Judge Halts Radioactive Waste Shipments to Michigan Landfill

Communities near Detroit sue to block radioactive soil from New York, citing safety concerns and lack of public input.

A Wayne County Circuit Judge issued a temporary restraining order stopping shipments of radioactive waste from New York to a landfill in Van Buren Township.
Belleville, Romulus, and other nearby townships filed a lawsuit to halt the shipments, emphasizing community safety and the need for public input.
The radioactive waste originates from the Manhattan Project cleanup site in Lewiston, New York, and was slated to be transported to Michigan until January 2025.
Republic Services, the landfill operator, is currently operating on an expired license and is seeking a renewal from Michigan state regulators.
Local officials and residents argue that they were not adequately informed about the shipments and have raised concerns about the landfill's safety and preparedness.