by Thérèse Boudreaux
Michigan lawmakers are expressing alarm at an unexpected federal decision to send thousands of tons of radioactive waste from New York to a disposal facility in Wayne County.
The Niagara Falls Storage Site, which holds World War II era radioactive byproducts and waste from uranium processing during the atomic bomb project, will send 6,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete and 4,000 gallons of groundwater with elevated radiation levels to Wayne Disposal.
State Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown, voiced opposition to the plan.
“It’s time to stop treating Wayne County as America’s dumping ground,” Thompson said in a statement. “Once again, the state is sitting by as massive amounts of the most toxic substances known to man are being brought to Michigan and dumped in our backyard with zero consideration for our environment and the people living here.”
The shipments, roughly 25 semi-trucks worth per week until January, were decided as part of a federal plan to decontaminate and repurpose the Niagara Falls Storage Site land for industrial use.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, sent a letter Monday to officials in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressing her concern about the plan, especially as her office was not given prior notice.
“While I understand this facility is licensed at both the federal- and state-level and must adhere to strict regulations that ensure the community is protected, my constituents remain concerned about the impact on their health and environment,” Dingell said. “Given the recent history of hazardous waste disposal incidents in Michigan, it is imperative that we be informed of all precautions being taken to protect our community.”
Michigan experienced a similar situation in 2023, when hazardous materials from a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio were transported to a disposal site without notifying state officials.
Dingell requested answers to a series of questions, including why Wayne Disposal was picked for transport, why local officials and the public were given no notice in advance, what specific measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the community during the process, and what environmental monitoring will be conducted to ensure there is no adverse impact to the surrounding environment.
State Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township, said in a statement she will be monitoring the issue.
“The health and safety of our community members is always my top priority, so I will be carefully monitoring and staying updated on this issue. This is not the first time Wayne Disposal Inc. and Michigan Disposal Inc. have taken in hazardous waste from other states — like always, it is absolutely necessary to protect our community’s right to safety, most certainly when it comes to the transportation of hazardous materials via our public roads and into our landfills,” Miller said.
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Thérèse Boudreaux is an apprentice reporter covering Michigan and Wisconsin for The Center Square, under the mentorship of Midwest Regional Editor J.D. Davidson. Her work focuses on election-related news in these two states. Previously, she interned at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Photo “Niagara Falls Storage Site“.
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