North Dakota TENORM Sites
The FracTracker Alliance has worked with the Western Organization of Resources Councils (WORC) to map out exactly where the radioactive oil and [gas] wastes are being dumped, stored, and injected into the ground for disposal. This work follows up on their [WORC's] comprehensive “No Time to Waste” report. The locations of various types of facilities that handle and dispose of these wastes have been documented and mapped.
The formations targeted for unconventional development are mostly ancient sea-beds still filled with salty “brines” known as “formation waters”. In addition the hazardous chemicals in the fracking fluid pumped into the wells for fracking, these unconventional formations contain larger amounts of heavy metals, carcinogens and other toxics. This also includes radioisotopes such as Uranium, Thorium, Radium, Potassium-40, Lead-210, and Polonium-210 than the conventional formations that have supplied the majority of oil and gas prior to the shale boom. [For more information about oil and gas waste in North Dakota, visit http://earthworks.org_______]
Map Layer Descriptions
North Dakota Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities
Under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1985, each state is required to provide disposal facilities for LLW generated within its borders. Disposal may be provided by the state alone or in cooperation with other states.
North Dakota Class II Disposal Wells
Class II wells are used only to inject fluids associated with oil and natural gas production. Class II fluids are primarily brines (salt water) that are brought to the surface while producing oil and gas. It is estimated that over 2 billion gallons of brine are injected in the United States every day.
North Dakota Brine Spills
The locations where brines and other liquid wastes such as flowback fluids have been spilled, creating a radioactive hazard, have been mapped.
Oil and Gas Wells
Oil and gas exploration and production operations produce the radioactive wastes that are stored and disposed of in the mapped locations. Therefore the storage and disposal operations are typically located where there are higher concentrations of oil and gas development.
