Radioactive Waste Cleanup Paying Off for Giant Idaho Aquifer

摘要

Radioactive and chemical contamination in a giant aquifer below an eastern Idaho federal nuclear facility has decreased or remained constant in recent years, scientists say. A report released earlier this year by the U.S. Geological Survey attributes the decreases to radioactive decay, changes in waste-disposal methods, cleanup efforts and dilution from water coming into the Lake Erie-sized Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. "The overall aquifer is looking pretty good compared to what it used to be," said Roy Bartholomay, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist and one of the report's authors. "But we still have a few of these wells that keep us scratching our heads." The report said contamination levels at all but a handful of nearly 180 wells are below acceptable standards for drinking water as set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.