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Underground fire 300 meters from nuclear waste causes St. Louis to hatch contingency plan
Japan Times ^ | 08 October 2015

Posted on 10/08/2015 10:34:34 AM PDT by Lorianne

ST. LOUIS – Beneath the surface of a St. Louis-area landfill lurk two things that should never meet: a slow-burning fire and a cache of Cold War-era nuclear waste, separated by just 300 meters.

Government officials have quietly adopted an emergency plan in case the smoldering embers ever reach the waste, a potentially “catastrophic event” that could send up a plume of radioactive smoke over a densely populated area near the city’s main airport.

Although the fire at Bridgeton Landfill has been burning since at least 2010, the plan for a worst-case scenario was developed only a year ago and never publicized until this week, when St. Louis radio station KMOX first obtained a copy.

Landfill operator Republic Services also downplayed any risk. Interceptor wells — underground structures that capture below-surface gases — and other safeguards are in place to keep the fire and the nuclear waste separate.

(Excerpt) Read more at japantimes.co.jp ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: landfill; nuclearwaste; stlouis

1 posted on 10/08/2015 10:34:34 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

Not good. Approx 3 football fields is not a whole lot of distance.


2 posted on 10/08/2015 10:44:50 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: Lorianne

And we’re hearing about this from the Japan Times?


3 posted on 10/08/2015 10:44:59 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: Lorianne

The failure of Obama to activate Yucca Mountain is coming back to haunt.


4 posted on 10/08/2015 10:47:44 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Lorianne

Frack it. Drill down to below the landfill material and inject liquid nitrogen.


5 posted on 10/08/2015 10:54:51 AM PDT by meatloaf
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To: meatloaf

CO2 will damp it as well. Lots of ways to put out a fire, where there is the will to do what is necessary.


6 posted on 10/08/2015 10:59:02 AM PDT by Louis Foxwell (This is a wake up call. Join the Sultan Knish ping list.)
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To: Brilliant

Yucca Mt. wasn’t on the nuclear waste radar with the St. Louis stuff was buried.

But Zero’s failure to bring it online is unforgivable.


7 posted on 10/08/2015 10:59:44 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: nuconvert

Zerohedge had something on this yesterday, but I agree maybe more should be reporting on it and the possibilities...

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-10-07/catastrophic-event-looms-stlouis-underground-fire-burning-2010-nears-nuclear-waste


8 posted on 10/08/2015 11:00:28 AM PDT by jafojeffsurf (Return to the Constitution, A Moral People, and Return to On Nation UNDER God!)
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To: Lorianne

My old Milwaukee band Methyl Ethyl and The Ketones had a song called “Fire in The Dump” about a long-running fire in the city dump.


9 posted on 10/08/2015 11:03:01 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: Lorianne

Quick put the fire out by engulfing it with Islamic Terrorists!


10 posted on 10/08/2015 11:07:45 AM PDT by DonkeyBonker (I support the 2nd Amendment)
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To: Lorianne

Under ground fires are not uncommon. there is one is PA, I think (Centralia?) that has been burning since I was born, 1962.


11 posted on 10/08/2015 11:30:22 AM PDT by rey
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
My old Milwaukee band Methyl Ethyl and The Ketones

That for real ? LOL

12 posted on 10/08/2015 1:16:33 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: rey

Laurel Run PA has been burning for a hundred years. That is right, 100.


13 posted on 10/08/2015 1:31:22 PM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: Vinnie

Yes for real! Good band! MOI type music. Actress Amy Madigan was Methyl Ethyl!


14 posted on 10/08/2015 1:57:02 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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