Public information session scheduled about increase in activity at Parks Township nuclear waste dump

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that it will hold a public information session about an increase in activity at the Shallow Land Disposal Area in Parks Township.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Parks Township fire department, 1119 Dalmation Drive.

Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp., commonly known as NUMEC, disposed of radioactive waste on the 44-acre site along Route 66 between 1960 and 1970. Low-level radioactive materials were produced primarily for fuel for nuclear-powered submarines and power plants.

Cleanup plans have been in the works since the 1990s.

According to the corps, people living near the site will continue to see an increase in vehicle traffic, site workers, equipment, signage and maintenance activities over the next 12 to 18 months.

As contractors prepare the site for remediation, they will bring in stone for a new administrative base and grade the site.

Construction on the site will include buildings to enclose future trench excavations and to process excavated materials for off-site shipment, a wastewater treatment plant, delivery and installation of administrative trailers, and an on-site laboratory.

Site preparation activities will continue through 2024 to prepare for the remediation, which includes removal and off-site disposal of contaminated soil and waste.

Contractors are expected to start the remediation in 2025.

More information is available on the SLDA website. Documents about the study, site testing and removal plans are also available at Apollo Memorial Library, 219 N. Pennsylvania Ave.