Dallas-based Valhi, Inc. announces radioactive byproduct license decision

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — Valhi, Inc. reported today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Waste Control Specialists LLC, received notification that the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has prepared a draft license and made a preliminary decision that this license meets all statutory and regulatory requirements for the disposal of byproduct material at WCS' site in Andrews County, Texas.

Byproduct material includes uranium or thorium mill tailings as well as equipment, pipe and other materials used to handle and process the mill tailings.

"This is a great accomplishment for our company and I am very proud of our team of professionals that prepared the license application," said Rodney A. Baltzer, President of WCS. "The byproduct license application was a result of thousands of hours spent by WCS analyzing and documenting the characteristics of our site and describing the design and operations of the proposed byproduct disposal facility."

"When approved, this license will allow us to safely dispose of the 3,776 canisters received from the Fernald, Ohio site remediation and currently in storage at our site as well as provide a more economical disposal facility for uranium miners in Texas and New Mexico," Mr. Baltzer said. "We have a great facility and a supportive community who welcomes the addition of jobs that this will bring to the area."

The WCS facility in Andrews County, Texas is currently licensed for the processing, storage and disposal of a broad range of hazardous, toxic and certain types of low-level and mixed low-level radioactive waste.

Valhi is engaged in the titanium dioxide pigments, component products (security products, furniture components and performance marine components) and waste management industries.

Source: Valhi