Upset Voices Rise as Wayne County Chosen for Radioactive Waste

Hey folks, it looks like a big development is heading right into our hometown. Turns out, Wayne County has been chosen as the lucky recipient of soil and rubble radiated from some World War II leftovers. The nitty-gritty is that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have decided to move waste from cleanup efforts at a Manhattan Project site in New York right here to our own turf.

Why here? The people making these decisions claim that Wayne Disposal Inc. in Van Buren Township is up to snuff – the closest place that can handle this type of load. They say, “To ship the material quickly and safely – Wayne County, Michigan was the top choice.”

The good news is the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has green-lit the move, after pouring over lab reviews and the Army Corps’ plan for work. They insist that this development is going by the books – sticking to state environment laws, and shouldn’t freak us out. Guess that’s supposed to make us feel better, right?

Now, let’s think about this: The stuff they’re bringing here? It’s not like it’s nuclear waste or something, but it’s remnants from processing uranium back in WWII days. Apparently, it falls within the limits set by their license, and won’t set off any big red flags. At least, that’s what they’re telling us.

But not everyone is pleased with the plan. Our very own Wayne County Executive, Warren Evans, is pretty miffed about the whole deal. He knows – just as we all do – that this stuff has to go somewhere. But he’s saying “Enough’s enough!” Evans doesn’t want Wayne County to keep becoming the go-to place for things no one else wants to deal with. Bet we can all agree with that sentiment, right?

Of course, this isn’t the first time our county has been drawn into a toxics squabble. You might remember last year, when that train derailed in Ohio and some of its toxic cargo ended up right here. This prompted Evans and others to demand more transparency from officials about bringing hazardous material to our region.

This latest situation has U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell asking some hard questions. Why weren’t locals told about the shipment? And what are the safety and emergency response plans if something goes wrong?

A little history on the material: This waste is coming from the Niagara Falls Storage Site, used way back in 1944 to keep radioactive residues and waste from processing uranium used in developing the atom bomb. A cleanup project is underway there, and off goes the waste to licensed dump sites countrywide. The current phase, they say, has “low-end” radioactivity – enough to cause damage over a long period of time.

So, here’s what we know so far: The first load of waste is set to ship over to us in September. It will be hauled in trucks lined to contain the waste and washed down before they leave their premises in New York. For the most part, the cargo will travel via interstate highways before ending up in our own Van Buren Township.

Let’s keep our eyes open, folks. This is our community, after all.

Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER

NOVI STAFF WRITER The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.