County lobbies for cleanup of nuclear site in Claxton
Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager is lobbying for cleanup of a site in the Claxton community in order to build a parking lot for a new park.
Yeager stated in the letter that the American Nuclear Co. used to use the site to process cobalt and cesium for medical treatment purposes in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The materials, Yeager said, came at the time from Oak Ridge National Laboratory in neighboring Oak Ridge.
The company became insolvent in 1974 and abandoned the site, Yeager stated.
"To date nothing has been done to clean up the site and the property still produces significant measurable levels of nuclear contamination, which continues to impose safety and health issues for residents," he said.
Yeager recommended U.S. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, R-Third District, help secure federal funds to clean up and remediate the property.
"If Anderson County is successful in these efforts, we would like to use this property for a parking lot adjacent to the new Blockhouse Valley public recreational complex, nature preserve and outdoor research center," he stated regarding the county's intention for this site.
Yeager sent his letter Jan. 20. Anderson County Commission and County Mayor Terry Frank voted in July in favor of asking various levels of government to support cleanup of the site. Both documents are available in County Commission's Feb. 22 agenda, available on the County Commission website. Yeager mentioned the letter during the February meeting, but County Commission took no additional vote.
In a recent interview with The Oak Ridger, Fleischmann was asked about the letter. He said he was not sure if he had seen it. but emphasized his support in general for cleanup efforts in Oak Ridge.
He said his Democratic counterparts have allowed him to chair the nuclear cleanup caucus for cleaning up legacy sites all over the country. He also said he has advocated for increased funds for environmental contracts.
"We need more cleanup. There are over 70 buildings on the ORNL campus that need to come down. We have decades of work to do in Oak Ridge," he said.
Ben Pounds is a staff reporter for The Oak Ridger. Call him at (865) 441-2317, follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal and email him at bpounds@oakridger.com
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: County lobbies for cleanup of nuclear site in Claxton
