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Nuclear Waste Cleanup Begins After Decades of Neglect
15 Apr
Summary
- Cleanup of nuclear waste dump in Armstrong County starts this week.
- A half-billion dollar project will safely remove radioactive material.
- Remediation is expected to take six to eight years to complete.
After decades of protests and health concerns, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has initiated a massive cleanup of a nuclear waste dump in Armstrong County. This week marks the beginning of a half-billion-dollar project to safely remove hundreds of 55-gallon drums filled with radioactive material that were buried in 10 trenches.
The remediation effort, expected to last six to eight years, involves carefully removing contaminated soil in six-inch layers. This material is then packaged, tested, and transported weekly by truck and rail to a permanent underground storage facility in Utah. The Army Corps of Engineers emphasizes its commitment to fully remediating the site, with over $400 million already invested.
To ensure the safety of nearby residents, a three-tiered protection system is in place, including enclosures over the trenches, on-site air monitors, and a water treatment plant. These measures are designed to prevent any escape of radioactive material. Despite these precautions, some residents remain concerned about the long-term impact of living near the former dumping ground.
