The ND Department of Environmental Quality has renewed a solid waste management permit for Secure Energy Services, and is proposing to issue a radioactive materials license for Secure's landfill when a financial assurance bond is received and approved by DEQ.

If and when that approval occurs, it would allow Secure to dispose of TENORM (Technologically-Enhanced, Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material) at its existing landfill 13 miles north of Williston. The facility currently handles TENORM at the site, but it is being shipped out of state for disposal. With approval of the radioactive materials license, Secure would be able to dispose of TENORM waste in concentrations up to 50.0 picocuries per gram.

The Williams County Commission issued a conditional use permit last July that would allow Secure to manage TENORM disposal on site, which set the stage for the DEQ proceeding. The department conducted a public comment period earlier this year, and held a public hearing in Williston on February 23. Although DEQ did receive comments objecting to the location and to a possible increase in truck traffic, its response to the comments indicates that they did not provide any substantive scientific data or documentation that would provide any reason to deny either the radioactive materials license or renewal of Secure's draft solid waste permit.

WDEA provided comments in support of Secure's application at the Williams County Commission meeting last July, and submitted a letter of support during the comment period earlier this year.

Click here to read DEQ's response to the public comments. Click here to see WDEA's TENORM Issue page that includes previous news coverage and informational resources.