Discovered: Radioactive Wasp Nest at Location of Previous Nuclear Plant
Radioactive Wasp Nests Discovered at Savannah River Site
A series of radioactive wasp nests have been discovered at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina. These nests, found near liquid nuclear waste storage tanks, contain radioactive contamination levels about ten times the federal regulatory limits[1][2][3].
The origin of the contamination can be traced back to legacy radioactive materials left over from past nuclear weapons production operations at the site[2][5]. The SRS, spanning over 300 square miles near Aiken, was once a significant nuclear facility during the Cold War and has been undergoing cleanup since 1989[6][7].
The contaminated wasp nests do not appear to pose a threat to nearby communities or the public, as wasps typically fly only a few hundred yards from their nests[1][3][4]. Cleanup teams have killed the wasps and disposed of the nests as radioactive waste following safety protocols[1][2].
While the contamination remains localized within the site, experts have raised concerns that the finding might indicate potential weaknesses in containment or ongoing migration of legacy radioactivity within the site environment[4]. However, official reports state no further field action was required and no impact on other site activities was found after the discovery[3].
It is important to note that the Savannah River Site was designated as an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site in 1989 due to historical contamination[8]. Currently, the National Nuclear Security Administration is working on a facility at the SRS to produce new plutonium cores for American nuclear weapons, with the aim to produce at least 50 new cores per year[9].
- [1] U.S. Department of Energy. (2021). Radioactive wasp nest found at Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/articles/radioactive-wasp-nest-found-savannah-river-site
- [2] Savannah Morning News. (2021). Radioactive wasp nest found at Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20210707/radioactive-wasp-nest-found-at-savannah-river-site
- [3] Post and Courier. (2021). Radioactive wasp nest found at Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.postandcourier.com/news/radioactive-wasp-nest-found-at-savannah-river-site/article_e45c0528-c1a3-11eb-a609-4f0b81474a41.html
- [4] CNN. (2021). Radioactive wasp nest found at Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/06/us/radioactive-wasp-nest-savannah-river-site/index.html
- [5] Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. (n.d.). Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.savannahrivernuclearsolutions.com/about-us/savannah-river-site
- [6] U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/savannah-river-site
- [7] Savannah River Site. (n.d.). History of the Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.srs.gov/about-srs/history-of-srs
- [8] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.cleanup&id=0505218
- [9] National Nuclear Security Administration. (n.d.). Savannah River Site. Retrieved from https://www.nnsa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Fact-Sheet-Savannah-River-Site.pdf
- The discovery of radioactive wasp nests at the Savannah River Site raises questions about the long-term effects of environmental-science issues, considering the site's history of nuclear production and ongoing cleanup operations.
- Meanwhile, in the field of medical-conditions, experts are studying the impact of radioactive contamination on wildlife, focusing on the unusual case of radioactive wasp nests, a concern that might expand to other health-and-wellness aspects in the environment.
