Bulldozers puncture drums of toxic waste at Alkali Lake, Oregon

In the late 1960's, a chemical company made Agent Orange and decided to park the manufacturing waste in the middle of the Oregon desert. 25,000, 55 gallon barrels full of toxic waste were placed at Alkali Lake, left to evaporate into the air and leak onto the desert floor. By the time the Oregon DEQ took control of the site in 1976, 50% of the contents had already leaked out. The agency chose to deal with it by bulldozing the barrels into 12 unlined trenches, burying it and putting a fence around it. This video shows that. Footage from the Oregon Historical Society Moving Image Archives, KOIN News Collection, 1976.

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[craglawcenter]

Today, the site is contaminated with dioxins, phenols and furans. DEQ's mismanagement continues as they propose to "clean up" the site by monitoring it for 20 years and putting a cap over the trenches. They propose to let the company responsible off the hook, making the people of Oregon pay the cost. It is unfair for the people of Oregon to be responsible for these costs and an adequate understanding of the fate and transport of these persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals is needed!

[craglawcenter]

Learn more about where to comment by searching online for DEQ press releases, July 30, 2009, and DEQ, Land Quality, Environmental Clean Up, Alkali Lake.

[CMLittleboot]

Amazing!

[Curtis Boisjolie]

I seen ufos above that freaky ass place!dont even go out there,there's nothing out there but a weird vibe.

[Cameron Hewett]

I'm going there in two weeks.

[CJ Herrmann]

Humans are very idiotic...especially when it comes to handling hazardous waste. Sure lets just plow into these 55 gallon drums filled with all types of industrial waste. Good job

[murbones]

THEY SHOULD HAVE JUST LEFT IT IN THE DRUMS.

[murbones]

other than nuclear waste or chemical weapons it doesnt get worse....than what is here. and a "cap"?...

[murbones]

it was monsanto that made agent orange and PCBs and now genetic engineering. sinse they have ties with the military....it JUST STINKS! monsanto is monster.

[BeamMeUpSir]

after seeing this im sure.....AT LEAST 3/4 of the human race must disappear. I hope an asteroid strikes earth. Humans are scum.

[Rene Rivas]

Hello. Great video, was wondering if i have permission to use a few seconds of it in my independent film/video?

[John Hieb]

I believe the bull dozer operator died of cancer five years later.