Tri-City Herald: Local -
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Published on: 1/20/2005
Last Visited: 1/20/2005
"This is big," said Michael Dunlop, chief financial officer of IsoRay.
In October, a University of Washington doctor used the IsoRay seeds to treat the first patient.IsoRay then announced plans to build a production facility in the Tri-Cities to open by early fall 2005 and to increase its employees from 16 to about 250 during the next 24 to 30 months.
IsoRay ordered a hot cell to be built in Eastern Idaho and shipped to the Tri-Cities for its new plant.
Then "I-297 hit us between the eyes Dec. 1," Dunlop said."Prior to that time, we had no thought but to establish our manufacturing base and company in the Tri-Cities."
IsoRay remains concerned that the few gallons of radioactive and hazardous wastes produced during production each year at the national lab would not be allowed to go to Hanford as planned.
"Our overhanging concern is the political climate," Dunlop said.
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"With the package they are offering, it may make it attractive," Dunlop said, although he added moving from the Tri-Cities would be "a very traumatic and expensive thing."