“When one looks at the entirety of data points, it’s simply a mistake to reach that conclusion,” Knocke said. “This is a pattern with (Thalhamer). He will select limited data points or isolated data points and amplify them.”

The cooling loops, Knocke added, are a new tactic by a team of engineers that is committed to “innovation.”

“And if there is an alternate technology that will enable them to manage the site more effectively, then great, we’re going to take a hard look it,” Knocke said.

Residents and others have worried for years that the reaction could spread into the north quarry and the adjacent West Lake Landfill, where radioactive waste was illegally dumped 40 years ago.

Republic has said it sees little risk of the reaction spreading that far north. Jim Teter, who is managing the landfill project for Republic, said last month the reaction was not headed toward the neck and “we’ve never seen them reverse direction.”

Even if it did move past the neck, the reaction would have to rise in elevation more than 150 feet to avoid running into solid rock from the quarry wall, Teter said. That would keep it from spreading via the waste it uses as fuel into the West Lake Landfill, he said.