The United States government has agreed to improve conditions at the Hanford Nuclear site in Washington as part of a settlement reached yesterday between the United States Energy Department and the state of Washington, Hanford Challenge (a watchdog group for worker safety), and the pipefitters union Local 598.

The Hanford nuclear site produced 70 percent of plutonium to stock the country’s nuclear arsenal and has 177 underground tanks containing 54 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste.

Workers at the site have fallen ill because of the nuclear waste pollution, and they alleged that the United States Department of Energy did not put the proper protections in place for workers. The state, the Hanford Challenge and the union sued the Energy Department and their contractor seeking better protection for workers who are at risk of inhaling vapors and gases that leaked from underground storage tanks.

The agency is going to pay $925,000 in fees and costs to Washington and the Hanford Challenge.

The government is going to test and implement a new vapor monitoring and alarm system that catches and eliminates vapors released at the site, as well as maintain existing safety measures like supplying air and respirators. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson told reporters that this new technology was “game-changing” and would protect workers.

This agreement puts that suit on hold while they test and implement a new system, and Ferguson says if the system does not meet obligations the suit could resume.

Read more from the Associated Press.