Wayne County Residents Rally Against Manhattan Project Waste Disposal
Van Buren Township — Residents gathered on Wednesday at the Wayne County Community College District’s Ted Scott campus to voice their opposition to plans for dumping radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project in their community. The meeting, held in an auditorium packed with concerned citizens, highlighted the strong sentiment against the project as officials explained the situation.
Community Concerns About Health and Safety
Community leaders, including U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, addressed the crowd, which was primarily comprised of local residents expressing their fears. Many attendees were shocked to learn that radioactive soil and rubble from a cleanup site in New York would be accepted at the Wayne Disposal Inc. facility in their area.
“I understand there has to be a place to put this stuff, but why aren’t we talking about Montana, or the desert?” asked Susan Stauch of Van Buren Township as she left the meeting. “This is a highly populated area. Why would you put it here?”
Among those worried is Ta’i Loving, also from Van Buren Township. She lives only three miles from the proposed disposal site and has been an avid gardener for 25 years. “When something happens, how is that going to affect us?” she questioned. “Why is it being moved?” Mrs. Loving’s concern reflects a broader unease about the effects of hazardous waste on local environments and health.
The Background of the Waste and Disposal Plan
The radioactive waste comes from the Niagara Falls Storage Site in New York, which has been in use since 1944 to store waste from uranium processing during the development of the atomic bomb. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in charge of this cleanup as part of a larger initiative to address contamination at various sites across the country.
During the town hall, several officials explained that the soil and concrete were only slightly radioactive. According to Liz Browne, a director with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, samples analyzed in August were deemed acceptable for disposal at the Wayne site. However, many residents were still uneasy, fearing for their neighborhoods and health.
Responses from Local and State Officials
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans acknowledged the community’s unease, stating, “When you talk about atomic waste and nuclear waste, that is a whole different gut reaction that we get.” This sentiment resonated with residents, especially in light of previous instances where hazardous waste was shipped to Wayne County.
Leslie Evans from Northville spoke out, stating, “We are what they’re saying – a dumping ground for other states.” She, along with others, called for increased fees for waste disposal to help protect Michigan from becoming a repository for waste from outside states. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has previously proposed an increase in “tipping fees” to fund environmental projects, but that plan has yet to move forward.
Plans and Next Steps for the Community
Local leaders, including commissioners, have promised to pursue more transparent communication regarding hazardous waste shipments in the future. Evans stated that the community should have a more significant say in these matters.
The first phase of the Niagara Falls cleanup involves approximately 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete, with future cleanup phases likely to include higher levels of radioactive waste. However, project managers noted that much of this waste is planned to be disposed of elsewhere, as waste moved to Michigan is thought to be of lower activity.
In Conclusion
As residents left the town hall meeting, it was clear that fear over potential health risks and environmental impact would continue to loom large as the disposal of Manhattan Project waste makes its way to Wayne County. Many voiced their hope for more robust safeguards and communication going forward, as community leaders promised to listen to their concerns and take action to ensure public safety.
