All 49 landfills in Pennsylvania sampled; none showed radiation results above federal standards

A final report from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shows that there is no significant risk to human health from radium in landfill leachate.

The multi-year study of all 49 landfills in Pennsylvania found that none had results that were over the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) standards of 600 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) for discharge from industrial facilities.

This study reinforces prior DEP studies finding that there is not a threat of radioactive material in water discharged from wastewater treatment facilities affecting surface waters or drinking water.

“Pennsylvania is a national leader when it comes to regulating radioactive materials in landfills,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “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. The takeaway here is that there is no risk to human health from radiation in landfill leachate.”

Landfill leachate is the collected rainwater that falls on landfills and filters through the accumulated waste. It is collected and either treated on-site or sent to a treatment facility before being discharged into a stream or river.

In 2021, at the urging of then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro, DEP began a new comprehensive leachate testing study at all 49 landfills in Pennsylvania. Two years (eight quarters) of sample results of raw, untreated leachate were analyzed using a technique called gamma spectroscopy to measure radioactivity in the raw leachate.

Once all samples were analyzed, a confirmatory analysis on one round of sample results was conducted using a technique called radio-chemistry. The analyses showed that none of the landfills in Pennsylvania exceeded the annual average of 600 pCi/L limit for discharges from industrial facilities established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and in most cases, the results were far lower.

Of the landfills sampled, only 11 had radium levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 5 pCi/L limit that is used for drinking water. Raw, untreated leachate is not considered drinking water and should never be consumed.

Radioactive material in landfills can come from various sources. The most common sources are medical waste, primarily waste from cancer treatments, and oil and gas waste, which contains naturally occurring radioactive materials that are brought to the surface.

Another source of radioactivity in landfills is naturally occurring radon gas, which is odorless and colorless, and is present in high concentrations in some parts of Pennsylvania due to unique geological formations.

DEP is recommending an additional 4 quarters of sampling and analysis using radio-chemistry to provide a larger data set. The additional data will serve to inform future decisions to revisit landfill leachate sampling requirements and other operational or engineering controls if necessary to protect public health, safety and the environment.

Schuylkill legislators to host Sportsmen and Outdoor Expo on March 28

Outdoor enthusiasts from across the region are invited to attend a Sportsmen and Outdoor Expo on Sat., March 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbia Hose Fire Company, 742 West Centre St., Shenandoah.

The free event is hosted by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), along with Reps. Dane Watro (R-116), Tim Twardzik (R-123), Jamie Barton (R-124) and JoAnne Stehr (R-107).

The expo will bring together a wide range of vendors and organizations connected to hunting, fishing, conservation and outdoor recreation.

Attendees can learn about outdoor opportunities in the region, connect with local groups and businesses, and explore resources related to Pennsylvania’s sportsmen heritage. The event will offer something for everyone, whether they are an experienced sportsmen or simply enjoy spending time outdoors.

A hunter-trapper education course will also be offered at 8 a.m. Those interested in participating must register in advance at the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.

Residents seeking additional information about the expo should call Sen. Argall’s Mahanoy City office at — 570-773-0891.

PFBC reminds anglers, boaters that cold weather life jacket requirement in effect through April 30

With warmer temperatures expected to arrive this week across portions of the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reminds anglers and boaters that the annual cold weather life jacket requirement remains in effect through April 30.

From Nov. 1, through April 30, boaters are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length, or on any kayak, canoe, or paddle-board. The requirement applies to all Pennsylvania waters and violators are subject to fines.

Sudden cold-water immersion, or cold-water shock, occurs when a person is unexpectedly plunged into cold water resulting in an involuntary gasp where water is often inhaled. This uncontrollable reaction causes panic, hyperventilation, inhalation of water, and inhibits the ability of a person to swim.

According to Pennsylvania boating accident reports, nearly 80% of all boating fatalities occurred because boaters were not wearing life jackets. Since the mandatory life jacket wear law was enacted in 2012, the PFBC has seen a significant drop (approximately 50%) in the percentage of boating incidents resulting in fatalities during the cold weather months.

DEP invests an additional $15.2M to address largest inventory of abandoned mine lands in U.S.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has invested an additional $15.2 million for the environmental restoration of 15 abandoned mine land (AML) projects as part of the Abandoned Mine Land and Abandoned Mine Drainage Grant Program.

Pennsylvania has the largest inventory of abandoned coal mines in the nation, with a roughly $5 billion need for reclamation and stream restoration.

“Reclaiming these areas is an important part of the work DEP does to restore the environment and protect the communities in the Commonwealth, all while simultaneously creating jobs and bolstering the economy,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These grant recipients are taking on projects to pave the way for meaningful efforts in improving water quality, fostering ecosystem recovery, and revitalizing communities for a greater quality of life for Pennsylvanians.”

The funding was awarded under Pennsylvania’s federally funded Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program, funded in part by the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA), which has invested more than $700 million into reclaiming Pennsylvania’s AML since 2022.