Radioactive Waste from WWII in Michigan

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – In a significant development, Wayne County is set to receive thousands of tons of radioactive waste linked to the Manhattan Project, with transport scheduled for September. The waste, primarily consisting of soil and potentially some concrete, is being moved from Niagara Falls, a historical site of atomic bomb production during World War II. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has conducted public meetings in Western New York to outline the cleanup and transportation process to the Republic Services facility located at I-94 and Belleville Road. Brent LaSpada, a planner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, indicated that approximately 6,000 cubic yards of material will be transported. The Wayne Disposal facility is classified as a Subtitle C landfill, designed with advanced safety measures and subject to rigorous inspections to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The facility is equipped to handle the radioactive waste responsibly, adhering to local, state, and federal guidelines. The transport of the radioactive materials is regulated by the Department of Transportation, which mandates extensive training for transporters. This comes in the wake of last year's public backlash against plans to send toxic waste from the East Palestine train derailment to the same facility, a move that was halted following strong opposition from local officials, including Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. In a recent statement, Evans expressed his disapproval of the incoming hazardous materials, highlighting the community's ongoing struggle with pollution and the legacy of being a dumping ground for hazardous waste. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) remains committed to safeguarding public health and the environment from the impacts of radioactive materials.