I'm not personally familiar with the Hanford Reach, but I know people paddle that section in their sea kayaks because it's basically Class I. If there are rapids, it probably a riffle. I have heard that it is beautiful and one of the last untouched by man area in WA State. I guess there is a benefit to having a nearby nuclear reactor and nuclear waste dumping site.

You can make a two day trip of it, putting in at the vernita bridge and taking out at leslie groves in richland. It's a long trip, but the shuttle is easier. That trip is also possible to do in one day in the spring when the river is high (I've heard of a local doing the run in one day and biking the shuttle, but unless you're training for some sort of hellish marathon or triathalon that doesn't sound like much fun).

The spill has been capped and they're working on a cleanup plan for it, so it shouldn't affect the run. Besides, it occurred miles from the river, in one of the tank farms.

I wouldn't get out on the bank anyways. Not too fond of being on the other end of the shoot first ask questions later policy around high level radioactive materials.