What Went Wrong: America’s Most Notorious Nuclear Waste Failures
While most Americans have heard of nuclear disasters like Chernobyl or Fukushima, far fewer are aware of the nuclear waste crises that have occurred right here in the United States. From leaking barrels to failed containment sites, our country’s history with radioactive waste is a story of short-term fixes, secrecy, and long-term consequences.
1. Hanford Site – Washington
The problem: Once a key part of the Manhattan Project, the Hanford Site produced plutonium for nuclear weapons and remains one of the most contaminated sites in the U.S.
Over 53 million gallons of radioactive waste stored in underground tanks
Numerous tank leaks into the soil and groundwater
Estimated cleanup costs exceed $100 billion and may last another 50 years
Why it matters:
Hanford is a cautionary tale of what happens when urgency trumps oversight—and waste is hidden rather than handled.
2. West Valley Demonstration Project – New York
The problem: A commercial reprocessing facility in the 1960s that became an early nuclear waste catastrophe.
High-level radioactive waste was stored in poorly designed tanks
Groundwater contamination and long-term threats to nearby communities
Why it matters:
It proved early on that commercial nuclear waste storage is risky without proper long-term planning and federal oversight.
3. WIPP Fire & Radiation Leak – New Mexico (2014)
The problem: The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is the nation’s only deep geological repository for nuclear waste—yet it experienced a catastrophic failure.
A drum containing plutonium waste exploded underground due to improper packaging
21 workers were exposed to radiation
The facility was shut down for nearly 3 years and cost $500 million to recover
Why it matters:
Even our “best” storage facility failed due to human error and inadequate regulation.
4. Rocky Flats – Colorado
The problem: A weapons production site near Denver with a history of radioactive releases and fires
Plutonium contamination of surrounding areas
Classified as a Superfund site
Long-term health concerns remain for nearby residents
Why it matters:
Rocky Flats shows how communities can suffer lasting harm—even decades after facilities are decommissioned.
5. Yucca Mountain – Nevada
The problem: Meant to be the nation’s long-term waste repository, Yucca Mountain became the most politically contested project in modern nuclear history.
Billions spent developing the site
Statewide opposition halted its progress
No nuclear waste has ever been stored there
Why it matters:
Even when a plan is made, lack of local consent and political maneuvering can render it useless.
6. Three Mile Island – Pennsylvania (1979)
The problem: The most infamous nuclear accident in U.S. history, Three Mile Island experienced a partial reactor meltdown due to mechanical and human failures.
Radioactive gases were released into the atmosphere
No immediate deaths, but widespread public panic and long-term health concerns
Exposed the lack of emergency planning and reinforced public distrust in nuclear energy
Why it matters:
While not a waste disaster in the traditional sense, the aftermath created tons of contaminated equipment and radioactive material that had to be stored long-term—highlighting how reactor accidents complicate waste management.
7. Fernald Feed Materials Plant – Ohio
The problem: A uranium processing facility that leaked radioactive dust and contaminated groundwater over decades.
More than 1,000 tons of uranium released into the environment
A 37-year operational period without fully containing emissions
Nearby residents filed class-action lawsuits over exposure and health effects
Why it matters:
Fernald demonstrates how uranium processing—not just waste storage—can poison land and communities if not tightly regulated.
8. Nuclear Fuel Services – Erwin, Tennessee
The problem: A still-operating fuel production facility with a history of safety violations and secretive handling of enriched uranium.
Documented leaks of highly enriched uranium into local groundwater
Significant community concern and government investigations
Operations largely hidden from public view
Why it matters:
Even today, some facilities continue to put communities at risk with minimal transparency.
What These Failures Teach Us
Across every region, the U.S. has struggled to manage its nuclear waste responsibly. Whether caused by technical failures, mismanagement, or lack of public input, these cases all prove one thing:
Temporary solutions lead to permanent problems.
At ARNW, we are not anti-nuclear. We believe nuclear energy may have a role in a sustainable energy future. But that future must be built on common sense—not shortcuts.
If, after nearly 70 years of nuclear development, the U.S. still has no permanent, consent-based solution for storing radioactive waste… why would we now license a site in Texas or New Mexico that was never designed for permanent storage?
Why would we undermine state authority and federal law to rush a solution that endangers communities—especially when the same federal government has collected over $40 billion for exactly this purpose, with little to show for it?
We don’t need to bury this problem in the Southwest—we need to deal with it, together, with accountability and foresight. Across every region, the U.S. has struggled to manage its nuclear waste responsibly. Whether caused by technical failures, mismanagement, or lack of public input, these cases all prove one thing:
Temporary solutions lead to permanent problems.