6 Hanford waste workers quit over drug testing

RICHLAND, Wash. — Six workers at a Hanford radioactive waste disposal site decided to quit rather than submit to drug testing after a baggie of marijuana was found in building at the landfill called the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility.

A spokesman for the nuclear reservation contractor, Todd Nelson of Washington Closure Hanford, told KONA managers found the baggie in the workers' day room Aug. 8 and immediately ordered drug tests for about 100 workers.

Six resigned rather than be tested. Results for 18 other employees are pending. All the rest of the tests were negative.

Nelson says the Benton County sheriff's department confirmed the bag contained pot. Drug sniffing dogs did not turn up any other hits.

Washington Closure Hanford has zero tolerance for any substance that alters worker performance.