According to the commission, the hole goes six feet down into the soil below the Westinghouse factory’s concrete floor. While the commission cannot yet say whether the toxic substance has leached into the area’s groundwater, agency records show that the soil beneath the plant contains 1,300 times the amount of uranium typically found in soil.
The commission learned of the leak on July 12, and still does not have results on recent groundwater tests, which would show whether pollution had washed into the area’s water supply.
State Department of Health and Environmental Control officials said that the leak does not pose a threat to local water supplies, but activists are concerned that Congaree National Park, a vast wetland just several miles from the plant, may be contaminated.
“It’s a pretty big concern if you have an unknown quantity of material containing uranium leaching into the groundwater,” local anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements told The State. Exposure to uranium can cause kidney failure and can increase a person’s risk of cancer.
The Westinghouse fuel factory turns uranium into several types of fuel for nuclear reactors. Fuel manufactured at the South Carolina facility is used in nuclear reactors in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Despite boasting that “no company is more focused on nuclear fuel reliability,” Westinghouse’s South Carolina factory has seen its share of safety foul-ups in the past. The plant was shut down two years ago following a uranium build-up in an air pollution control device.
Last year, a hose malfunction sprayed a worker with a toxic solution, sending him fleeing to an emergency decontamination shower. In both cases, the company resolved to hire new management and overhaul its safety procedures.
The factory has been operational for almost five decades, and is one of a handful of nuclear fuel factories in the US. At present, its federal operating license is up for renewal.
The plant is still operating, but the section where the hole was discovered has been shut down until repairs can be completed.
Davy on Thu, 26th Jul 2018 7:51 pm
Is there an “excptionalturd” troll enabler or per your double standards that is ok cause he is one of yours.
I have said many things and you have said noting greggor you piece of shit waste of time. You can’t even say anything to debate because I guess you are worried about being educated. It has been 3 plus days greggor since anything intelligent came out of your mouth. Since then it has been troll baiting.
GregT on Thu, 26th Jul 2018 8:33 pm
My username on this forum is not greggor, Davy. I am not a piece of shit, or a waste of time. I am not the least bit ‘worried about being educated’, that is the reason why I consider other people’s opinions and points of view, even if I don’t always agree with them. I am not baiting you Davy, I am calling you out on your delusions, bullying, and lies.
Go Speed Racer on Fri, 27th Jul 2018 4:25 am
Me and twocats, are going to solve that
little problem with radioactive dirt.
What we will do
is line up 7 or 8 old sofa’s and
old recliners in a vacant lot.
If we sprinkle that contaminated soil
all over the sofa cushions and then we
light it all off with a can of gas,
The sofa fire will dry out that contaminated
soil and the black smoke will carry away
the radiation,
At the very end all that will be left is
a pile of old metal coil springs and
some black ash.
It’s important to not let every little
radiation leak, turn into a multi-
million dollar boondoggle.
twocats on Fri, 27th Jul 2018 8:38 am
“State Department of Health and Environmental Control officials said that the leak does not pose a threat to local water supplies,”
show me one, I dare you, one time, one single time that a “State Department of Deception and Everything is Fine Folks” has ever EVER said that a nuclear leak poses a threat to local water supplies.