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A radioactive wasp nest was discovered on July 3 at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina; a location once used for producing nuclear weapons. The nest, found near tanks storing liquid nuclear waste, had radiation levels exceeding federal limits by more than ten times, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The nest was sprayed and disposed of as radioactive waste, with no wasps found on it.
The Department of Energy attributes the contamination to "onsite legacy radioactive contamination" rather than a current leak. No contamination was found in the surrounding area, and officials stated there was no risk to workers, the environment, or the public. The Savannah River Site, operational since the 1950s, originally produced plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons but now focuses on nuclear materials management and cleanup.
Tom Clements, executive director of the Savannah River Site Watch, expressed frustration over the lack of detailed information about the contamination's origin. He emphasized the importance of understanding the type of wasp nest to trace the contamination source.
“I’m as mad as a hornet that SRS didn’t explain where the radioactive waste came from or if there is some kind of leak from the waste tanks that the public should be aware of,” Clements told CNN.
Officials said that no further action is required, and there is no current risk to the public.