The state of North Dakota has temporarily suspended its review of applications to allow disposal of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) at two landfills in Williams County.
The freeze gives time for officials in the northwestern county to decide whether to approve amendments to the conditional use permits for the landfills to begin accepting the new waste type.
Secure Energy Services, based in Calgary, Alberta, in April 2018 filed its application with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for a radioactive material license for its 13-Mile Special Waste Landfill in Williston. The energy production and exploration services company then requested a modification for its solid waste permit to allow for TENORM disposal at the site.
The Department of Environmental Quality took public comments on the license application from Aug. 6 to Sept. 9, including a public hearing on Aug. 27.
“The Department is currently reviewing the submitted public comments and hearing testimony to develop a response,” David Stradinger, an environmental scientist with DEQ’s Radiation Control Program, said by email Tuesday. “The application is on hold until the Williams County Planning and Zoning and Williams County Commissions meet to deliberate zoning approval.”
The amendment to the county conditional use permit would simply add disposal of TENORM waste for Secure Energy Services’ 160-acre special waste landfill. The county Planning and Zoning Commission has scheduled a hearing on the amendment for Oct. 17. It could then submit its recommendation to the County Commission for consideration during its Nov. 5 meeting, according to Taylor Dawson, a staff planner in the county Planning and Zoning Division.
The other applicant for a state radioactive material license is WISCO Inc., for its own landfill west of Williston. The company has not applied for an amendment to its Williams County conditional use permit, Dawson said.
Each proceeding, barring unforeseen developments, would be expected to last about six weeks.