Notice of violations sent to Estill County, Ashland landfills for accepting radioactive waste

A notice of violation has been sent to landfills in Estill County and Ashland who are accused of accepting low-level radioactive waste last year.

Energy and Environment Secretary Charles Snavely announced on Tuesday that the notice was sent to Advanced Disposal Services Blue Ridge Landfill Inc. in Estill County, outlining four violations against the company.

The notice comes after an investigation found that the landfill had accepted the TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) on at least four separate occasions in 2015.

The investigation also showed that the landfill was using inaccurate reporting, failed to characterize the release of the TENORM to the environment, disposed of un-permitted waste and failed to properly record the source, disposal location and quantity of spill residues from the hazardous waste.

Blue Ridge officials received the notices of violation on Tuesday morning, according to state officials.

A notice of violation was also issued to Green Valley Landfill General Partnership in Ashland.

State officials say the notice outlines four violations against the landfill, after an investigation found that they accepted 26 loads of low-level radioactive waste.

The Ashland landfill is accused of accepting and disposing of the unauthorized waste from May 2015 through January 2016.

Green Valley Landfill officials received the notices of violation on Tuesday afternoon.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services announced on Friday, March 4, that it had issued a cease and desist letter to Advanced TENORM, a waste disposal company located in West Liberty.

State officials say Advanced Tenorm is believed to have imported, collected, transported, treated, stored and deposited TENORM from West Virginia since June of 2015. The transport of such materials from out of state is prohibited by law.

Advance TENORM could face civil fines up to $100,000 per occurence as well as substantial criminal penalties, according to state officials.