Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:21pm

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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released a report on its initial sampling of landfill leachate for radioactive radium, finding ‘no levels of radiation associated with the landfill radium leachate investigation that raised concern for environmental protection or public health and safety.’ However, the agency said more sampling is needed to fully assess the issue.

Why it matters

Concerns have been raised about the potential for radioactive contamination of landfill leachate, particularly from waste generated by oil and gas drilling operations. This report aims to address those concerns, but DEP acknowledges the need for a larger data set to confirm the initial findings.

The details

DEP’s report analyzed eight quarters of sample results from all 49 landfills in Pennsylvania. The analysis found that none of the landfills exceeded the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s annual average limit of 600 picocuries per liter for discharges from industrial facilities. However, 11 landfills had radium levels above the EPA’s 5 picocuries per liter limit for drinking water, though raw leachate is not considered drinking water. DEP is recommending at least four more quarters of sampling to generate additional data and inform future decisions on landfill leachate monitoring and disposal protocols.

On March 13, 2026, DEP released the report on its initial landfill leachate sampling.DEP is recommending at least four more quarters of sampling and analysis to provide a larger data set.
The players

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

The state agency responsible for regulating environmental issues in Pennsylvania, including monitoring radioactive materials in landfill leachate.

Jessica Shirley

The Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

The federal agency that sets standards for discharges of radioactive materials, including the 600 picocuries per liter annual average limit cited in the report.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The federal agency that sets the 5 picocuries per liter limit for radioactive radium in drinking water, which was exceeded by 11 of the landfills in the DEP’s initial sampling.

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What they’re saying

“Pennsylvania is a national leader when it comes to regulating radioactive materials in landfills. We were the first state in the nation to require monitoring of waste as it enters a landfill and this study is the result of rigorous testing of every landfill in the state, with secondary confirmatory analysis to make sure that the results were accurate.”

— Jessica Shirley, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (blogspot.com)

What’s next

DEP is recommending at least four more quarters of radiochemistry analysis of untreated landfill leachate at all 49 landfills to generate additional results and provide a larger data set to more fully assess the levels of combined radium in landfill leachate.

The takeaway

While the initial findings indicate there is currently no significant risk to public health or the environment from radioactive materials in landfill leachate, the limited data means more extensive sampling is needed to confirm these results and inform any future decisions on landfill leachate monitoring and disposal protocols.