The agencies negotiating major changes to the Tri-Party Agreement for Hanford cleanup are "cautiously optimistic" their talks will result in a resolution, said Erik Olds of the Department of Energy, speaking for the three agencies Thursday. He provided an update to the Hanford Advisory Board.

Discussions are continuing at the highest levels of individual agencies, he said. Representatives from DOE, the state of Washington and the federal Environmental Protection Agency plan to meet again in the next couple of weeks.

Two months ago, the three agencies produced an outline of changes proposed for the legally binding agreement, making a lawsuit to force DOE to clean up Hanford unlikely, said Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Negotiations began in May 2007 on major changes to the agreement as it became clear DOE could not meet some major cleanup deadlines it requires. The state said then that it preferred negotiations to legal action but didn't rule out a lawsuit if negotiations failed.

The Hanford Advisory Board meeting continues today at 8:30 a.m. at the Richland Red Lion.