Radiological Recycling Center Cited In Past For Safety Violations

The state of Tennessee is closely monitoring the transfer or decommissioning of the American Ecology Recycling Center in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

According to a state radiological health official, the center has been cited "frequently" for safety violations of "varying" degrees of severity for its operations, dating back to the mid-1980s when it was owned by Quadrex Corp. American Ecology Corp. bought the plant in 1994.

"The state visited the site Monday (Dec. 30, 2002) to simply get a look at the status of the site," said Mark Andrews, supervisor of the Knoxville Environmental Assistance Center for the state's Division of Radiological Health.

"We had sketchy information at first and wanted to get a feel for what was going on at the site and make sure they have adequate staffing to maintain radiological surveillance and to assure protection of the public from radiation.

"At this point in time it appears there are representatives from the company at the site."

On Dec. 27 the parent company announced plans to discontinue work at the center, and immediately laid off 63 of its 90 workers. The property is up for sale.

According to an April 3, 2002, letter from the state to the company, dose levels at the fence line bordering the Hendrix Creek neighborhood exceeded the 100 millirem/year limit in 1999 and in 2000.

A millirem (or milli roentgen equivalent in man or mammals) is a unit for measuring absorbed doses of radiation. For comparison, the average yearly dose to U.S. citizens from all sources of natural background radiation is 300 millirem.

The company responded in a May 14, 2002, letter that "The Hendrix Creek fence line exposure appears to be under control." The company stated that from March 1 to May 10, 2002, measurements "projected 16.4 mrem exposure to the maximum exposed individual."

Other violations outlined in the state's letter include the storage of radioactive material on the site for longer than the time period allowed, incomplete documentation and delays in completing documentation and lack of sampling for certain airborne particulates during operations.

Andrews said that though violations have been frequent, the company has responded to the state's requests for inspection and information.

On Aug. 8, 2002, American Ecology Corp. entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee to a single felony count of storing hazardous waste without the necessary permit from 1997 to 2000, according to a company statement.

On Aug. 26 the company signed a five-year collective bargaining agreement with Paper Allied Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union at the Oak Ridge facility.