Activists Appeal Decision To Leave Radioactive Waste at Sandia National Labs Landfill

ABQJOURNAL: Activists Appeal Decision To Leave Radioactive Waste at Sandia National Labs Landfill: "Activists Appeal Decision To Leave Radioactive Waste at Sandia National Labs Landfill


Associated Press
A group of activists has filed an appeal in the state Court of Appeals over an Environment Department decision to leave radioactive waste in a Sandia National Laboratories landfill.
Sue Dayton, director of Citizen Action, said the landfill is 'a dangerous dump where both radioactive and other hazardous wastes were haphazardly disposed of for a period of almost 30 years.''
Up to 250 drums' worth of 'transuranic waste'' lies in the landfill, members said, citing a report by a Sandia consultant. Such waste is usually sent to a radioactive waste disposal center, they say.
In May, State Environment Secretary Ron Curry ruled the waste is safe at the labs as long as the landfill is covered to keep water out.
Any dangerous chemicals that might leak from the landfill are being monitored.
That means 'strong actions will be taken to limit exposure to waste and to closely watch this site into the future so that it does not pose a health hazard,'' Curry said in a statement.
Sandia officials have said the amount of waste in the landfill is not enough to warrant a federal cleanup. but declined to comment on the appeal Monday.
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