State sends notice of violations to landfill in Estill County

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Energy and Environment Secretary Charles Snavely announced Tuesday that a Notice of Violation containing four violations against Advanced Disposal Services Blue Ridge Landfill, Inc. in Estill County, after an investigation found the landfill accepted low-level radioactive waste commonly known as TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material).

The state says its investigation showed the landfill used inaccurate reporting in its quarterly report, failed to characterize a release of TENORM/ NORM to the environment, disposed of unpermitted waste in a contained landfill and failed to properly record the source, disposal location and quantity of spill residues and limited quantity generator hazardous wastes.

The matter will be referred for enforcement action. Blue Ridge officials were notified of the Notices of Violation Tuesday morning.

And the Cabinet for Health and Family Services announced that on Friday, March 4, it had issued a cease and desist letter to Advanced TENORM, a waste disposal company located in West Liberty. Advanced TENORM is suspected of importing, collecting, transporting, treating, storing, depositing and/or disposing of TENORM from West Virginia since June 2015, which is prohibited by state law. Advance TENORM could face civil fines up to $100,000 per occurrence, as well as substantial criminal penalties, according to the state.