Radioactive material has been detected in a load of foundry sand from ITT Goulds Pumps at the Seneca Meadows Landfill, triggering an investigation by Waste Management officials and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Waste Connections, the landfill’s parent company, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the load had been segregated and isolated pending further investigation.
Kyle Black, district manager for Waste Connections, said the company’s radiation detection equipment alerted the team when the ITT material arrived for disposal. The source of the material is still under investigation, and plans for its proper safe disposal are being developed in collaboration with ITT and the DEC.
RELATED: Leachate evaporator ignited blaze at Seneca Meadows months after fire destroyed last evaporator
The incident occurred days after a fire broke out in a leachate evaporation unit at the landfill. Black confirmed that the fire was contained and the system worked well. The landfill has had two fires in the past six months. An investigation is underway, with the manufacturer of the evaporation unit involved.
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