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Lockdown at Hanford nuclear site lifted after reports of shots fired

Police responded to reports of shots fired at the Hanford nuclear site in eastern Washington. An investigation continues.

Editor's Note: The video above was originally published in 2017.

RICHLAND, Wash. - Personnel at the Hanford nuclear site in eastern Washington were allowed to return to work Tuesday afternoon after reports of shots fired.

An investigation continues at the 2750E Building, an administrative office, where the incident occurred.

Earlier in the day, access to the site was restricted and all personnel were directed to go indoors. Employees in nearby buildings are in lockdown.

The Hanford site initially said there was a report of a “possible active shooter.” A message on the Hanford website says, “There is no confirmation of shots fired at this time.”

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The Benton County Sheriff's Office said law enforcement searched the area and did not locate any victims inside the building or any evidence of shots being fired. 

Hanford Patrol is also on scene investigating. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Richland Operations Office are monitoring the incident.

Hanford is the most contaminated worksite in the country. It was where plutonium for the nation’s nuclear weapons was produced for roughly 40 years. Since the late 1980s, Hanford has been strictly a clean-up site.

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