying to roll back bear's ears is a taxpayer waste especially at a time when the administration is proposing significant staff cutbacks. in my opinion, secretary zinke's recent decision to propose another management designation for bear's ear is an affront to tribes and the bear's ear intertribal coalition. these tribes have spent years working to protect these lands. i believe that any action by this administration to undermine the protection for bear's ears or any other national monument is illegal and i will strongly oppose any legislative attempt to weaken this monument status. secretary zinke, the