[NukeNet] Radioactive Sludge OK for Landfill Dumping

[Mike Ewall]

This is near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  While the shipment was 
temporarily suspended, the NRC and our state environmental agency 
permitted this and is allowing deregulated nuclear waste in our 
state's landfills and incinerators.


http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-07222008-1566320.html

Radioactive waste plan 'suspended'
(Tue, Jul/22/2008)

TULLYTOWN / FALLS - Waste Management has "suspended" plans to dump 
750 tons of radioactive sludge at its landfills in Falls and 
Tullytown after news reports in the Courier Times.

The landfill operator said it received a "surprising" public response 
to the project, which was authorized by both the state Department of 
Environmental Protection and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The 
radiated material originated at the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant.

"For the time being we will be suspending this project until such 
time as we can address the concerns of the public," said company 
spokeswoman Gerri Rush.

In addition to seeking federal and state authorization, WMI said 
notices were sent to Falls, Tullytown and the county health 
department. Officials in Tullytown were nonetheless outraged by what 
the DEP called a "public" permit process.

Tullytown Manager Andy Warren said the borough received an 
"innocuous" two paragraph letter from Waste Management that appeared 
to be "a typical permit for borough waste disposal." The letter was 
also addressed to someone who no longer sat on council, he added.

"What is ironic is that if a borough resident wanted to put an 
addition on his or her house, a zoning hearing would be necessary and 
require a certified letter to neighbors ... but 750 tons of 
radioactive waste doesn't even warrant a telephone call to the host 
community," said Warren.

County officials said they were still reviewing their records for the 
WMI permit Monday. The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Falls' 
manager for comment.

The DEP said it advertised the Waste Management permit application in 
the Pennsylvania Bulletin, "the state's official gazette for information."

The Tullytown Council said it would fight any plans for radioactive 
waste. Council members Joseph Shellenberger, Ed Armstrong, Ed Czyzyk 
and George Fox sent a letter to the newspaper, state and federal 
officials Monday morning expressing their "concern and disappointment."

"In spite of claims to the contrary, as elected officials we were not 
but should have been directly and forthrightly informed before, 
during and after the radioactive sludge disposal application 
process," the letter said. "We stand united with our residents in 
demanding that Waste Management not engage in accepting this 
radioactive sludge until more information is forthcoming," the letter 
continued.

Waste Management said it planned to transport sludge laced with 
radioactive Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60 in special "super sack, 
polyethylene bags." The material would fill about 55 transport trucks 
and dumping was scheduled to start this week, WMI officials said. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission senior health physicist Betsy Ulrich 
said the "extremely small quantities" of radiation in the sludge pose 
an "extremely small risk" to the public.

The DEP's chief of radiation protection, David Allard, said, "No 
increased risk of exposure of radiation [exists]" — even for truckers 
and landfill operators who will handle the bagged material.

Environmental groups were nonetheless disturbed by the plan to import 
the radioactive materials to a municipal landfill along the Delaware 
River. James Browning, state director of the Public Interest Research 
Group known as PIRG, said he worried that WMI's approval could open 
the door for radioactive deposits at other municipal landfills.

Radioactive materials decay at an exponential rate every so many 
years. Unstable material with a half-life of 30 years will give off 
50 percent less radiation every three decades. Cesium 123 has a 
half-life of 30 years and is commonly found in nuclear fallout, 
according to the NRC. Cobalt-60 is commonly used in cancer therapy 
and has a half-life of 5.3 years.

Before making any decision on the radiation, Waste Management said it 
would notify the public.

James McGinnis can be reached at 215-949-3248 or jmcginnis at phillyBurbs.com.


Mike Ewall
Energy Justice Network
215-743-4884
catalyst at actionpa.org
http://www.energyjustice.net