The history of radioactive waste disposal at Florida State University (FSU) sites in the Apalachicola National Forest reveals complex environmental and public health challenges stemming from mid-20th century atomic research. Between the late 1950s and late 1970s, FSU conducted experiments under contracts from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), which generated low-level radiological wastes disposed of in two sites in Leon County, Florida. The Apalachicola Forest Site, officially permitted, was used from 1967 to 1979 to contain containerized liquid and laboratory radioactive wastes deposited in buried pits, while a second site near Fort Braden lacked full protective measures, leading to contamination of soil and groundwater. The sites are relatively small—a fraction of an acre each—but concerns have been raised about radioactive contaminants spreading beyond designated disposal boundaries into adjacent natural environments and potentially affecting nearby residential communities. According to reports, some contamination was detected across about eight acres around the waste site perimeter. Despite official assessments that drinking water sources miles away remain safe, local residents have expressed surprise and concerns about the adequacy of communication during cleanup efforts. In recent years, FSU has embarked on voluntary remediation efforts aimed at removing and safely disposing of the low-level radioactive waste at out-of-state licensed facilities. This cleanup effort is complicated by incomplete historical records and the disappearance of many researchers involved in the original experiments decades ago. Compounding public anxiety has been a reported lack of extended community outreach and official public meetings, with some accountability viewed as diffused among federal, state, and university agencies. Notifications about the cleanup appeared during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely affected wider dissemination of information. The history of these sites reflects broader mid-century challenges in radiation safety, waste management, and transparency, mirrored by other documented Cold War-era experiments and concerns such as those involving radioactive tracers in foods with human subjects in other states. As the remediation progresses, ensuring robust environmental monitoring, transparent communication with local residents, and comprehensive safety protocols will be critical to addressing past oversights and protecting the community and environment surrounding the Apalachicola National Forest area.