WASHINGTON (KPTV) - The U.S. Department of Energy will move forward with a long-planned program to treat nuclear waste at the Hanford Site, according to a Washington lawmaker.

The Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program, known as DFLAW, is set to begin Oct. 15 at the Hanford vitrification plant in southeast Washington. The project has been under development for more than 20 years and represents a $24 billion investment. It is expected to support about 3,000 jobs in the area.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D.Wash.), praised the decision Thursday, calling it critical for protecting both jobs and the Columbia River from radioactive waste.

“The Department of Energy heard our history lesson and made the right decision to protect 3,000 jobs and support the over 20-year, $24 billion investment we made to

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