WAVERLY, Ohio — A community event in Waverly attracted significant regional attention on Sunday evening as advocacy groups joined forces to shed light on ongoing radioactive contamination issues stemming from the former Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon.
Spearheaded by Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS) and Don’t Dump On Us, the event featured a lineup of prominent speakers, including Dr. Michael Ketterer, an analytical chemist and professor emeritus at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Ketterer’s expertise has been instrumental in providing independent analysis of radioactive specimens found throughout Pike and Scioto Counties. At the gathering, Dr. Ketterer delivered updates on recent testing samples from Little Beaver Creek and Big Beaver Creek, underscoring mounting concerns amid the plant’s deconstruction and the concurrent production of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) at the Centrus facility.
Centrus Energy Corporation, the United States’ sole producer of HALEU, recently announced delays in its production schedule due to “supply chain challenges” in securing specialized storage cylinders, prompting questions about the nation’s nuclear independence ambitions. This setback highlights the complexities involved in scaling up production and raises significant concerns about feasibility and environmental impact.
Additionally, Oklo Inc., a nuclear startup specializing in advanced fission technology, recently inked a land rights agreement with the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI), potentially paving the way for the siting of two powerhouses in Piketon.
The primary focus of the community meeting was to rally residents to sign a petition advocating for the inclusion of Pike County and surrounding communities in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Downwinder Program. The program provides compensation to individuals exposed to radiation from nuclear weapons testing or enrichment sites.
Vina Colley, President of PRESS, called on elected officials to throw their support behind legislation adding affected communities to the RECA program. Gina Doyle from the Facebook group Don’t Dump on Us shared alarming statistics regarding cancer cases and the rising death toll associated with the Piketon Atomic Plant.
Pat Marida, Coordinator with the Ohio Nuclear Free Network, emphasized documented history of contamination from the site.
Jason Salley, a local community advocate and Media Relations Spokesperson for PRESS, delivered a passionate plea for Pike County’s inclusion in the RECA program, urging accountability from lawmakers.
Residents’ concerns regarding legislators’ ties to the nuclear industry have added an aura of skepticism, with the Guardian reporting in 2023 that several key lawmakers have received campaign contributions from Centrus Energy Corp. PAC, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown.
Residents interested in supporting the petition to include Pike County and surrounding communities in the RECA Downwinder Program can sign the online petition here.
The event underscored the community’s determination to address longstanding environmental concerns and advocate for the well-being of affected residents.