West Lake story: An underground fire, radioactive waste, and governmental failure

West Lake story: An underground fire, radioactive waste, and governmental failure: On July 16, 1973, 28 years to the day after the first nuclear weapon was exploded at Alamogordo, New Mexico, a line of dump trucks containing the detritus from the uranium used to make plutonium for the test bomb showed up at the West Lake landfill in Bridgeton, Missouri. Assuming the trucks were loaded with clean fill, the landfill superintendent waved them through without charging a dumping fee.

Manhattan Project Nuclear Waste Shipping Container 

A truck driver said later that he and others used the black stuff in their home gardens.

Previously Undisclosed Radioactive Dump Site Location in the StLouis Region

By October several thousand shipments were illegally dumped at the landfill in north St Louis

Green had worked from 1946 until about 1958 for several small trucking companies that hauled materials for Mallinckrodt Chemical Works in north St. Louis. The company processed uranium for the federal government under contract to the Atomic Energy Commission.

Photo added by Scotty

Supporting Article: http://blog.mohempenergy.org/2016/01/manhattan-project-nuclear-waste.html


Back to the Article  West Lake story: An underground fire, radioactive waste, and governmental failure

  It’s not far-fetched to conclude that there are parallels between the West Lake waste problem—created and exacerbated by decades of negligence and denial by the US nuclear weapons program and the agencies responsible for protecting people from its harmful legacy—and the disaster in Flint, Michigan, where citizens have been poisoned by lead-laced drinking water, and their public officials have been slow to respond. In fact, on January 27, the editorial board of the St. Louis Post Dispatch explicitly pointed out those parallels, concluding that “too often, people without power and clout don’t count with government officials. A parallel situation exists here with Bridgeton’s West Lake landfill... After seeing what happened in Flint, it comes as no surprise that they doubt government’s will to find a permanent solution.”

Responsibility for the radioactive legacy in north St. Louis County rests squarely on the US government, because the problem there was born of production of the first nuclear weapons. At minimum, the first order of business should be for the Corps of Engineers to remove as much of the West Lake landfill wastes as possible and contain the rest, to protect nearby communities and the drinking water they draw from the Missouri River.

Thank You for stopping by-Share and Comment below.

If additional information in needed or you have a question let me know.  Together we can make a difference and create a future that will benefit everyone.

CLU-IN Phytoremediation Risk Assessment

While taking the Health Assesment Webinar presented by CLU-IN today I was referred to Phytotechnology  Technical and Regulatory 

 Guidance and Decision Trees, Revised

I was pleasantly surprised to see the plan I have been working on meets the criteria.  Without knowing all the fancy words such as:  phytotechnologies that will both contain and remediate the soil and water toxins.

The MOhemp Hazmat crew is currently 

Testing and experimenting on and for numerous things that deal with removing heavy metals from the soil.  The basis for the experiment is Phytoremediation by Phytorextraction.

 The MOhemp Hazmat testing team consists of

1. David who has a proven way to increase plant growth through Electro-horticulture. [ Learn about nature's secrets for increasing yields, accelerating growth, and protecting against droughts and other calamities. Buy now to learn the history and science behind electroculture, uses & novel applications, and more! ] order the Electro-Horticulture book by David J. Wechsler https://leanpub.com/ElectricFertilizerBook
2.  Scotty, MOhemp Energy theory that: Electro-culture which is also called electro-horticulture  will draw more toxins to the roots of a Kenaf Plant that can then cycle the toxins from the soil by Phytoextraction.  

• By using the combined approach of phytoremediation. MOhemp Hazmat team believes we can speed up the toxic uptake of the heavy metal toxins. Read additional details
• Kenaf Phytoremediation Heavy Metal Experiment Planned in St Louis http://blog.mohempenergy.org/2016/01/kenaf-phytoremediation-heavy-metal.html

CLU-IN suggested this information,

 notice that my plans adhere to their

 guidenace minus the trees

Phytotechnology  Technical and Regulatory Guidance and Decision Trees

To enhance the phytoextraction capabilities, several strategies have been attempted. Lead can be made much more bioavailable with the addition of chelating agents such as ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) to soils (Schnoor 1997). Similarly, a considerable body of information exists on the uptake of radionuclides into plants, including laboratory and field studies where radionuclides from nuclear weapons complexes or test sites have been transferred into plants. Specifically, the availability of uranium and radio-cesium 137 has been enhanced using citric acid and ammonium nitrate, respectively (Dodge and Francis 1997, Riesen and Bruner 1996). However, adding these enhancing agents also increases the inherent risks associated with the application since they can also mobilize target contaminants and other constituents deeper into the soil or into groundwater. This is a decision factor to consider when selecting this phytotechnology application as the site remedy (see Section 2.3). Furthermore, the timing of the application should be thoroughly designed, planned, and managed during implementation (see Section 2.4).  [Phytotechnology Technical and Regulatory Guidance and Decision 

Trees, Revised pg 40]

The applications of phytotechnologies that combine containment with remediation include covers that stabilize soils and phytoremediate contaminants, tree stands that create a hydraulic barrier while remediating impacted soil and groundwater, constructed wetland treatment systems, and riparian buffers.[Phytotechnology Technical and Regulatory Guidance and Decision 

Trees, Revised pg 36]

Toxic Lead in StLouis Yard?

MOhemp Hazmat Team has natural solutions to remove the Lead and Heavy Metal Toxins from your St Louis property.

The MOhemp Hazmat Team wants to help you get rid of these toxins from your soil.  Drop us a line by email or contact us via the contact form on the website.

This natural solution to remove Lead and Heavy Metal Toxins from the soil is called Phytoremediation.

Phytoremediation is a big word for that basically means how plants remove the soil toxins by cycling them into the plant while it is growing in contaminated soil.  Phytoremediation is the Natural Way that plants can be used to remove the soil toxins from the land.

There are a few plants that can be used to extract the heavy metals from the soil.

While the Missouri and Federal Government is making up its mind on whether to allow Industrial Hemp to be grown in the USA.  MOhemp Energy is utilizing a sister of the Industrial Hemp plant called Kenaf to phytoremediate the soil toxins.

Kenaf is the legal to grow in the USA strain of Cannabis plant that has many of the same qualities of the Hemp plant.  

That is why MOhemp Energy is conducting the Kenaf for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals experiments and testing in St Louis.  

The future plans of the MOhemp Hazmat team will be crew that is comprised of USA Military Veterans. 

Read more about how MOhemp Hazmat will be employing USA Military Veterans!

Source: Phytoremediation has been increasingly used as a more sustainable approach for the remediation of contaminated sites. The costs associated with this remediation method are usually lower than other well-known remediation technologies and some environmental impacts, like atmospheric emissions and waste generation, are inexistent. The biomass produced in phytoremediation could be economically valorized in the form of bioenergy (biogas, biofuels and combustion for energy production and heating), representing an important environmental co-benefit, added to others such as erosion control, improving soil quality and functionality, and providing wildlife habitat. Several case studies are reviewed and some challenges and opportunities identified.

Coast to Coast AM Jan 3 2016 West Lake Landfill

Kenaf Mobile Ag Lignin Removal Invention Test Plants

The following Kenaf 8234 photos and images are not part of the Kenaf Testing and Experiment growing in Hazmat Soils

These Kenaf plants will be utilized for the Mobile Lignin Removal Invention.

Kenaf Seeds 8234 strain-Planted 7pm Jan 27, 2016

@Pepesplants < he was right! #Kenaf sprouts quick!

These Kenaf plants will be used to test the Hemp Lignin Invention that is in development.  Just one part of the Hemp and Kenaf Mobile Field Processing System.  

MOhemp Energy Lignin Removal Station Invention

MOhemp Energy Hemp or Kenaf Field Processing System Flow Chart

Day 2 photos of Kenaf Sprouts with a $.25 Quarter for Visualization Aid on how fast the Kenaf 8234 Sprouts seem to be growing.

Day 2 photos of Kenaf Sprouts with a $.25 Quarter for Visualization Aid on how fast the Kenaf 8234 Sprouts seem to be growing

Day 2 8234 Kenaf Sprouts $.25 Quarter for Visualization Aid 

Day 3 Kenaf Sprouts Notice 5th Seed Germinated Middle Front

Pepes Plants bailed me out again 

When he saw the Day 3 Kenaf Sprout Photo on Twitter

Scotty @StLHandyMan

Kenaf Sprouts, 5:6 germ, Day 6

1 retweet1 like

Pepe's Fruit Trees ‏@Pepesplants 4 hours ago

Pepe's Fruit Trees Retweeted Scotty

Keep them warm Scotty! #kenaf #seeds

Pepe's Fruit Trees added,

Scotty @StLHandyMan

@Pepesplants 65°-70° ave temp now, do I need it warmer?

1 retweet1 like

Pepe's Fruit Trees ‏@Pepesplants3 hours ago

Pepe's Fruit Trees Retweeted Scotty

You have a heat pad for seeds? Maybe around 85 degrees. They will grow faster,,,,,

Pepe's Fruit Trees added,

Pepe's Fruit Trees ‏@Pepesplants  60m60 minutes ago

Pepe's Fruit Trees Retweeted Scotty

Thanks. I grew mine in #florida summer they sprouted and grew so fast they freaked me out. LOL #kenaf

Pepe's Fruit Trees added,

Scotty @StLHandyMan

@Pepesplants I posted your advice on the #HempEnvironmentalForum FB Group!
https://www.facebook.com/HempEnvironmentalForum/ … #Kenaf #gardenchat

Feb 6, 2016 Supplemental Lighting

 Feb 6, 2016 added supplemental Florescent Lighting to Backyard Kenaf Lignin Removal Invention Test Plants.

Even though this is a window located on the South Side of the House and other plants have flourished in this location.  I didn't feel the plants were getting enough lighting and added a Florescent Grow Light to the area for an additional boost.  

Mar 2, 2016  Kenaf Plants growth progress gif image created with Google Picasa.   

Notes:

1. Cardboard cylinder is a toilet paper roll center that is used to hold the plants upright.  The plants are not exactly growing in optimum conditions in the widow sill.  The stems of the plants do not get the wind that is needed to strengthen the plant stem and the weight of the leaves bends the stems over.
2. A quarter was used for size reference early in the plants growth.
3. The Red Colored lights are not from a Red Grow Light this was caused by a camera setting in a few photos.
4. I planted 6 seeds- 5 sprouted.  I killed 1 attempting to help it rid the seed pod.  I ripped the tender leaves and that plant never recovered and died.  (Don't love your plants to death- Paul Allen) 
5. The majority of the photos are taken in the AM when I am getting a cup of coffee to start the day. 
6. This is also when I turn the supplemental lighting on.
7. Supplemental lighting is generally left on a minimum of 12 hours a day, 7 am to 7 pm.
8. The Grand-kids are marveling at how fast the Kenaf Plants grow (and so am I).  I told the middle child that they will eventually grow taller than us.  They could grow up-to 15 feet tall, which is 4 times as tall as you right now. (Note to self: she doesn't know how tall 15 feet is.  I have to do a better job of comparison)
9. She also asked, "if we are going to eat these plants?"  I replied, "I don't know I guess we could, I've heard of other people eating Kenaf plants.  And read that Kenaf Growers feed the plants to their farm animals."
10. Occasionally, As the Temperature warms the plant tray is taken outside and placed on the Patio so the plants get Natural Sunlight.  I hope to also strengthen the stems by doing this with the natural breeze.
11. I am planning on re-potting the plant starts into bigger pots soon.

Hemp Lignin and Future Energy Storage Devices that Self Heal

Abstract: Superior self-healability and stretchability

 are critical elements for the practical wide-scale adoption of personalized electronics such as portable and wearable energy storage devices. However, the low healing efficiency of self-healable supercapacitors and the small strain of stretchable supercapacitors are fundamentally limited by conventional polyvinyl alcohol-based acidic electrolytes, which are intrinsically neither self-healable nor highly stretchable.

Self-healing performance of the supercapacitor comprising the VSNPs-PAA polyelectrolyte.

Here we report

 an electrolyte comprising polyacrylic acid dual crosslinked by hydrogen bonding and vinyl hybrid silica nanoparticles, which displays all superior functions and provides a solution to the intrinsic self-healability and high stretchability problems of a supercapacitor. 

Supercapacitors with this electrolyte are non-autonomic self-healable, retaining the capacitance completely even after 20 cycles of breaking/healing. 

These supercapacitors are stretched up to 600% strain with enhanced performance using a designed facile electrode fabrication procedure.

Schematics of fabrication strategies for specific functional supercapacitors.

A self-healable and highly stretchable supercapacitor based on a dual crosslinked polyelectrolyte Huang, Y. et al. A self-healable and highly stretchable supercapacitor based on a dual crosslinked polyelectrolyte. Nat. Commun. 6:10310 doi: 10.1038/ncomms10310 (2015)