THE POISONING OF THE VALLEY: A Legacy of Neglect and Deceit at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

PART I: A SYSTEM BUILT ON FAILURE – THE REGULATORY CHARADE

The story of PORTS (Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant) is not just one of industrial processes, but of a regulatory system that repeatedly failed to protect the public and the environment. The permits meant to control pollution became licenses to pollute, with violations treated as routine and enforcement actions proving largely toothless against a tide of ongoing contamination.

Paper Permits, Real Poison: A History of Violations

Operations at PORTS have been governed by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which regulate discharges into local waterways. Yet, the facility's compliance history is a shocking chronicle of repeated failures.

Chronic Violations: Ohio EPA records are replete with Notices of Violation (NOVs). Multiple Total Suspended Solids (TSS) violations at outfalls 002, 003, 005, and 009 in 2019 alone were so severe that they led to a Significant Non-Compliance (SNC) classification. One source indicates nearly 150 TSS violations in the last five years, a staggering figure that points to systemic operational failure.

Image shows how effluents are drained into Little Beaver Creek.

• A Pattern of Non-Compliance: A June 2019 NOV cited these TSS violations and the observation of lime sludge in Little Beaver Creek. A 2015 NOV flagged violations for Total Residual Chlorine, Water Temperature, Acute Toxicity, and Oil and Grease. Outfall 611 saw Trichloroethylene (TCE) violations in December 2019 and again in 2024. Outfall 005's persistent TSS violations led to a December 2020 Administrative Consent Order (ACO) mandating a Ferric Chloride Coagulation System – a corrective action forced only after years of documented pollution.

Map showing liquid discharge points at PORTS.

• Historical Precedent: This is not a new problem. In 1975, monitoring showed frequent fluoride exceedances in Little Beaver Creek. The sheer volume of historical releases, quantified for both air and water from 1955-1987, underscores the long-term nature of the assault on the environment.

Self-Monitoring or Self-Deception?

A cornerstone of environmental regulation is the requirement for facilities to monitor their own discharges and report them accurately. At PORTS, this system appears to have been deeply compromised.

• "Systemic Issues": An August 2019 U.S. EPA National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) inspection identified "systemic issues with Fluor's self-monitoring program" and ambiguous TSS permit conditions. This federal finding is a direct indictment of the contractors' and, by extension, the Department of Energy's (DOE) failure to ensure reliable oversight.

A letter from the Pike County General Health District warns residents not to eat locally sourced produce.

• Delayed and Inadequate Reporting: The May 2019 incident of lime sludge in Little Beaver Creek was marked by a failure to promptly notify the Ohio EPA. Challenges with sample analysis and inconsistencies in historical data, such as the Technetium-99 (Tc-99) air data from a 1984 report (noted in a 1995 NESHAP report), further erode confidence in the reported data.

Information from the NRC, EPA, and DOE proves that the radioactive cylinders at PORTS are leaking.

Warnings Ignored: Decades of Documented Deficiencies

Concerns about PORTS' environmental practices are not recent revelations. Regulatory files stretching back decades reveal a pattern of official warnings and unheeded advice.

WATCH: HAUNTING AERIAL VIEW OF PORTS

Early EPA Concerns (Late 1980s - Early 1990s): EPA comments on the Description of Current Conditions (DOCC) document raised pointed questions about facility operations, waste handling, potential hazards (including hydrogen cyanide formation at X-720), and data contradictions related to groundwater monitoring for contaminants like vinyl chloride and acrolein. The EPA even questioned the assertion that TCE from the X-701B area would not contaminate Little Beaver Creek

Map showing the location of toxic groundwater plumes, landfills, and other contaminated buildings at PORTS.

• Waste Management Crisis (1991): A March 5, 1991, Work Group Meeting between Ohio EPA and USDOE/Martin Marietta Energy Systems (MMES) laid bare critical waste management issues. Ohio EPA voiced alarm over inadequate cleanup standards (e.g., X-616 chromium), insufficient landfill capacity (X-735, X-749), and the pressing need to permit unpermitted waste storage areas due to a "critical shortage of storage space," leading to a proposal to use the X-7725 building for RCRA hazardous and mixed waste.

• Inadequate Neptunium Monitoring: A glaring current deficiency is the inadequate monitoring of Neptunium-237. While DOE's PEGASIS data system contains Np-237 results, the failure to routinely employ more sensitive techniques like mass spectrometry means the true extent of Np-237 contamination – a potent radionuclide – may be dangerously underreported. This starkly contrasts the recommendations for enforceable standards for other radionuclides at other DOE sites.

Screenshot of DOE’s Pegasis website.

PART II: THE DEADLY COCKTAIL – CONTAMINANTS UNLEASHED

The PORTS facility handled a vast array of hazardous materials. Through routine operations, accidents, and allegedly intentional releases, these substances found their way into the surrounding environment, creating a complex and dangerous contamination profile.

The Radioactive Roster: Uranium, Plutonium, Neptunium, and Technetium

The primary mission of PORTS involved uranium enrichment, but its legacy includes a host of other dangerous radionuclides:

• Uranium (U) and its progeny: Naturally, uranium isotopes are key contaminants. A 1985 incident saw operators at the X-333 building ignore alarms, releasing over 50 kg of uranium to the atmosphere.

• Plutonium (Pu-239): A highly toxic transuranic element.

• Neptunium-237 (Np-237): A long-lived radionuclide. Its presence is significantly linked to the use of "recycled uranium" from plutonium production reactors as feed material at PORTS since the 1950s. This practice introduced Np and Pu impurities into the site. Np-237 contamination in groundwater (e.g., 1.48 pCi/L in well X701-20G) is attributed to past irresponsible disposal of transuranic (TRU) wastes.

A man examines a leaking cylinder at PORTS. Notice the yellow discoloration on the ground.

• Technetium-99 (Tc-99): A fission product, also found in groundwater plumes likely discharging into Little Beaver Creek.

The Chemical Culprits: From PCBs to Solvents

Beyond radioactive materials, a slew of hazardous chemicals were used and released:

• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): PCB-contaminated soil was excavated from the East Drainage Ditch in June 1986.

• Trichloroethylene (TCE): A solvent detected in the Berea Formation groundwater around X-701B.

• Other Chemicals: Chromated water (discharges from X-333 questioned by EPA), chlorinated solvents (found in X-700 basement sump discharging to X-701C in the late 1980s), ammonia (high levels in Little Beaver Creek and East Drainage Ditch traced to X-705), copper (causing Outfall 004 to be offline), and oil and grease (violations at Outfalls 011 and 002). The SARA 313 Chemical Release reports from 1988 and 1990 list numerous other chemicals like acetone, chlorine, chromium, freon, hydrogen fluoride, methanol, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.

WATCH THE MOVIE, "PIKETON"

Pathways of Poison: How Contamination Spreads

These contaminants did not remain confined within the plant's boundaries. They migrated through multiple environmental pathways:

• Waterborne Contamination:

Surface Water: Permitted outfalls (001-011, 015, 608, 610, 611 historically monitored) served as direct conduits to Little Beaver Creek and subsequently the Scioto River. Chronic permit violations, SSOs (February 2020), and incidents like the May 2019 lime sludge release downstream of Outfall 005 highlight this pathway. A major accidental uranium release to the Scioto River occurred in 1978.

Satellite images of the X-611B sludge lagoon show runoff pathways from the site. It would first cross McCorkle Road and then straight into a geological bowl. At the center of the bowl is Hodge Lane. What was in those lagoons? PCBs, TCE, Chromium, Technetium, and enriched Uranium.

Groundwater: Contaminant plumes, notably containing Tc-99 and Np-237, have developed beneath the site. The Np-237 plume at the X-701 location is particularly concerning, with evidence suggesting it is discharging into Little Beaver Creek. The X-237 groundwater collection system, designed to intercept this flow, is suspected of not fully capturing the Np-237.

These internal DOE documents reveal that hundreds of thousands of pounds of dangerous chemicals were released from the plant over a two-year period.

• Infrastructure Failures: Documented issues with collapsed pipes, blockages, infiltration/inflow, and undocumented pipes have compromised the integrity of site systems. Process Waste Lines were discovered to have pipe dissolution issues as early as 1982.

• Airborne Contamination:

• Accidental Releases: The massive 1978 UF6 cylinder rupture (releasing 21,000 lbs), the 1985 X-333 uranium release (>50 kg), and the 1998 Cascade Fire in an X-326 cell (releasing radioactive material from a cell that three months prior contained nearly 95% U-235, reportedly without public notice) all contributed to atmospheric contamination. The X-326 fire occurred near the purge gas exit to the Tall Stack.

The location of the “Midnight Rockets” at the X-326. The tower is a 164-foot stack where radioactive emissions were jetted out. Pike County, Ohio, was nuked regularly by the United States Department of Energy.

WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE MIDNIGHT ROCKETS

• Routine Emissions: Atmospheric vents from buildings like X-700, X-705A (incinerator), and X-720 were potential sources. The Steam Plant was a source of quantified airborne releases in 1990 (Sulfur dioxide, NOx, CO, Particulates).

50,000 lbs. of uranium-contaminated waste were burned annually. Don’t forget, this facility also enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.

• Alleged Intentional Releases: A 2023 Whistleblower Lawsuit references "Midnight Rockets," alleging intentional atmospheric releases, contributing to community contamination.

This report explains the “Midnight Rockets.” It clearly states that HEU (High-Enriched Uranium/ nuclear weapons grade material) was bled to the top purge. Where was that top purge vent? It was the 164-foot stack where weapons-grade material was jetted into the atmosphere. Right out of the south side of the X-326 building.

A 2023 health study revealed alarming levels of Tc-99 throughout the region. A fissionable material traced directly to PORTS.

• Soil and Biota Contamination:

• Deposition and Uptake: Radionuclides released to the air can be deposited on soil and taken up by plants. Historical monitoring (1975) sampled local food (milk, vegetables) for radionuclides.

• Neptunium in Vegetation: Crucially, significant plant uptake of Neptunium-237 has been documented in riparian vegetation near the Little Beaver Creek - Big Beaver Creek confluence. These levels are not accounted for by weapons testing fallout, indicating a direct pathway from PORTS contamination into the local ecosystem and potentially the food chain. Calculated soil-to-plant transfer factors for Np-237 exist. Historical internal correspondence (1976/1977) shows awareness of "transuranics" (Np and Pu) contamination at this location and their potential entry into Little Beaver Creek.

VIEW DR. KETTERER’S REPORT

Known Unknowns: The Neptunium Blind Spot

The handling of Neptunium-237 exemplifies the troubling gaps in understanding and transparency. While its presence in groundwater (1.48 pCi/L in well X701-20G) and riparian soils/sediments (concentrations ~100-fold elevated compared to fallout, e.g., 0.0409 pCi/g of Np-237 is documented, the routine use of less sensitive monitoring techniques means its full extent and migration patterns may be dangerously underestimated. The Pike County General Health District was formally informed of its presence, yet concerns persist that individuals consuming foods grown within 10-15 miles of PORTS may be ingesting Np-237, with official narratives sometimes deflecting blame to global fallout despite clear evidence of on-site contamination from recycled uranium and TRU waste disposal. Studies on the species form of neptunium in water are still needed.

PART III: BEYOND THE BARBED WIRE – A COMMUNITY UNDER SIEGE

The toxic legacy of PORTS is not confined to government reports and monitoring wells. It has breached the plant's perimeter, manifesting in contaminated public spaces, confirmed by independent testing, and etched into the memories and anxieties of the local community.

Ground Zero: The Tragedy of Zahn's Corner Middle School

The most alarming evidence of off-site contamination is the fate of Zahn's Corner Middle School.

VIEW THE ZAHN’S CORNER REPORT

Radioactive Discovery and Closure: Located near PORTS, the school was permanently closed in 2019 after radioactive isotopes of enriched uranium were discovered inside the building and in an air monitor. Students were abruptly relocated.

• DOE Denial, Community Outrage: Despite these findings, the DOE publicly refuted a report detailing the contamination, claiming the school was safe. This denial flew in the face of the drastic action of closing a school.

A local church that gets funding from a DOE contractor purchased the radioactive school and has moved its church inside.

Steve Moore, a major Department of Energy (DOE) contractor, granted funds through his foundation for Vanguard Ministries to purchase a new building. What did they buy? Zahn’s Corner Middle School. Many in the church leadership work for DOE contractors at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS). Moore is the head of WAI, a DOE contractor, and also runs several other companies that receive substantial DOE contracts. He was also appointed to Ohio’s secret nuclear cabel by Governor Mike DeWine. The Ohio Nuclear Development Authority. 

• Auctioning a Contaminated Site: In a move that sparked profound community outrage, the Scioto Valley Local School Board approved the auction of the contaminated, un-decontaminated school building in July 2024. Local activists, including Gina Doyle of "Don't Dump On Us," condemned the decision as "ludicrous" and a "cruel joke," arguing potential buyers were not adequately informed of its hazardous past, as the auction listing reportedly failed to mention the radioactive history. This action is viewed by many residents as a blatant disregard for their safety and well-being.

VIDEO FROM THE PROTEST OVER THE SALE OF ZAHN’S CORNER

The Evidence Mounts: Independent Testing Confirms Fears

Community concerns have been tragically validated by independent investigations.

• 2023 Independent Testing (HHRA): A Health Hazard Assessment (HHRA) revealed radioactive contamination in soil, water, and dust downwind of PORTS. Technetium-99 exceeded established levels in soil samples. Critically, Plutonium-238 was found in dust and water, linked to the plant for the first time. The contamination pattern strikingly followed historical wind direction and fallout dispersion from the Tall Stack, corroborating long-held community suspicions.

Human health study showing off-site plutonium contamination.

A Landscape Scarred: Documented Incidents and Ongoing Threats

The evidence of off-site impact is woven through decades of incidents:

• Visible Pollution: The observation of lime sludge in Little Beaver Creek downstream of Outfall 005 in May 2019 provided a stark visual of direct contamination. A resident's report of a pipe leaking bluish liquid, subsequently removed/excavated by the facility in 2024, highlights the role of citizen oversight in uncovering potential threats.

• Historical Contamination Events: The 1978 major accidental uranium release into the Scioto River, historical high ammonia levels in Little Beaver Creek and the East Drainage Ditch (traced to X-705), and PCB contamination in the East Drainage Ditch (1986) are all part of this polluting past.

Whispers Become Screams: Eyewitnesses to Contamination

For years, residents have shared anecdotal evidence that now aligns chillingly with documented releases and scientific findings.

• Sensory Assaults: Reports of "yellow snow," "metallic-tasting air," and "mysterious yellow dust" coincide with documented releases and wind patterns, suggesting direct exposure to airborne contaminants.

Portsmouth/ Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security President Vina Colley speaks to journalist Jason Salley during the protest of the sale of Zahn’s Corner Middle School

• "Midnight Rockets": The 2023 Whistleblower Lawsuit, referencing alleged intentional atmospheric releases dubbed "Midnight Rockets," gives a name to fears that the plant deliberately vented contaminants under the cover of darkness, further exposing the community.

READ THE LAWSUIT

PART IV: THE DEVASTATING TOLL – A PUBLIC HEALTH CATASTROPHE

The most damning indictment of the failures at PORTS is found in the health statistics of Pike County. A community living in the shadow of a major radiological and chemical facility is experiencing alarming rates of cancer and death, a tragedy that local residents and some health experts believe is no coincidence.

Pike County's Grim Statistics: Cancer and Mortality Rates Soar

An August 15, 2024, report from renowned epidemiologist Joe Mangano, "HEALTH RISK TO LOCAL RESIDENTS FROM THE PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT," paints a horrifying picture:

• Highest Cancer Incidence in Ohio: Pike County's cancer incidence from 2010-2019 was 15% higher than the U.S. average, ranking it the highest in Ohio.
• Skyrocketing Cancer Mortality: Cancer mortality in Pike County has dramatically worsened over time. From being 12% below the U.S. average in the 1950s-1960s, it surged to 32.8% above the U.S. average in 2019-2020.
• Disproportionate Impact on Younger Ages: For individuals aged 0-74, cancer mortality in Pike County exceeded the U.S. average by approximately 50% between 2009-2020.
• Elevated All-Cause Mortality: The crisis extends beyond cancer. Pike County's age-adjusted all-cause mortality was 42.3% greater than the U.S. (2019-2020). For those aged 0-74, it was a shocking 85.0% above the U.S. average (2017-2020).

READ THE MANGANO REPORT

Connecting the Dots: PORTS Contamination and Community Illness

While direct causation in individual cases can be complex to prove, the weight of circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.

• Official Acknowledgement of Risk: The Health Risk report itself explicitly calls for a review of environmental toxins from PORTS as potential contributors to these disturbing local health trends.
• Zahns Corner Cancers: Reports indicate that several former students of the contaminated Zahns Corner Middle School have been diagnosed with cancer.
• Community Belief: The Scioto Valley Guardian article directly states that "over the decades, radioactive material from PORTS has led to Pike County having some of the highest cancer rates in Ohio." This reflects a deeply held conviction within the affected community.

Lawsuits Filed: Two federal lawsuits have reportedly been filed on behalf of local residents, seeking redress for alleged health impacts.

WATCH: TAKE A RIDE AROUND PORTS WITH A WHISTLEBLOWER

"A Cruel Joke": The Fight for Recognition and Medical Justice

The community's anguish is compounded by perceived indifference and obfuscation from authorities. The auction of Zahns Corner Middle School is seen not just as an isolated bad decision, but as emblematic of a larger pattern of disregard for their suffering and safety. The fight for Pike County is now a fight for acknowledgment of the harm done, for comprehensive health support for those affected, and for a future free from the constant fear of invisible poisons.

PART V: THE ARCHITECTS OF A DISASTER – A WEB OF CULPABILITY

The environmental catastrophe in Pike County is not the result of a single accident or a lone bad actor. It is the product of decades of decisions and indecisions, actions and inactions, by a chain of entities, each bearing a share of the responsibility.

The Plant: Decades of Discharge and Denial

The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant itself is the origin point of the contamination.

• Operational Imperatives vs. Safety: The relentless drive to enrich uranium, particularly during the Cold War, often prioritized production over stringent environmental controls.
• Historical Awareness: Damningly, internal correspondence from as early as 1976/1977 reveals that plant operators were aware of "transuranics" contamination (Neptunium and Plutonium) in key areas and understood their potential to migrate into Little Beaver Creek. This early knowledge makes the subsequent decades of pollution even more egregious.
• A Culture of Release: From routine, permitted (though often over-limit) discharges to major accidental releases (UF6 in 1978, X-333 uranium in 1985, X-326 Cascade Fire in 1998) and alleged intentional "Midnight Rockets," the plant has been a consistent source of environmental toxins.

Not the actual image of the X-326 fire.

Federal Failure: The DOE's Abdication of Responsibility

As the owner of the facility and the agency responsible for the nation's nuclear complex, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) holds ultimate accountability.

• Oversight Lapses: The DOE's oversight of its contractors has been demonstrably weak, as evidenced by the U.S. EPA's findings of systemic flaws in Fluor's self-monitoring program. DOE's "official responses" to such findings often appear to be mere formalities rather than commitments to fundamental change.
• Downplaying Risks: The DOE's public refutation of the Zahns Corner Middle School contamination report, despite the school's closure due to radioactive findings, severely damaged public trust and suggested a prioritization of image management over public health.
• Inadequate Monitoring Mandates: The failure to mandate and fund more sensitive and comprehensive monitoring for critical contaminants is a significant DOE lapse, hindering a true understanding of off-site risks.

State Oversight or Oversight Overlooked? The Ohio EPA's Role

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) is the frontline state regulator tasked with enforcing environmental laws.

• A Revolving Door of Violations: Despite issuing numerous NOVs, SNC classifications, and ACOs, the fundamental pattern of non-compliance at PORTS persisted for decades. This raises questions about the efficacy of state enforcement actions against a federally owned, contractor-operated facility.

• Permitting Controversies: The approval of a mercury variance despite ongoing challenges and formal opposition suggests a willingness to accommodate the facility's operational difficulties, potentially at the environment's expense.

• Resource and Authority Questions: While the Ohio EPA has documented many of the problems, its ability or willingness to compel lasting change at a massive federal complex appears limited.

READ THE FIRST DAMNING INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF PORTS

Contractors: Profits Over Protection?

A succession of private contractors has managed PORTS operations for the DOE, including Martin Marietta Energy Systems (MMES), Goodyear Atomic Corp., USEC, and Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC.

• Direct Culpability for Failures: Contractors are responsible for day-to-day operations, environmental compliance, and self-monitoring. The U.S. EPA's direct criticism of Fluor's self-monitoring program in 2019 places responsibility squarely on the contractor.

• Operational Decisions: Decisions regarding waste handling, maintenance, and response to incidents directly impact environmental releases. The discovery of dissolved Process Waste Lines in 1982 or the handling of the X-333 uranium release in 1985 occurred under contractor management.

• Incentive Structures: The contractual relationship between DOE and its site managers can sometimes create incentives that prioritize cost-cutting and operational targets over robust, and potentially more expensive, environmental protection measures.

DOE and Goodyear Atomic Corp. documents showing additional radioactive releases at PORT

WATCH: INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST JASON SALLEY EXPLAINS RECA (RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT) AND WHY PIKE COUNTY SHOULD BE ADDED

CONCLUSION: THE FIGHT FOR PIKE COUNTY'S FUTURE

The evidence compiled is irrefutable: the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant has been the source of significant, dangerous, and ongoing off-site contamination affecting Pike County. This is not merely a historical issue; it is a current crisis with a devastating legacy. A confluence of regulatory failures, operational shortcomings, and a disturbing lack of transparency by the plant, its federal overseers, state regulators, and operating contractors has allowed a toxic brew of radioactive and chemical poisons to seep into the community's environment.

The alarming cancer and mortality rates in Pike County, coupled with the direct contamination of a local school and widespread community health concerns, demand more than just acknowledgment. They demand urgent, comprehensive action.

Image from the recent WKRC Local 12 cancer town hall meeting.

WATCH THE LOCAL 12 CANCER TOWN HALL

The path forward must include:

1. Full Transparency: Unfettered public access to all historical and current monitoring data, incident reports, and health studies.
2. Comprehensive, Independent Testing: Ongoing, independently verified testing of soil, water, air, and biota in and around Pike County, specifically targeting PORTS-related contaminants with the most sensitive methods available.
3. Accountability and Remediation: Holding all culpable parties responsible and demanding a fully funded, scientifically sound cleanup of all contaminated areas, both on-site and off-site, to the highest possible standards.
4. Public Health Support: Establishing long-term medical monitoring and health support services for Pike County residents, particularly those with illnesses potentially linked to PORTS exposure.
5. Enforceable Safeguards: Implementing new, stringent, and independently verified environmental safeguards and monitoring protocols at the PORTS site to prevent any future releases.

Proof that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine received campaign donations from the nuclear industry. Hasn’t he learned anything from the HB6 scandal?

The people of Pike County have endured decades of fear, uncertainty, and loss. They have witnessed their neighbors sicken, their children's school close, and their trust in protective institutions erode. The poisoning of Pike County is a profound betrayal. The fight for its future is a fight for environmental justice, for public health, and for the fundamental right to live in a safe and healthy community. The time for excuses is over. The time for justice is now.