VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – Radioactive waste from the production of the atomic bomb in World War II comes to Wayne County.
In September, thousands of tons of the toxic material will be brought to Republic Services’ facility in Van Buren Township.
The radioactive waste comes from Niagara Falls, one of the sites of the Manhattan Project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held several public meetings in western New York State to discuss the cleanup process and the transportation of radioactive material to the landfill at I-94 and Belleville Road.
Andres Gutierrez/CBS Detroit
The problem, however, is that no one living near the landfill knew about it.
“Mostly dirt, possibly some concrete that was on the site,” said Brent LaSpada, planning director for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “I estimate it’s about 550 cubic yards.”
According to LaSpada, the toxic waste is transported in dump trucks specially equipped to transport such loads and marked with signs indicating the level of radioactive material.
“Basically, it’s a qualified disposal facility. The material is kind of their bread and butter that they accept,” LaSpada said.
A representative of Republic Services, the operator of the landfill, gave the following statement to CBS News Detroit:
“Environmental remediation projects require facilities equipped to handle material responsibly. Waste streams, such as the material from the Niagara Falls Storage Site, must be placed in the right location to ensure they are handled safely and according to regulations.
Wayne Disposal is a highly engineered Subtitle C landfill that includes numerous safety measures and regular inspections and system testing to ensure everything is operating as designed. The material accepted by the Niagara Falls Storage Site meets permitting guidelines and is handled safely, responsibly and in compliance with all local, state and federal regulations. The Department of Transportation regulates the transportation of materials from the time of loading to delivery to our facility and transportation workers receive extensive training.”
Last year, the EPA halted plans to transport toxic waste from the East Palestine train crash to the plant after public protests, including from Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.
On Monday, Evans released a lengthy statement expressing his strong opposition to the transportation and disposal of these hazardous materials. In it, he wrote, in part, “Unfortunately, our residents have become accustomed to the polluted air, soil and water that result from serving as a dumping ground for other people’s hazardous waste. In part because of this environmental injustice, our residents are experiencing higher rates of asthma, lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes and other complications.”
EGLE, the Michigan regulator responsible for these matters, issued the following statement:
“EGLE is committed to protecting public health and the environment from radioactive substances.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project with Wayne Disposal complies with state environmental protection laws and does not pose a significant threat to public health or the environment.
The materials destined for Wayne Disposal are soil and rubble that still contain residual radioactivity from uranium processing during World War II.
The waste destined for Wayne Disposal is not subject to federal radioactive waste disposal regulations and its concentrations are well below those permitted in the permit.”
Late Monday afternoon, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell said she would now intervene and demand answers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about its decision.
Andres Gutierrez
