Giant nuclear waste dump in Pennsylvania set to be dug up after decades of lawsuits and public outcry

By Andy Sheehan

Updated on: April 15, 2026 / 9:02 AM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

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After decades of cancer cases and public outcry, the federal government this week will begin the long-awaited cleanup of a nuclear waste dump in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

The site in Apollo served as a dumping ground for hundreds of 55-gallon drums containing radioactive nuclear waste, one of the largest such sites in the nation.

Now, after years of protests and multi-million-dollar class action settlements, this week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin the massive job of cleaning it up. 

KDKA got an exclusive look at the painstaking, intensive and expensive process to rid the site of radioactive waste.   

Removing the radioactive waste

Stretching back to the Cold War, volatile material for the U.S. military and nuclear industry was developed and enriched in Apollo, and the waste was stored in 55-gallon drums. Now, hundreds of the drums lie buried in 10 trenches, and experts will spend the next several years removing them and the contaminated soil. 

"We're beginning active remediation," said Col. Nicholas Melin, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District. 

"We're very slowly removing 6-inch layers of material," he explained. 

"The federal government is committed to fully remediating this site. Over $400 million has been invested, and over the next six to eight years, we'll be moving at the speed of safety, very deliberately removing these materials," Melin said. 

Special backhoes will skim that top layer of soil off the top. Then, that soil will be tested for radioactivity, wrapped in special fabric packaging and stored in heavy-metal containers. Every week, trucks will take a half-dozen of the containers to Wampum in Lawrence County, where they will be shipped by rail to Utah to be permanently stored in an underground bunker. 

Protecting the community

To safeguard neighbors, there will be three layers of protection: enclosures over the trenches, on-site air monitors and an on-site water treatment plant to clean groundwater.

"Our final layer of protection is these air and water monitors around the perimeter, which are going to enable us to ensure that nothing escapes the perimeter that shouldn't," Melin said.

Even with all that protection and all the money spent, neighbors like Steve Brown are still nervous. He grew up running and playing near the nuclear waste dump, and still lives nearby in Parks Township, Armstrong County.  

"If they're going to spend that money, they should have just bought the whole village," Brown said. "It'd be cheaper."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the site is near abandoned mines, and the cleanup is essential to contain any potential spread.  

It's said that when this painstaking and costly process is concluded, the site will be as safe as your own backyard, and its legacy as a dumping ground for the nuclear age will be part of history.

Big Win in California! CBG: California lawmakers reject latest bid to lift nuclear moratorium

Good morning everyone,

Please help amplify a relatively sizeable win for the good team out in California: https://www.lassennews.com/california-lawmakers-reject-latest-bid-to-lift-nuclear-moratorium-a-law-that-has-now-stood-for-50-years

NRC Completes Fastest-Ever Reactor License Renewal, Extending Operations To 2050

No: 26-046 April 23, 2026 CONTACT: Office of Public Affairs, 301-415-8200 NRC Completes Fastest-Ever Reactor License Renewal, Extending Operations To 2050 “This milestone proves we can deliver results quickly without compromising safety.” ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating license for a second time for H.B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant Unit 2, marking the fastest license renewal review in agency history and the first completed under new federal timelines aimed at accelerating nuclear energy decisions. The 20-year renewal extends the plant’s authorization to operate through July 2050, allowing the South Carolina facility to generate carbon-free electricity for up to 80 years. The plant’s single pressurized water reactor is operated by Duke Energy Progress LLC. “This milestone proves we can deliver results quickly without compromising safety,” Chairman Ho K. Nieh said. “By focusing on essential factors for sustained nuclear power plant safety and applying lessons learned from past renewals, our team was able to work efficiently while maintaining their commitment to enabling timely safety decisions.” The review was completed within the 12-month timeframe established by Executive Order 14300, cutting six months from the NRC’s previous 18-month schedule, while maintaining the agency’s rigorous safety standards. The NRC conducted its review on parallel tracks, issuing a final supplemental environmental impact statement in March 2026 and a safety evaluation in April 2026. These documents, along with additional details about the renewal, are available on the NRC website.   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency. 26-046.pdf

NRC Announces Opportunity to Request Hearing for Duane Arnold Energy Center Restart License Amendments

 

No: 26-044 April 23, 2026 CONTACT: Office of Public Affairs, 301-415-8200 NRC Expands Wyoming’s Authority Over Key Nuclear Materials as Rare Earth Development Grows ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved an amendment to its agreement with Wyoming, allowing the state to take on expanded regulatory authority over certain radioactive materials tied to mineral processing, an area gaining importance as domestic rare earth development accelerates. Effective April 30, 2026, the amendment enables Wyoming to regulate source material recovered during the processing of minerals such as rare earth elements, where uranium or thorium is not the primary product. This change reflects growing national interest in strengthening U.S. supply chains for critical minerals used in energy, defense, and advanced technologies. “Our amended agreement reaffirms NRC’s commitment to enabling the safe and secure use of nuclear materials through strong partnerships with our state counterparts,” NRC Chairman Ho K. Nieh said. “Effective collaboration between federal and state regulators is fundamental to protecting public health and safety while fostering responsible innovation.” Wyoming has regulated uranium recovery facilities and certain byproduct materials under an NRC agreement since 2018. This amendment expands that authority to include additional source material generated as a byproduct of other mineral processing activities, positioning the state to play a larger role in overseeing emerging sectors such as rare earth production. Following a comprehensive review, the NRC determined Wyoming’s program is adequate to protect public health and safety and compatible with agency requirements. With this approval, the NRC will transfer regulatory authority for this category of materials to the state, including oversight of licensing, inspection, and enforcement. One existing NRC license will be transferred to Wyoming as part of the agreement. A notice of the amendment was published in the Federal Register. Supporting documents and additional information about the NRC’s Agreement State program are available on the NRC website.   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency. 26-044.pdf

 

[decomm_wkg] Department of Energy Seeks to Partner with Private Sector for Used Nuclear Fuel Recycling

 

Department of Energy Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center 550 Main Street, Room 7-010, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202 Media Contacts: Toni Rutherford, Office of Envrionmental Management            April 22, 2026                              Katie Steiger-Meister, Office of Nuclear Energy  Media Mailboxes: IdahoUNF@emcbc.doe.gov, necommunications@nuclear.energy.gov   Department of Energy Seeks to Partner with Private Sector for Used Nuclear Fuel Recycling WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) and Office of Environmental Management (EM) have issued two Requests for Application (RFA) to advance the nation’s capabilities in recycling used nuclear fuel. The RFAs support President Trump’s executive orders to advance efforts to strengthen the nation’s nuclear industrial base and American energy independence. NE’s RFA seeks proposals from industry on detailed plans to leverage the DOE authorization process to design, construct, and operate nuclear fuel recycling, processing, and fuel fabrication to support the deployment of advanced reactors and accelerate American innovation in nuclear material recycling technologies. EM’s RFA seeks visionary proposals from private industry for a commercial-scale demonstration of recycling defense-related used nuclear fuel at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) at the Idaho Site. Both RFAs underscore the administration's belief that American innovation, particularly within the private sector, is key to restoring our nation's nuclear leadership. “Used nuclear fuel represents an immense, untapped energy resource for the United States,” said NE Assistant Secretary Ted Garrish. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is partnering with the private sector in advancing a circular nuclear economy by transforming used fuel from waste into a valuable resource. These efforts are designed to deliver reliable power, reduce waste volumes, and re-energize the commercial nuclear sector to secure American energy dominance.” "This initiative is a testament to President Trump's bold vision for American energy independence and our commitment to an unmatched national security posture," said EM Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh. "By unleashing the power of private industry, we will fast-track the development of advanced fuel cycle capabilities essential for the responsible management of our defense used nuclear fuel. This is a critical step in strengthening our domestic nuclear infrastructure and cementing America's place as the global leader in nuclear technology." The RFAs represent an unprecedented opportunity for private sector ingenuity to lead the charge in America's nuclear renaissance. Through EM’s RFA, a selected offeror will secure a long-term lease for prime DOE property at INTEC. They will be entrusted with the full lifecycle of a cutting-edge, dedicated recycling facility — encompassing its financing, design, permitting, fabrication, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning. Similarly, NE’s RFA will provide an authorization pathway for industry to design, construct, and operate nuclear fuel recycling, reprocessing, and fuel fabrication facilities in the United States. Both RFAs will leverage private capital and expertise to accelerate critical infrastructure development. Offerors are strongly encouraged to submit proposals showcasing a profound understanding of advanced nuclear fuel recycling, coupled with comprehensive and robust business, security, regulatory compliance, and proposed waste management plans. The selected offerors will be fully responsible for all project costs, demonstrating a true partnership between government and industry. While collaboration is welcomed, stringent national security protocols will govern the participation of any non-U.S. entities due to the export controlled nature of these recycling technologies, ensuring that all personnel involved can obtain the necessary security clearances and protect American interests. DOE’s used nuclear fuel recycling programs will be a cornerstone of President Trump's nuclear renaissance, driving unparalleled innovation in the nuclear sector, fostering significant economic growth, and profoundly contributing to the nation's energy security and national defense objectives. EM will sponsor an Industry Day event to explain and answer questions about their RFA’s solicitation process. Potential attendees should e-mail Aaron S. Nebeker, nebekeas@id.doe.gov, for more information on attending. For more information on NE’s Initiative to Bolster Used Nuclear Fuel RFA, please visit the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Recycling Program webpage.                                                                           -DOE- STAY CONNECTED WITH EM:

 

TMI’s owner proposes workaround to 2027 restart barrier

https://www.pennlive.com/business/2026/04/tmis-owner-proposes-workaround-to-27-restart-barrier-federal-approval-needed.html

Holtec gets a seat at the table in Trenton as New Jersey bets on nuclear power • The Jersey Vindicator

https://jerseyvindicator.org/2026/04/13/holtec-gets-a-seat-at-the-table-in-trenton-as-new-jersey-bets-on-nuclear-power/

Audit of DOE Nuclear Energy contract for NuScale shows mismanagement

This new Dept of Energy Inspector General's  report is useful for showing how DOE Nuclear Energy mismanaged the NuScale project, as well as other projects.  Our taxpayer money wasted again!

Audit of DOE Nuclear Energy contract for NuScale shows mismanagement.

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/DOE-OIG-26-25.pdf

Donna Gilmore

ISFSI liability protection gap

Hello:

The Price-Anderson Act provides compensation for offsite damages from a nuclear plant release of radioactivity. Kinda. Sorta.

When a nuclear plant is operating, up to nearly $16 billion is available for harm caused by radioactivity released from a reactor core, its spent fuel pool, or an onsite ISFSI.

This liability protection consists of private insurance (currently at $500 million) purchased by the plant owner supplemented, if necessary, by funds collected from the owners of other operating nuclear plants. 

When a nuclear plant permanently shuts down, the NRC approves exemptions from the Price-Anderson insurance coverages. In November 2023, the NRC approved an exemption for Indian Point reducing its private insurance level to $100 million and dropping the site from the supplemental pool.

The NRC's "logic" for the exemptions is that the risk of an accident at an ISFSI is very, very, very low. Perhaps. But is the risk of a terrorist act at an ISFSI of a permanently shut down plant equally low? The NRC's "analysis" did not consider terrorist acts. And the force-on-force tests of security at operating plants is terminated once a plant permanently shuts down.

To be fair, nuclear security is quite good. No nuclear plant or dry cask has ever been stolen (as far as we know). 

But a terrorist act at the Indian Point ISFSI were to cause more than $100 million in offsite damages, who would provide the compensation?  Who? And how?

Perhaps the Stafford Act would fill in for the AWOL Price-Anderson Act. All it would take is an act by the federal government (you know, the folks who have been shut down the past few weeks because of their inability to reach agreement on a budget) to invoke the act. 

The NRC's assumption that a terrorist attack on an ISFSI at a permanently shut down nuclear plant should be backed, at least, by their conducting force-on-force tests of the untested security they are relying so much on to protect Americans. 

In the force-on-force tests conducted at operating reactors, the mock bad guys "win" a small percentage of the time (about 4 to 5 percent.) That's good. It shows the tests don't ask simply questions like "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb" and accept "Dead people" as a correct answer. The losses allow security weaknesses to be remedied before real bad guys can exploit them. Force-on-force tests are essential in determining that security is sufficient and identifying gaps needing to be closed. 

Thanks,

Dave Lochbaum

20251107-ip-lochbaum-liability-protection-gap.pdf

SUN DAY Campaign: Quarterly Compilation of News Story Excerpts (1st Q. 2026)

SUN DAY CAMPAIGN

(a campaign for a sustainable energy future)

8606 Greenwood Avenue, #2; Takoma Park, MD 20912-6656

301-588-4741; sun-day-campaign@hotmail.com

‏

follow on BlueSky at: @sun-day-campaign.bsky.social

         

‏
       

April 9, 2026       

       

To:  Members, SUN DAY Campaign       

       

From: Ken Bossong       

       

Attached as a word document please find a compilation of news story "excerpts" issued by the SUN DAY Campaign between January 1 and March 31, 2026.       

       

These "excerpts" provide short reviews of new reports and studies on sustainable energy and climate change issues. If you are on the mailing list for SUN DAY’s bi-weekly compilation of news story excerpts, you may have received this information earlier.      

     

Approximately 250 news story "excerpts" are provided in the 63-page compilation.       

       

They are listed in chronological order within each of 10 different categories (e.g., solar, wind, climate change).       

       

You may find this information of use if you are preparing any reports, news releases, testimony, letters-to-the-editor, etc.       

       

NOTE: A similar set of news story “excerpts” for the second quarter of 2026 may be sent to you sometime in early July 2026. 

SUN.DAY_.News_.Headlines.1stQ'26.docx

E&E: California’s Diablo nuclear plant gets 20-year extension from federal regulators

https://www.eenews.net/articles/californias-nuclear-plant-gets-20-year-extension-from-federal-regulators/​​​​​​​

California’s nuclear plant gets 20-year extension from federal regulators

The decision extends the life of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which has operated since 1985.

By: 

 | 04/03/2026 06:33 AM EDT

The Diablo Canyon Power Plant sits on California's Central Coast.Pacific Gas and Electric

ENERGYWIRE | Federal officials on Thursday approved a 20-year extension for California’s only nuclear power plant, capping a remarkable turnaround for a facility that was previously slated to retire and bolstering the ongoing resurgence of American nuclear energy.

What happened: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Acting Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Jeremy Groom signed off on Pacific Gas & Electric’s license renewal application to extend operations of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant through 2045. That opens the door to the plant staying open for another two decades, but to do so, it will also need permission from the state, which has so far only authorized operations through 2030.

“As California advances its clean energy and reliability goals, Diablo Canyon remains a stabilizing force on a dynamic grid,” Groom said during the signing ceremony. “It provides a steady source of carbon-free power during a period of rapid transition, supporting climate objectives while ensuring that the lights stay on in homes and businesses across the state.”

Why it matters: The NRC decision sets the stage for a major debate in the California Legislature over whether to extend the state's current permissions for the plant. The contours of that conversation, which have largely focused on grid reliability and energy affordability, illustrate how dramatically views of nuclear power have shifted in recent years.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has thus far refrained from taking a position on whether to keep the plant open beyond 2030, released a statement celebrating the decision.

“Today, I welcome the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval as we continue California's clean energy transition, creating good-paying jobs, fighting climate change and cementing the Golden State as a global powerhouse,” Newsom said.

PG&E leadership, meanwhile, was ecstatic about the signing.

“I am so excited my heart is just going to pop out of my chest,” PG&E Chief Nuclear Officer Paula Gerfen said at the event. “With all the distractions that we’ve had, the near closure of the station, then the turnaround in 2022, this team … stayed focused and ran the units safely, reliably and affordably through almost a decade of noise.”

Context: In 2016, PG&E signed an agreement with environmental and labor groups to retire Diablo Canyon by 2025, when its NRC license expired, and replace its electricity production with renewables and energy storage. At that time, global concern sparked by the 2011 leaks at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant loomed large over Diablo Canyon, as did California’s growing renewable energy generation requirements.

But in 2020, rolling blackouts exposed the vulnerabilities of the California grid, and a 2022 heat wave strained the system to the brink. That year, Newsom led a successful effort to extend Diablo Canyon to 2030 to shore up the electricity supply.

PG&E needed permission from the NRC to continue operating through 2030. But instead of applying for a five-year period, the company applied for a 20-year extension, the maximum that the NRC grants.

As the utility collected its state-level permits to extend operations during the past year, some lawmakers signaled an appetite to keep Diablo Canyon online beyond 2030. That included the influential chair of the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, who told POLITICO that the state will need Diablo Canyon to meet soaring electricity demands.

At the Thursday signing, John Grubb, interim president of the Bay Area Council, a business interest group, signaled that his organization will fight for an extension.

“The next step is securing long-term, durable support from the state of California, so that this facility can operate with certainty through 2045, and beyond,” Grubb said. “The Bay Area Council will be actively working with state leaders this year to ensure that Diablo Canyon remains part of California's energy future.”

But some legislative leaders have been hesitant to embrace an extension in light of concerns that the 2022 agreement turned out to be a bad deal for the state, especially given that taxpayers may end up footing a significant portion of the $1.4 billion loan California gave PG&E.

Multiple environmental groups are also working to stop Diablo Canyon’s march toward an extension by challenging its water permits.

Linda Seeley, vice president of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, a nuclear-critical environmental group, said that she opposed the NRC extension due to the facility’s large price tag and safety concerns stemming from Diablo Canyon’s proximity to earthquake faults.

The NRC signoff Thursday “lands us right back with our state legislature to turn around the unwise, foolish, expensive, unneeded Diablo Canyon,” Seeley said.

Background: Meanwhile, a growing coalition of business leaders, public officials and some environmentalists across the nation are backing nuclear energy as a means to power the electricity-hungry artificial intelligence boom.

President Donald Trump has been reshaping the NRC with the goal of quadrupling nuclear power by 2050, but even some of his Democratic antagonists wish he was doing more to push the power source forward. The Diablo Canyon approval represents the 100th renewed operating license for nuclear power plants issued by the NRC, according to Groom.

What’s next: With the NRC permission in hand, PG&E now has the regulatory signoffs it needs to operate Diablo Canyon through 2030. The company’s CEO has called on the California Legislature to act this year if lawmakers want to extend its lifetime beyond then.

NH Bulletin recounts stubborn nuclear waste conundrum to new reactor expansion

https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/04/06/new-hampshire-and-nuclear-waste-have-a-fraught-history-the-path-ahead-is-still-unclear/?emci=8e7ae6a5-872f-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&emdi=be06b4c2-a731-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&ceid=151160&fbclid=IwY2xjawRAoGNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeck1jHG2vPQV6KvetWA2jMbFoKPBTZZlqRycnFH8IDXGs2ez_99VjIyuHdoA_aem_9yy-OeW_MVIm6_HQVvQwIA

The Trump Admin Is Doing Something Horrifying to Workers at Nuclear Facilities

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/trump-administration-doing-something-horrifying-202055435.html

The Trump Administration Is Doing Something Horrifying to Workers at Nuclear Facilities

Joe Wilkins, Wed, 1 April 2026

It isn’t just the guys handling plutonium who need to worry about radiation — every US nuclear worker, from the plumbers patching leaks to the janitors mopping floors, has a reason to be on guard.

New reporting by High Country News detailed the startling impact the Trump administration is having on the safety of nuclear energy workers.  As part of the administration’s “nuclear renaissance,” the US Department of Energy (DOE) has begun stripping back effective safety regulations that had previously limited workers’ exposure to deadly radiation.

“They’re pulling away from what’s kept us safe all these years,” Bradley Clawson, a former nuclear energy worker at Idaho National Laboratory, told HCN.  “In the long run it helped us as workers.  It was keeping us from getting a higher dose.”

Following four executive orders aimed at nuclear deregulation, both the DOE and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have taken an increasingly lax view of safety at both federal nuclear projects like labs and cleanup sites, as well as commercial energy facilities.  Under Trump, these agencies no longer seem to operate on the long-held assumption that even a small amount of radiation exposure is bad for human health.  Instead, speed is the name of the game.

The language in one May 2025 executive order makes its deregulatory intent clear in no uncertain terms: “In particular, the NRC shall reconsider reliance on the linear no-threshold (LNT) model for radiation exposure and the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ standard, which is predicated on LNT,” the order read.

At Los Alamos National Laboratory, for example, non-nuclear workers like plumbers and metalworkers are exposed to some amount of radiation, but as HCN notes, the Trump administration has forced the site to double its annual output of nuclear cores.

In a scathing letter to various government administrators, a group of organizations made up of doctors, environmental activists, and researchers called the safety rollbacks a “deliberate subversion of science and public health in favor of corporate interests.”

“Accepting weaker radiation protections amounts to accepting an ever-increasing level of avoidable human disease and suffering,” the letter continues.

The deregulations come as nuclear facilities across the US face a growing shortage of trained and experienced staff — an issue Trump admin energy department layoffs hasn’t exactly helped, and which is in direct contradiction with the White House’s stated goal of jumpstarting America’s nuclear energy capacity.

Facing lagging staff numbers but a rapidly changing nuclear energy landscape, many facilities have to turned to third-party contractors in order to keep up.  The result, critics say, is a breakdown in long-term safety culture as contractors move from site to site.  One prime example of this came in October, when a contractor at Michigan’s Palisade Power Plant fell into a reactor cavity.