The Energy Department is planning a second expansion of a nuclear waste landfill at Oak Ridge. It will bring waste capacity to 1.7 million cubic yards. That's the maximum allowable under an agreement with environmental regulators. A spokesman for the department's environmental contractor says the design for a fifth cell is being completed now and will be submitted to regulators this month. If it's approved, construction would begin late next year. Though there's adequate room for immediate needs in the current landfill, the dismantling of old uranium processing facilities is expected to result in 700-thousand cubic yards of junk with radioactive or chemical hazards. About 50 truckloads are expected to go to the landfill each day.
Second expansion of Oak Ridge landfill being prepared
The Energy Department is planning a second expansion of a nuclear waste landfill at Oak Ridge.
