Photo: Nathan J. Fish ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Aug. 20, 2024 ~ A landfill in Wayne County, Michigan, is set to receive a significant amount of radioactive soil and groundwater from a site in New York associated with the Manhattan Project, the World War II initiative that developed the atomic bomb. This development has sparked concern among local leaders and residents, who are questioning why they were not informed in advance about the incoming hazardous material.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans disclosed that the shipment includes approximately six thousand cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete, along with four thousand gallons of radioactive groundwater. Despite the concerns, the Wayne County facility is fully licensed by both state and local authorities to handle such materials.
PODCAST:
Aug. 20, 2024 ~ A landfill in Wayne County is set to receive contaminated soil and groundwater from the Manhattan Project site in New York. Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie talk with WJR Senior News Analyst Marie Osborne about concerns from local leaders and residents about how the waste from the World War II initiative that developed the atomic bomb is being transported to and stored in Michigan.
(CONTINUED) The transportation of this waste will involve around 25 semi-trucks per week traveling on public roads and highways from New York to Michigan, continuing through January of next year. This has raised additional safety and environmental concerns among the community.
The landfill has assured the public that the facility is engineered with the safety measures necessary, and that regular inspections and tests are in place to assure the safety of the community. Furthermore, a 2018 revision to Michigan’s environmental laws has imposed additional monitoring requirements on landfills that accept waste with elevated levels of contamination.
As the community grapples with this news, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and transparency of the waste disposal process. Local leaders are calling for more communication and oversight to address the public’s concerns and maintain trust in the handling of such sensitive materials.
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