Dumping Sites

Nuclear Waste Storage in the U.S.

Current Situation:

90,000 tons of nuclear waste are stored at over 100 sites across 39 states
The nation is trying to send it all to one secure location.

Yucca Mountain (NV):

-1987 federal law, Yucca Mountain (NV) was originally supposed to be a permanent disposal site for nuclear waste.

- In 2002, this area was declared to be suitable for the nation's permanent radioactive waste site.

- The plan was to bury radioactive waste in tunnels deep within the mountain. Yet concerns rose regarding the safe transportation of nuclear waste, and growing concerns about radioactive waste contaminating the surrounding soil.

-As of 2011, this project has been suspended due to political and legal challenges that have led to construction delays. Work was barely started before funding was discontinued.

Current and Future Challenges:

94 nuclear reactors are operating at 54 power plants, generating more radioactive waste. New public interest is giving rise to new urgency in an effort to find a place to put the waste.
March 2025- The US Supreme Court listened to arguments and concerns about the effort to find a temporary storage location for the nation's nuclear waste, ruling was expected in late June.
There are two forms of radioactive waste in the US:

Waste from making nuclear weapons during the Cold War:

- - Mostly stored in underground steel tanks, it will eventually be processed with glass; a great amount remains untreated
  - Some waste has leaked from the tanks buried underground, leaking radioactive material into the soil

Waste from Nuclear Power Generation:

- - Stored as bundles of nuclear fuel rods and as dry storage casks in concrete vaults above ground
  - Must be secured and maintained by the power company owning the nuclear plant

Nuclear plants need water for cooling, so they are often near water sources. Nine U.S. plants are within two miles of the ocean. Saltwater can corrode storage containers, but leaks would also require damage to the zirconium and fuel. The goal is to find a stable, long-term site for nuclear waste storage.

How and Where is Nuclear Waste Stored in the U.S.?

Locations of Low-Level Waste Disposal Facilities

EnergySolutions Barnwell Operations (Barnwell, SC)
- Accepts waste from Atlantic compact states (CT, NJ, SC), licensed to dispose of Class A, B, and C waste

2. U.S. Ecology (Richland, WA)

Accepts waste from Northwest and Rocky Mountain compacts, licensed to dispose of Class A, B, and C waste

3. EnergySolutions Cliver Operations (Clive, UT)

Accepts waste from all regions of the U.S., licensed to Class A waste only

4. Waste Control Specialists (WCS) LLC (near Andrews, TX)

Accepts waste from Texas compact generators and outside generators (must have permission from the compact), licensed to dispose of Class A, B, and C waste

Class A Waste: Waste segregated from other waste at the disposal site. Physical form and characteristics meet minimum requirements and stability requirements for 61.56(a). If stable, segregation is not required.

Class B Waste: Meets more requirements to ensure stability after disposal, physical form and characteristics must meet the minimum and stability requirements of 61.56.

Class C Waste: Meets stricter waste form requirements to ensure stability and additional criteria at the disposal facility to protect against intrusion.

61.56: Considers long-lived radionuclides' concentration, potential hazards after precautionary measures, and consideration of shorter-lived radionuclides in which requirements on institutional controls, waste form, and disposal methods are effective.

Historic Timeline of Toxic waste in STl

STL was a major part of the creation of the Atomic Bomb.
STL has many contaminated waste storage sites that harm the environment and the population.
- 1942-1957: WWII nuclear weapon waste was dumped at several U.S. sites, including STL, harming the population and environment. These sites still currently exist.
- 1942: A Secret meeting to purify large amounts of uranium to create atomic bombs to help the US, resulted in STL producing a ton of uranium daily
- 1946: A 21.74-acre plot near STL Airport (SLAPS) was bought by the federal government and used as a dump for contaminated waste in rusted barrels; however, waste was too hazardous to transfer without risking worker safety.
- Cold Water Creek runs adjacent to SLAPS and became contaminated due to exposure.
- 1949: The government knew the radioactive waste at SLAPS was hazardous and that Cold Water Creek was nearby, posing a risk of contamination to residents.
- 1953: A radioactive spill on HWY 66, transporting waste from SLAPS, contaminated the soil, but residents were told it was safe, and firefighters sprayed it off.
- 1954: The US captures 60 tons of Japanese-made uranium and brings it to SLAPS
- 1957: The Mallinckrodt facility contained toxic waste in STL, which became out of control, and the waste was taken to SLAPS.
- 1957-1966: The Weldon Spring Uranium Plant was built to process uranium for atomic bombs. From 1963 to 1969, the contaminated waste was dumped into a quarry that was part of Weldon Springs, worsening the contamination.
- 1958-1966: General Steels Casting Corp x-rays uranium ingots to detect metallurgical flaws; the site was remediated
- 1965: Survey of SLAPS finds 121,000 tons of residue from uranium at Mallinckrodt processing site, 15 miles from downtown STL
- 1966: Mallinckrodt stops uranium processing, buries contaminated waste 1-3 feet under uncontaminated material.
- 1966: SLAPS was demolished, and toxic waste was buried, causing runoff that pollutes water, air, and the environment. Some of SLAPS waste was moved to Hazelwood; however, it was moved improperly and spread the contamination along the route.
- 1973: SLAPS and Hazelwood waste were illegally dumped at West Lake Landfill.
- 1973: 40,000 tons of contaminated dirt were dropped at West Lake Landfill in STL.
- 1977: The government started a nationwide cleanup. West Lake Landfill is deemed safe but remains contaminated.
- 1979: 13,000 cubic yards of radioactive waste were moved from the west to the east side of the Latty Ave site.
- 1981: EPA declares Cold Water Creek as one of the most polluted U.S. waterways, deemed as "requiring cleaning beyond a specific legal requirement to protect human health."
- 1988: West Lake Landfill is deemed a hazard.
- 1989: Study of Coldwater Cree shows low levels of radiation in water.
- 1990: EPA and DOE sign an agreement to schedule WWII waste site remediation. The West Lake Landfill was also added to the Superfund National Priorities List due to the high score on the EPA's Hazardous Ranking System.
- 1994: The STL site remediation task force is created to involve citizens in cleanup, waste disposal, and FURSAP site actions.
- 1996: 750 cubic yards of contaminated soil removed from SLDS to a licensed facility in Utah.
- 1998: 15,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil were removed from the Mallinckrodt plant and sent to a licensed facility. The government decontaminated and demolished Building K.

2010-2011: Community concerns led to a push for testing at West Lake Landfill.
2010: Bridgeton Landfill catches fire, releasing fumes and radioactive contamination.

- 2011-2013: Cold Water Creek residents report high numbers of cancers and diseases.
- 2015: Fire at West Lake Landfill from Bridgeton Landfill fire
- 2018-2022: Radioactive material found at Jana Elementary, a school within Cold Water Creek’s floodplain.
- 2018: The EPA proposes the "Excavation Plus" plan to remove 70% of the waste and cover the landfill.
- 2022: Homes near Jana Elementary were tested and found to have traces of radiation from the creek flooding. Jana Elementary was permanently shut down after this.

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