This is an aerial view of a portion of the Chem Nuclear Radioactive Waste Landfill near Barnwell, South Carolina.
SCELP is working with Columbia attorney Bob Guild to represent Sierra Club in an appeal of the renewal of the permit for the Chem-Nuclear low level radioactive waste landfill near Barnwell.
The Chem Nuclear landfill in Barnwell has a convoluted history and is a symbol of South Carolina’s status as the nation’s dumping ground. Opened in 1971, it is only one of three low level radioactive waste landfills in the country. It was limited to regional use and slated for closure in 1992 under the former Governor Richard Riley’s 1982 Southeast Interstate Low Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact. The closure deadline was extended twice by former Governor Carroll Campbell, and then former Governor David Beasley scrapped the Compact and opened the facility to the entire nation.
Under a law promoted by former Governor Jim Hodges, it is now limited to waste from the Atlantic Compact states of New Jersey and Connecticut, and a limited amount from other states.
Our appeal challenges the operating conditions of the permit. The landfill operates under an old design that does not incorporate all appropriate modern safeguards to protect the environment and human health from radiation. If the landfill is to continue operating, we believe that it is time for it to employ the safest practical safeguards.
Our appeal was heard on February 16-18 and February 22, 2005 in the Administrative Law Court.
Chem-Nuclear is seeking to expand its radioactive waste landfill. To help educate legislators and citizens, SCELP has put together Special Reprint of our newsletter articles on this leaking landfill.
See Robert Ariail's editorial cartoon from The State on March 4, 2007.