State officials Monday night sought to allay fears about health risks associated with the illegal dumping of radioactive waste at an Estill County landfill. Their presentation included a description of just-announced penalties for responsible companies.
Well over a hundred people gathered in the Estill County High School auditorium not far from the landfill where fracking waste now resides buried under cover.
State public health officials told the audience that investigations showed no significant health risks, even for those working the landfill at the time of the dumping. Legal counsel in public health, Jennifer Wolsing says penalties will deter future dumping of out-of-state radioactive waste, “Once they hear about these penalties, once they hear how seriously Kentucky takes these issues, there’s not gonna be any further instances of this.”
Wolsing admitted the penalty amount could be lowered during settlement talks, but she’s confident violators will pay something. Penalties sought range from $30,000 up to $2.6 million for companies and individuals responsible for the dumpings in Estill and Greenup Counties.?
