(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from the The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, (USACE) they announced the start of physical remediation (excavation) at the Shallow Land Disposal Area (SLDA), which marks a major milestone in efforts to safely address legacy radiological waste and protect nearby communities and the environment. USACE started excavation work on April 7th, at the 44-acre site located at 2992 River Road in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, which is about 23 miles east-northeast of Pittsburgh along the Kiskiminetas River in Armstrong County near the communities of Apollo and Vandergrift. The project team has transitioned from pre-remediation preparations, including the installation of site buildings and equipment, to the start of active cleanup of radiological materials. Work will begin deliberately and proceed methodically as crews evaluate site conditions and materials encountered during the process. Excavation activities are expected to progress at a pace that may vary as conditions change. USACE and its contractors will start with the removal of the topsoil on Trench 8, then excavate contaminated material. During each stage of excavation, the Corps of Engineers and its contractors will continuously monitor the site and adjust operations as needed while prioritizing worker and public safety, complying with regulatory requirements, and following best practices.