But several years ago, Exelon was approached by EnergySolutions, a nuclear waste company founded in 2007 and made through a merger of four waste disposal companies—Envirocare of Utah, Scientech D&D, Duratek, and BNG America, the U.S. subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels. EnergySolutions owns a low-level nuclear waste disposal site in Clive, Utah, and operates a similar site in South Carolina.
by Jeff Johnson | April 01, 2013
According to a document by contractor EnergySolutions, this is what went into the drums: Acid neutralizer Prior to September, 2013: Chemtex Acid Neutralizer, dry formula; contains "polymer," sodium carbonate, alizarin (pH indicator) After September, 2013: Spilfyter Kolorsafe Acid Neutralizer, liquid formula; contains triethanolamine, alizarin, water Base neutralizer Before April, 2013: Spilfyter Kolorsafe Benchtop Kits; contains citric acid, thymol blue (pH indicator); MSDS notes that the material is incompatible with metallic nitrates and strong oxidizers After April, 2013: Pig Base Encapsulating Neutralizer, dry formula; contains citric acid, "super absorbent," thymol; MSDS notes that the material is incompatible with metallic nitrates and strong oxidizers The New Mexico Environment Department so far seems concerned about the cat litter, but the base neutralizer clearly presented a problem as well.
by Jyllian Kemsley | June 06, 2014
From an investigation by the Santa Fe New Mexican: In a damning report issued in October, the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General chided and its waste packaging subcontractor EnergySolutions for the change from clay-based to organic kitty litter and the use of an acid neutralizer. “This action may have led to an adverse chemical reaction within the drums resulting in serious safety implications,” the report said, referring to the litter change.
by Jyllian Kemsley | December 09, 2014