Wayne County Plans Public Meeting on Radioactive Waste Storage in Van Buren Township

Wayne County Plans Public Meeting on Radioactive Waste Storage in Van Buren Township

Detroit, Michigan – Wayne County is set to hold a public meeting regarding a contentious proposal to store hazardous and radioactive waste at a landfill in Van Buren Township. The meeting will take place on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Guardian Building located at 500 Griswold St. in Detroit. This discussion comes in light of plans announced by Wayne Disposal, which proposes to bring in 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete along with 4,000 gallons of radioactive groundwater from a site in New York that was part of the Manhattan Project during World War II.

Concerns Among Officials

The proposal has raised alarms among various local officials, who express concerns about the dangers posed by transporting nuclear waste into their community. Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell stated, “Transferring nuclear waste poses a serious threat to residents in the area and throughout our county. We want to make sure their voices are heard.” She emphasized that Wayne County, being the 19th most-populated county in the United States, is not a suitable location for such hazardous materials, especially given its proximity to a significant supply of freshwater.

Among those participating in the public meeting will be environmental experts like Elizabeth Browne from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and Patrick Cullen from the county’s environmental services department. Van Buren Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara is also slated to join the discussion, underscoring the importance of community input on this sensitive issue.

Regulatory Challenges and Legislative Concerns

County Executive Warren Evans has highlighted an ongoing frustration regarding the ease with which waste companies, particularly Arizona-based Republic Services, can bring hazardous materials into Wayne County. “While I understand that these materials have to go somewhere, there needs to be a solution, through new policy or legislation, that doesn’t equal Wayne County as the dumping ground for what no one else wants,” Evans remarked. His statement reflects a broader consensus that Wayne County should not be marginalized as the repository for toxic waste.

Complicating the situation is a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows out-of-state waste to be classified as “articles of commerce,” meaning officials have limited authority to restrict waste from other states. This ruling arose from St. Clair County’s attempts to restrict a landfill from accepting outside garbage, highlighting the challenges state and local leaders face in regulating hazardous waste.

Community Reaction and Future Discussions

State Senator Darrin Camilleri, representing the Trenton area, expressed deep concern over the plan, calling it “alarming.” He and other officials have called for a more extensive discussion about how hazardous waste is managed throughout the country. “We cannot continue to be America’s dumping ground for toxic waste. Our district and our community deserve so much better,” he said. His comments reflect a growing frustration among community leaders and residents about the ongoing challenges posed by waste disposal in the region.

The upcoming meeting will not only focus on local opinions but will also be publicly accessible. It will be livestreamed on the Wayne County Commission’s YouTube page, and residents can join via Zoom. This accessibility aims to encourage more community members to voice their concerns and participate in shaping the future of waste management in Wayne County.

As the public meeting approaches, many in the area are left wondering about the implications of accepting such toxic materials within their communities and what steps can be taken to advocate for safer waste management policies in the region.