Fairmont Brine Facility was Processing Radioactivity Fracking Wastewater

Monitoring of land, air and water still needed

>>> Message from Cole Devine, On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA Region 3, November 9, 2023

I apologize for the delay in my response and thank you for reaching out with your concerns.

The health and safety of the local community is top of mind for EPA, WV DHHR, WV DEP, and Marion County. The only verified assessments of the site at this time are those which have been undertaken by responding federal and state agencies.

These assessments did confirm the presence of radioactivity originating from radium 226, with the highest dose rate at 3 mrem per hour in one location. This dose rate, although one of concern, would not cause immediate health effects. However, exposure over a lifetime to lower levels can cause an increase in cancer risk.

Current and future actions to restrict access to the site are also meant to mitigate long term exposures from radiation to trespassers, responders, and the public.

A fence is being erected as a safety protocol to ensure the areas in which the most elevated levels of radium 226 contamination were found remain undisturbed by preventing any unauthorized access. If you would like to discuss specific health concerns and incidents of exposure, please reach out to the state health agency at 304-558-2981.

Below are some links we are working on adding to the website with informational resources.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-06/relative-doses-radiation.jpg

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/emergencies/00_images/infographics/Contamination_versus_Exposure.jpg

https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-sources-and-doses