State health officials say they will "seek significant civil penalties" against companies "responsible for the illicit dumping" of radioactive waste in Estill and Greenup counties.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which has authority over radioactive waste, “intends to impose the harshest civil penalties available under the law against all those responsible for the illegal dumping of waste in the Commonwealth,” Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson said in a press release. “We will not tolerate any actions that threaten the health and well-being of our citizens.” She said there are no immediate threats to public health.
One company named in the release is Advanced TENORM Services, which disposed of radioactive brine produced in oil and gas drilling at the Blue Ridge Landfill in Estill County. (TENORM stands for "technologically enhanced, naturally occurring radioactive material.") The other is Fairmont Brine, which sent similar but less potent waste to the Green Valley Landfill in Greenup County.
Tests at Blue Ridge "showed no evidence that the TENORM dumping led to radiation or radioactive contamination above federal and state safety limits," the release said. It said the cabinet is "working with the Energy and Environment Cabinet and Blue Ridge’s attorney and management to remediate and/or manage the landfill property and ensure that the property remains safe for workers and the general public, regarding both in-state and out-of-state (illegal) TENORM waste," and is "working with outside entities to perform dose assessments on the workers at the landfill. The preliminary results indicate that the workers are not at risk for any negative outcomes."
Attorney General Andy Beshear decided not to seek criminal penalties against either dumper, citing "insufficient evidence." Beshear said he asked the health cabinet for authorization to seek civil penalties, but the cabinet declined, saying it would handle that.
The Energy and Environment Cabinet has created an Oil and Gas Workgroup to draft regulations on disposal of naturally occurring radioactive waste. It is supposed to deliver a report to the legislature in December 2016.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which has authority over radioactive waste, “intends to impose the harshest civil penalties available under the law against all those responsible for the illegal dumping of waste in the Commonwealth,” Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson said in a press release. “We will not tolerate any actions that threaten the health and well-being of our citizens.” She said there are no immediate threats to public health.
One company named in the release is Advanced TENORM Services, which disposed of radioactive brine produced in oil and gas drilling at the Blue Ridge Landfill in Estill County. (TENORM stands for "technologically enhanced, naturally occurring radioactive material.") The other is Fairmont Brine, which sent similar but less potent waste to the Green Valley Landfill in Greenup County.
Tests at Blue Ridge "showed no evidence that the TENORM dumping led to radiation or radioactive contamination above federal and state safety limits," the release said. It said the cabinet is "working with the Energy and Environment Cabinet and Blue Ridge’s attorney and management to remediate and/or manage the landfill property and ensure that the property remains safe for workers and the general public, regarding both in-state and out-of-state (illegal) TENORM waste," and is "working with outside entities to perform dose assessments on the workers at the landfill. The preliminary results indicate that the workers are not at risk for any negative outcomes."
Attorney General Andy Beshear decided not to seek criminal penalties against either dumper, citing "insufficient evidence." Beshear said he asked the health cabinet for authorization to seek civil penalties, but the cabinet declined, saying it would handle that.
The Energy and Environment Cabinet has created an Oil and Gas Workgroup to draft regulations on disposal of naturally occurring radioactive waste. It is supposed to deliver a report to the legislature in December 2016.
from Kentucky Health News http://ift.tt/29SzUeY Health cabinet says it will seek heavy penalties for dumping in Estill and Greenup of radioactive brine from oil and gas drillingHealthy Care
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