Radioactive Leaks, Fires, and Contamination: DOE Report Exposes Alarming Failures at Piketon

PIKETON, OH — A newly released Department of Energy (DOE) report has exposed alarming radioactive contamination and environmental failures at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. The findings, buried in an annual update to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reveal ongoing risks to public health and safety as radioactive waste cleanup efforts falter under questionable oversight.

Radioactive Isotopes Detected in Groundwater: Technetium-99, Enriched Uranium, and Mercury

The DOE report unveils troubling evidence of radioactive isotopes infiltrating the environment:

• Technetium-99, a highly mobile and persistent isotope linked to nuclear waste, was detected in several groundwater monitoring wells throughout March, April, May, and July 2024. This isotope, with a half-life of 211,000 years, is notorious for its ability to migrate quickly through soil and groundwater.
• Enriched Uranium was found in leachate collection system samples at the site, an unequivocal indication of historical nuclear contamination leaking into groundwater systems.
• Other contaminants, including mercury, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), were routinely present in groundwater samples.

Shockingly, monitoring efforts were hampered by sampling failures: multiple wells ran dry or yielded insufficient water volume, preventing accurate contamination assessments. "When we can’t collect samples, we’re flying blind," said one independent expert reviewing the report. "It’s impossible to know the full extent of the contamination without reliable data."

Airborne Radioactive Threats: Fires and Demolition Dust

The demolition of X-326 Process Building and other structures, along with hazardous waste disposal operations, has created new airborne risks.

• Transuranic isotopes, including neptunium-237, were detected during the demolition process. Neptunium is a highly toxic radioactive material with a half-life exceeding 2 million years. DOE data confirms at least two detections in January 2024, including one offsite result dismissed as a lab error—a dismissal met with skepticism by environmental watchdogs.
• Elevated particulate matter (PM10) levels, especially at monitor A53, were directly linked to ongoing construction dust and debris disposal.
• The DOE’s air quality monitoring system, however, only conducts quarterly sampling—leaving significant gaps in real-time airborne contamination tracking.

"The quarterly schedule is unacceptable for a site with such dangerous materials," a local advocate stated. "Airborne radiation can travel fast and far. Families deserve better protections."

Fire Incidents Expose Systemic Safety Failures

The DOE report describes at least three fire incidents during 2024, all of which damaged critical containment systems:

• The most severe occurred on August 28, 2024, when a fire broke out during welding in Cell 2, damaging a 5x8-foot section of the geomembrane and geosynthetic clay liner—key components for containing radioactive and chemical waste.
• Emergency crews extinguished the fire, but extensive repairs were necessary to replace the liner—raising concerns about containment integrity and the potential for future breaches.
• Two additional fire-related incidents occurred on September 3, 2024, and September 24, 2024, disrupting critical waste disposal operations and further exposing the project’s flawed safety protocols.

"These fires aren’t just accidents—they’re evidence of systemic negligence," said a safety specialist familiar with the site. "Damaging containment systems during nuclear waste cleanup isn’t a mistake you can afford to make."

Stormwater Failures and Groundwater Infiltration

Repeated failures in managing stormwater runoff were also highlighted:

• Sedimentation ponds regularly exceeded benchmark limits for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), recording values up to 357 mg/L—more than triple the acceptable limit of 100 mg/L.
• Elevated pH levels in stormwater, attributed to algal growth, could mobilize metals and toxins, worsening water quality risks.
• DOE officials admitted that heavy rain overwhelmed erosion controls, but critics argue this points to inadequate infrastructure and planning.

Moreover, groundwater samples showed unexplained anomalies, such as inconsistent uranium isotopic readings, suggesting flawed containment of radioactive waste.

“Low-Level” Contamination with Long-Term Consequences

While the DOE continues to insist that contamination remains below state action levels, experts emphasize that radioactive materials like technetium-99, enriched uranium, and neptunium-237 are dangerous even at low levels due to their long half-lives and cumulative effects.

"These elements persist for thousands, even millions, of years," warned one environmental scientist. "Every single detection matters because they don’t just disappear. Without stronger oversight, we’re leaving a toxic legacy for generations."

Calls for Accountability and Independent Oversight

The cumulative findings reveal a disturbing pattern of containment failures, inadequate monitoring, and public communication gaps:

• Fires that damaged containment systems.
• Groundwater contamination with radioactive and chemical materials.
• Airborne radiation risks amplified by insufficient monitoring schedules.
• Stormwater runoff that violates environmental safety standards.

Local community leaders and environmental groups are demanding urgent action. "For years, this community has borne the brunt of DOE’s failures," said Jason Salley, a prominent organizer. "This report confirms what we’ve feared: radioactive contamination is ongoing, and the cleanup process is riddled with safety lapses."

Advocates are now calling for:

1. Independent monitoring of groundwater, air, and waste containment systems.
2. Real-time public reporting of contamination levels and incidents.
3. An immediate halt to unsafe demolition and disposal practices until containment systems are verified as secure.

"These failures are not just numbers in a report," Salley added. "They are risks to our health, our children, and our environment. We deserve the truth, and we deserve safety."

For a community still recovering from decades of nuclear activity, the revelations in this DOE report are both a harsh reminder of past failures and a rallying call for accountability.