But there is no threat to the environment or health. Environmental watchdogs are less sure. And with that, you have toxins moving into the environment. She also voiced concern over the incinerator's impact on the nearby Clinch River. A government report found the incinerator was responsible for increased radioactive discharges into the river.
Water is used in the incinerator's cooling and filtering systems.
It is then sent to the nearby treatment plant. Uranium has an innate toxicity. It's just not a good idea to put more in the water. The state also is concerned about the amount of time and money available for DOE's cleanup of the Oak Ridge reservation. DOE's Alm wants to speed the cleanup of the nuclear complex, shrinking the time frame from 70 years to 10 and cutting long-term costs.