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UniTech Services Group, Inc., was formerly called Interstate Nuclear Services Corp., (“INS”). UniTech changed its name from INS to UniTech in the year 2000.
INS bought the Royersford laundry plant from its competitor Tri State Inc., in January of 1984. Since then, UniTech has operated the facility in Royersford with a good regulatory record, and has been a responsible corporate citizen. In 1984, UniTech’s wash water was discharged to the local sewage treatment works on First Avenue. Some of the radioactive material contained in the wash water was filtered-out and collected in the treatment plant. The wash water, combined with treated sewage from the Treatment plant was discharged to the Schuylkill River after treatment.
In the mid 1980’s, due to concerns that had nothing to do with UniTech or radioactive material, DEP (called DER at the time) decided to stop allowing the Borough of Royersford to dispose of sludge (waste material) from the treatment plant on local farms. Instead, DER decided the sludge should go to local landfills.
When sent to local landfills, radioactive material in the sludge set-off sensitive radiation monitors located at the entrance to the landfills, and this spawned a research project at the sewage treatment plant.
Royersford’s sewage treatment plant used an old technology known as “reed beds” to collect and dry sludge. Radioactive material accumulated in the reed beds and as it built up, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission monitored the levels of radioactive material and radiation at the sewage treatment plant. There was never any threat to the health and safety of the public from radioactive material at the sewage treatment plant. Nevertheless, both DEP and the NRC were forced, from time-to-time, to respond to radiation monitor alarms at the landfill.
To avoid the buildup of radioactive material at the treatment plant, DEP and the NRC decided that it would be preferable if UniTech discharged its wash water directly to the Schuylkill River instead of having it go to the Royersford sewage treatment plant.
Over the ensuing 15 or 20 years, UniTech attempted to gain access for a pipeline to the River. Finally, in 2003, UniTech obtained an easement under the railroad track and over the neighbor’s property and this allowed the company to install a pipeline to the River. The pipeline is a special double walled pipe buried deep underground. In addition, UniTech had to install a biological waste treatment plant of its own to treat the wash water before discharge. UniTech invested over a million dollars to upgrade its treatment system, and was required to obtain an NPDES permit before discharging any water to the River.
The NPDES permitting process was fully open to the public. DEP published notices about the permit in local newspapers and the Delaware River Basin Commission held a public hearing on the permit before allowing it to be issued. A number of comments were received and addressed by DEP during the permitting process.
While most licensees are allowed to discharge radioactive material that would result in a radiation exposure of 50 millirem per year, UniTech’s permit only allows exposures to 4 millirem per year. UniTech, in-fact, discharges significantly less radioactivity than would be required to produce even one millirem per year.
UniTech began discharging wash water to the Schuylkill River in 2004.
Long after UniTech started discharging to the River, in the summer of 2008, the reed beds were decommissioned and there was some controversy over the disposal of the material in a local landfill. Ultimately, however, the disposal was sanctioned by DEP and NRC.
After enduring negative publicity over the reed beds, DEP decided to take a proactive approach regarding the expected presence of radioactive material in the Schuylkill river.
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Last updated: Thursday, March 5, 2009 9:19 AM