August 1, 2025

Radioactive Wasp Nest Discovered at Savannah River Site

News Summary

Officials in South Carolina confirmed a radioactive wasp nest was found at the Savannah River Site, revealing radiation levels exceeding federal limits. The nest, located near nuclear waste storage tanks, was treated and disposed of as radioactive waste, with no living wasps present. Authorities ensured there were no dangers to workers or the community, linking the radiation to historical site operations. Ongoing management of nuclear waste continues as concerns about tank integrity remain.

South Carolina officials confirmed the discovery of a radioactive wasp nest at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken on July 3, 2023. The nest, located on a post near liquid nuclear waste storage tanks, reported radiation levels exceeding ten times the federally regulated limits for contamination. However, authorities have assured the public that there is no danger stemming from this incident.

During routine radiological monitoring, workers identified the nest, which was found to contain no living wasps. Following discovery, the site personnel treated the nest with insecticide, disposed of it as radioactive waste, and reassured that there were no adverse impacts on workers, the environment, or the surrounding community.

The high radiation levels detected are attributed to “onsite legacy radioactive contamination,” indicating that the presence of radiation is linked to historical activities at the site rather than a failure in contamination controls. A report from the U.S. Department of Energy also noted that the surrounding area of the site showed no contamination, deeming no further action was necessary.

Set up in the early 1950s, the Savannah River Site was initially established to produce plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons during the Cold War. Over the decades, the mission has shifted towards environmental cleanup and management of nuclear materials. To date, the SRS has successfully reduced its liquid nuclear waste from 165 million gallons to approximately 34 million gallons through extensive evaporation processes.

The site still contains 43 operational underground tanks, with eight being permanently closed. The F-Area Tank Farm, where the radioactive wasp nest was found, consists of 22 underground carbon steel tanks, which can each hold between 750,000 and 1.3 million gallons of radioactive waste. Despite advances in waste management, some concerns persist about the integrity of the tanks and the potential for leaks.

Concerns from local watchdog groups, like Savannah River Site Watch, highlight issues related to transparency about the source of the radioactive waste and the risks posed by the aging waste tanks. As the SRS continues to transition away from weapons production, ongoing monitoring and management practices remain critical to ensure public safety and environmental protection.

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