Uranium Enrichment/Fuel Fabrication - Decommissioning Issues (USA) 
(last updated 13 Jul 2023)
Contents:
> See also Current Issues for
First shipment of downblended surplus plutonium sent to WIPP disposal site
The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Office of Environmental Management (EM) completed the first shipment of downblended surplus plutonium transuranic (TRU) material from K-Area at the Savannah River Site (SRS) to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico in December.
This shipment marks a milestone as the first shipment to include defense TRU material from NNSA's Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program. After plutonium is downblended at SRS, it becomes TRU material by definition and can be permanently disposed at WIPP.
(DOE NNSA Jan. 13, 2023)
A recommendation that the Department of Energy develop and design a metal smelter that would be suitable to recycle various types of metals into ingots from Decontamination & Decommissioning (D & D) activities at the former uranium plant has been approved by a 13-1 vote.
D & D will result in various types of scrap metals in the debris including steel, old pumps, motors, convertors, and industrial equipment.
One option would be to ship all of the scrap metal to Utah and Nevada. However, the recommendation involves construction of an on-site smelter to reduce and process scrap metals from the debris.
Radioactive uranium contamination would become part of the "dross" during the melting, leaving the majority of metals to be cast as ingots for future use. The uranium "dross" would be sent to low level radioactive disposal cells in the West.
Unfortunately, the preserved recycled scrap metals would have "trace amounts of radioactivity. These recycled metals should only be used under control conditions at DOE sites or possibly in the construction of nuclear reactors and associated equipment at nuclear power plants," the recommendation states.
Since no other nuclear waste metal smelting facility exists in the United States, the possibility exists for the shipment of debris from other plants to be shipped to the Portsmouth smelting facility.
(Huntington News May 8, 2010)
On June 13, 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued for public review and comment a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate alternatives to safely disposition approximately 15,300 tons of radiologically-contaminated nickel scrap recovered from uranium enrichment process equipment at the Department's Paducah, KY and Oak Ridge, TN facilities.
Comments on the draft EA must be received no later than August 15, 2008 (comment period extended!).
> View DOE news release June 13, 2008 
> Download Stakeholder Letter, June 13, 2008 (PDF)
> Download Extension of Public Comment Period, July 2, 2008 (PDF)
> Download DOE/EA-1599, Draft Environmental Assessment, disposition of radioactively contaminated nickel located at the East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Paducah, Kentucky, for controlled radiological applications, June 2008 (2.9M PDF)
> See also: DOE to prepare PEIS on disposition of scrap metal from enrichment plants and other sources
Status of Decommissioning Program, 2004 Annual Report, Final Report,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG-1814, January 2005
> Download full report · alternate source (660k PDF 
)
Fuel Cycle Facilities Undergoing Decommissioning (NRC)
NUREG-1757 , Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance, September 2006
NUREG-1757 , Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance, Rev. 1, September 2003
> See also Federal Register: September 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 180)
p. 54503-54504 (download full text )
"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) is announcing the availability of
a final document ''Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance:
Decommissioning Process for Materials Licensees'' (NUREG-1757, Vol. 1).
This document provides guidance for planning and implementing the
termination of licenses issued through NMSS's licensing programs. [...]"
> View announcement in Federal Register: September 26, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 187) p. 60706-60707
> Download NUREG-1757 Vol.1
"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) is announcing the availability of
a draft document ``Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance:
Characterization, Survey, and Determination of Radiological Criteria''
(NUREG-1757, Vol. 2), for public comment. This document provides
guidance for compliance with the radiological criteria for termination
of licenses. [...]"
Comments on this draft document should be submitted by December
26, 2002.
> View announcement in Federal Register: September 26, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 187) p. 60707-60708
> Download NUREG-1757 Vol.2 Draft
"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) is announcing the availability of
a draft document ''Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance:
Decommissioning Process'' (NUREG-1757, Vol. 1), for public comment.
This document provides guidance for the planning and implementation of
the termination of licenses issued through NMSS's licensing programs."
> View announcement in Federal Register: January 31, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 21) p. 4764-4765
Draft Scientific Committee 87-4 report: Managing Potentially Radioactive Scrap Metal (December, 2001), U.S. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. 234 p.
> Download full text (4414k)
Deadline for comments: February 1, 2002
Forward comments to ncrpexec@ncrp.com .
This report covers, among others, the U.S. enrichment plants.
Federal Register: September 6, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 173) p. 46613-46614 (download full notice ):
The scoping period on the PEIS is extended 60 days until November 9, 2001.
Federal Register: July 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 134)
p. 36562-36566 (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: This notice announces the Department of Energy's (DOE's) intention to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), under the National Environmental Policy Act, on the policy alternatives for the disposition of DOE scrap metals that may have residual surface radioactivity. The primary metals to be considered in the analysis are carbon steel and stainless steel. Other metals [e.g., copper, aluminum, lead, and precious metals (silver, gold, platinum)], which exist in smaller quantities, will also be addressed in the PEIS.
The disposition alternatives to be analyzed include: continuation of
the suspension on unrestricted release of scrap metals from DOE
radiological areas for recycling; unrestricted release of scrap metals for recycling under existing DOE requirements; unrestricted release of scrap metals for recycling under alternative requirements; and no unrestricted release for recycling of scrap metals with any potential for residual surface radioactivity.
DATES: The public scoping period begins with publication of this Notice and concludes September 10, 2001. DOE invites Federal agencies, Native American tribes, state and local governments, and members of the public to comment on the scope of this PEIS. DOE will consider all comments received by the close of the scoping period and will consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable. DOE will conduct public scoping meetings to assist in defining the appropriate scope of the PEIS, including the alternatives and significant environmental issues to be considered. [...]
[...] More than half of the current and forecast scrap metal amounts, including almost all of the scrap nickel, will result from the decommissioning of the Gaseous Diffusion Plants in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. The estimated average generation rates through the year 2015 are 50,000 tons per year for carbon steel, 4,000 tons per year for stainless steel, and 3,000 tons per year for nickel. [...]"
> for further information, see:
DOE NEPA · DOE EM
> see also: DOE Seeks Comment on Directives for Release of Scrap Metals
> see also: DOE releases Draft EA for disposition of contaminated nickel from Paducah and Oak Ridge enrichment plants
Federal Register: May 1, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 84)]
p. 21793-21796 (download full notice ):
"SUMMARY: The Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) intends to consolidate and update the policy and guidance for NMSS's decommissioning program. This endeavor is in response to the NMSS performance goals, in the NRC's Strategic Plan, of: (1) Making NRC activities and decisions more effective, efficient, and realistic; and (2) reducing unnecessary regulatory burden on stakeholders.
DATES: Comments on this plan should be submitted by June 15, 2001. The comments will be considered by NRC in the process of updating and consolidating the policy and guidance for NMSS's decommissioning
program."
USACE issues Record of Decision for cleanup of former Harshaw Chemical Co uranium processing site in Cleveland, Ohio
The record of decision identifies the selected remedies to address FUSRAP-related soil contamination in OU-1 and OU-2 at the Harshaw Site. The selected remedy for OU-1 is Complete Excavation and Off-Site Disposal using industrial remediation goals based on an industrial reasonable future land use. The selected remedy for OU-2 is Complete Excavation and Off-Site Disposal using residential remediation goals based on a residential reasonable future land use.
(USACE release Nov. 10, 2021)
Between 1942 and 1954, the Harshaw Chemical Company conducted government-contracted uranium processing operations in the former Building G-1. The primary activity involving the conversion of uranium concentrate feed materials to uranium tetrafluoride, uranium hexafluoride, and uranium trioxide ceased in 1951. In 1953 and 1954, the refinery purified uranium trioxide from recycled uranium, after which all government-contracted uranium processing operations at the Harshaw Site ceased.
> Access site documents (USACE)
License No. SUB-1010; Docket No.
Aerial view: Google Maps 
· MSRMaps
NRC Facility Info
Processing of yellowcake from former Sequoyah Fuels Corp uranium conversion plant in Gore (Oklahoma) as alternate feed material at White Mesa uranium mill (Utah)
> View here
After limited effect of decades of groundwater restoration efforts, Sequoyah Fuels intends to apply for Alternate Concentration Limits at former Gore conversion plant site:
On January 6, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a
teleconference with representatives of Sequoyah Fuels Incorporated (Sequoyah).
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Sequoyah's upcoming license amendment request
for alternate concentration limits (ACLs) at the Sequoyah Fuels site in Gore, Oklahoma.
Surface reclamation has removed long term sources of groundwater contamination. However, despite over 35 years of groundwater corrective action, groundwater contaminants remain in low permeability shales units, which are difficult to restore.
The Alternate Concentration Limits (ACLs) proposed by Sequoyah are: Arsenic: 17 mg/L, Fluoride: 91 mg/L, Nitrate: 40,000 mg/L, and Uranium: 16 mg/L.
> Download: Public Meeting Summary, Jan. 13, 2022 · Presentation Slides from Sequoyah Fuels, Inc.
Uranium sludge at former Gore, Oklahoma, conversion plant removed to White Mesa mill, Utah
After decades of legal wrangling, the last of more than 500 truckloads of nuclear waste has been removed from the site of an old uranium processing plant near Gore in Sequoyah County.
More than 10,000 tons of radioactive material at the former Sequoyah Fuels Corp. site is gone. Over the course of 18 months, the waste was transported to a disposal site in Utah, where the uranium will be recycled and reused, according to the Oklahoma attorney general's office. The waste – uranium-contaminated sludge – had been left for decades in basins, lagoons and ditches at the Sequoyah plant, which closed in 1993 after two accidents injuring dozens of workers and several environmental violations.
(The Journal Record Nov. 30, 2018)
Cherokee Nation granted emergency restraining order against on-site disposal of uranium sludge at former Gore conversion plant
The Cherokee Nation and state of Oklahoma jointly filed and were granted a restraining order today against Sequoyah Fuels Corporation near Gore to stop the company from disposing radioactive waste near the Arkansas and Illinois rivers. The request was granted by Sequoyah County District Judge Jeff Payton.
During the decommissioning process, Sequoyah Fuels collected approximately 11,000 tons of uranium-contaminated sludge in several basins, lagoons and ditches at the site. In November of 2004, the state of Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation and Sequoyah Fuels entered into a settlement agreement wherein Sequoyah Fuels agreed to spend up to $3.5 million to responsibly dispose of the waste off-site.
Last week, Sequoyah Fuels announced it had been unable to locate an off-site location for the radioactive waste and, instead, intended to place the waste in an on-site storage cell. The Cherokee Nation and state of Oklahoma wanted an expert to review the off-site disposal options, but the company stated its intention to begin immediately placing the waste in an on-site cell.
(Cherokee Nation Feb. 9, 2017)
Denison requests license amendment for processing of residues from former Gore conversion plant as alternate feed at White Mesa mill (Utah)
> See here
Demolition of Sequoyah Fuels Corp. Gore uranium conversion plant begins; safety of disposal cell questioned
18 years after the Sequoyah Fuels plant near Gore was closed due to uranium contamination found in the plant and in groundwater, contractors and demolition crews have begun the process of dismantling the plant.
The plant, which at one time processed uranium to use in fuel rods for nuclear power plants, was closed in 1993 due to contamination.
John Ellis, the one-time president of Sequoyah Fuels and now the demolition contractor, said the dismantling and disposal of the plant is part of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved plan.
Ed Henshaw, Sequoyah County director of emergency management, said "I probably shouldn't say anything with me being in the position I am, but I have a right to my opinion as a private citizen. No, I don't like them burying those materials on site, that close to the river."
Henshaw said Oklahoma was part of an interstate compact that chose to have nuclear waste taken to a location in Nebraska.
"I guess the NRC has chosen to ignore their own plans. In the long run the citizens will have to pay when those cells leak."
Henshaw said he has seen this process used in the past and it has leaked every time. He has no reason to believe it won't leak this time.
The plan from start to finish is costing the parent company, General Atomics, in San Diego, $30 million, Ellis said.
Ellis explained that the disposal cell is made of an impermeable synthetic liner, about three-eighths of an inch [9.5 mm] thick, spread over a compacted clay base, which is sandwiched between two 18-inch [46 cm] layers sand. When the cell is full, another layer of clay, sand and the synthetic liner will be added sealing the cell.
Steel and concrete from the building and surrounding plant is ground and crushed into smaller pieces, deposited in layers into the disposal cell, covered with more clay and compacted even further by heavy equipment.
When the dismantling is complete a layer of topsoil will be added to the sealed cell. The surface will be leveled for proper drainage and native plants will be planted.
The disposal cell uses between 11 and 12 acres, but will encompass nearly 20 acres of the 60 acres of the property, when the sloping edges are taken into consideration, Ellis said.
(Sequoyah County Times Oct. 31, 2011)
NRC approves groundwater corrective action plan for site of former SFC Gore conversion plant
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of a license amendment to Sequoyah Fuels Corporation (SFC or
licensee) for License No. SUB-1010. This action would authorize SFC to
implement the groundwater corrective action plan (CAP) proposed for its
site in Gore, Oklahoma.
SFC's CAP specifies the use of interceptor trenches and recovery
wells placed in hydrologically strategic positions to intercept
groundwater contamination remaining onsite. The CAP does not draw back
any contamination that has passed the extraction points. Consequently,
the CAP allows small pollutant loads (defined as pollutant
concentration x volumetric flow) to enter the surface water system.
However, NRC staff determined that the pollutant loads to surface water
pose little threat to human health and safety and the environment.
> Federal Register: September 28, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 187) p. 59748-59749 (download full text )
> Download Final Groundwater Corrective Action Plan (CAP), June 14, 2010 (46.2M PDF, ADAMS Acc. No. ML102380151)
> Download Safety Evaluation Report for the proposed Groundwater Corrective Action Plan , Sep. 2010 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML101170749)
The requested license amendment was issued on Sep. 29, 2010.
Sequoyah Fuels Corp. refuses to pay full property taxes for Gore plant, since contamination lowered its value [!]
The Gore district has received only about 85 percent of its ad valorem property taxes revenues because the uranium-processing company's taxes are being held in escrow pending resolution of the lawsuit, now in the appeals process, outgoing Gore School Superintendent Kincaid has said. He said there is more than $1.4 million in that escrow account. Sequoyah Fuels challenged the property tax assessment, contending contamination of the now-defunct property lowered its value [!].
(Southwest Times Record Feb. 10, 2010 - emphasis added)
NRC approves on-site disposal cell at former Sequoyah Fuels Gore conversion plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved Sequoyah Fuels' plan to dispose of contaminated materials in an on-site cell, a plan opposed by some residents near the Gore-area plant.
John Ellis, Sequoyah Fuels president, said the NRC approved the plant's on-site disposal site Monday (April 20, 2009), "after 16 years and two months."
The plant, which at one time processed uranium to use in fuel rods for nuclear power plants, was closed in 1993 after it was found that portions of the plant and groundwater were contaminated.
Sequoyah Fuels and its parent company, General Atomics, have been working to meet the requirements to close the plant ever since.
Ellis said Tuesday (April 21, 2009) that the proposed on-site disposal cell will cover about 11 acres in the center of the property, which is about 60 acres now. The completed cell will cover about 17 acres, including its sloped sides, and will be about 50 feet tall.
(Sequoyah County Times April 22, 2009)
> Download Final Safety Evaluation Report, April 20, 2009 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML090260323)
Federal Register: April 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 80) p. 19240-19241 (download full text )
NRC issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for the reclamation of Sequoyah Fuels Corporation site in Gore, OK
> View NRC release June 2, 2008
Federal Register: May 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 103) p. 30646-30647 (download full text )
> Download Environmental Impact Statement for the Reclamation of the Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Site in Gore, Oklahoma (NUREG-1888) - Final Report, May 2008
NRC invites comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the reclamation of Sequoyah Fuels Corporation site in Gore, OK
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Reclamation of Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Site in Gore, OK, NUREG 1888, and Notice of Public Meeting for Comment.
Written comments submitted by mail should be postmarked by November 5, 2007 to ensure consideration.
> Federal Register: September 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 183) p. 54080-54082 (download full text )
> View NRC release Sep. 24, 2007
> Download Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Reclamation of the Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Site in Gore, Oklahoma, License No. SUB-1010, Draft Report for Comment, NUREG-1888, September 2007 · alternate source (ADAMS Acc. No. ML072570039)
Sequoyah Fuels reports continuing exceedance of contaminant permit limits for effluants at former Gore conversion plant
- the ammonia permit limit was exceeded at Outfall 008 on May 8, 2007
- the nitrate permit limit was exceeded at Outfall 008 on May 9, 2007.
- the ammonia permit limit of 10.5 mg/l was exceeded at Outfall 008 on July 1, 2007 when an ammonia analysis of 23.3 mg/l was measured.
- the nitrate permit limit of 32 mg/l was exceeded at Outfall 008 on July 3, 13 and 14, 2007 when nitrate analyses of 45.9, 66.4, and 107 mg/l, respectively, were measured.
"The source of these exceedances is contaminated water present in Pond 2."
Sequoyah Fuels issues Environmental Report for Reclamation Plan of former Gore conversion plant
Environmental Report, Reclamation Plan, Sequoyah Facility, Oct. 2006 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML063050298 )
Depleted uranium shipments completed
On March 26, 2007, the last truckloads of depleted uranium left Sequoyah Fuels of Gore headed for disposal at a former atomic bomb testing site in Nevada.
(Sequoyah County Times March 28, 2007)
Depleted uranium shipments suspended after leakage
Sequoyah Fuels halted shipments of depleted uranium after authorities in Nevada found some of the substance had seeped through a steel shipping container.
Sequoyah Fuels president John Ellis says the five containers still at the plant may have to be reopened, lined and resealed before being transported to a former atomic-bomb test site in Nevada, where the waste eventually will be buried.
Ellis suspects the breach occurred because the drums have been exposed to the elements for the past 13 or 14 years.
(AP Feb. 16, 2007)
Depleted uranium being relocated from former SFC Gore plant to Nevada
The U.S. Army has begun removing about one million pounds of depleted uranium, or DUF4, from Sequoyah Fuels at Gore.
John Ellis, Sequoyah Fuels president, said the removal began Feb. 4, 2007, and will most likely continue throughout the week.
He said the DUF4 is stored in sealed 55-gallon drums. The drums are stacked into steel containers, which are then welded and sealed. Each container holds about 38,000 pounds of DUF4, he added.
Both the drums and the steel containers are checked for leaks, he added. The containers are being taken to a former atomic bomb testing site in Nevada.
"It will actually will be buried at that site," Ellis said.
(Sequoyah County Times Feb. 7, 2007)
U.S. Army must remove depleted uranium stored at former Gore conversion plant
Sequoyah Fuels, the former uranium processing plant near Gore, is one step closer to closing after a clause to have the U.S. Army remove depleted uranium from the plant was included in the Defense Authorization Act signed by President George W. Bush last week.
(Sequoyah County Times Nov. 1, 2006)
SFC calls for disposition of depleted uranium stored at former Gore conversion plant
Sequoyah Fuels Corp. officials have asked U.S. legislators to assist in removing about 1,200 drums of depleted uranium from the closed uranium processing plant near Gore. The barrels containing 1.5 million pounds (680 metric tonnes) of depleted uranium have been stored at the site when the facility finished government-contract work involving uranium provided by the federal government. The site was used to convert DUF6 to DUF4 for use by the U.S. Army in anti-tank ammunition.
(Sequoyah County Times May 26, 2006)
NRC approves SFC Gore conversion plant raffinate sludge dewatering proposal
On Jan. 12, 2005, NRC issued a Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the raffinate sludge dewatering proposal at the SFC Gore conversion plant.
The raffinate sludge is currently stored onsite in three lined ponds, which contain about 1,000,000 cubic feet [28,316 m3] of sludge containing 15 to 20 percent solids. The sludge must be dewatered before it can be properly disposed of in the on-site disposal cell. SFC has proposed to dewater the raffinate sludge using a pressurized filter press system, which will increase the solids content to approximately 45 to 50 percent and reduce the volume to approximately 485,000 cubic feet [13,734 m3]. The dewatered raffinate sludge will be put into polypropylene bags and stored onsite prior to disposal in the cell.
Federal Register: January 25, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 15) p. 3568-3569
(download full text )
> See also: Federal Register: March 17, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 52) p. 12715-12716 (download full text )
NRC approves SFC Gore conversion plant Ground Water Monitoring Plan
On Aug. 19, 2005, NRC issued a Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Ground Water Monitoring Plan at the SFC Gore conversion plant.
Federal Register: August 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 160) p. 48785-48786 (download full text )
Notice of Receipt of License Amendment Request from the Sequoyah
Fuels Corp. To Approve a Ground Water Monitoring Plan for Its Gore,
Oklahoma Facility, and Opportunity To Request a Hearing
Federal Register: August 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 164) p. 51034 (download full text )
NRC announces opportunity for hearing on SFC Gore conversion plant Ground Water Corrective Action Plan
Notice of Receipt of License Amendment Request From the Sequoyah
Fuels Corp. To Approve a Ground Water Corrective Action Plan for Its
Gore, Oklahoma Facility, and Opportunity To Request a Hearing
Federal Register: August 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 164) p. 51033-51034
(download full text )
A request for a hearing must be filed within 30 days of August 25, 2003.
NRC announces opportunity for hearing re reclamation plan for Gore conversion plant
"The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by
letter dated January 28, 2003, a request from Sequoyah Fuels Corp.
(SFC) for approval of a license amendment to Materials License SUB-
1010, to address clean up and reclamation of the SFC site."
Federal Register: April 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 72) p. 18268-18269 (download full text )
A request for a hearing must be filed within 30 days of April 15, 2003.
Reclamation Plan for Gore conversion plant available
Reclamation Plan Sequoyah Facility
Sequoyah Fuels Corporation, Gore, Oklahoma, January 2003
(available for download through ADAMS )
NRC changes legal status of wastes at Gore conversion plant
Federal Register: November 14, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 220) p. 69048-69049 (download full text ):
"On January 5, 2001, SFC requested that the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) determine if waste material from the solvent
extraction process at its site could be classified as AEA 11e.(2)
byproduct material. By Staff Requirements Memorandum to SECY-02-0095,
dated July 25, 2002, the Commission concluded that some of the waste at
the SFC site could properly be classified as AEA 11e.(2) byproduct
material. By letter dated September 30, 2002, SFC requested license
SUB-1010 be amended to possess 11e.(2) byproduct material. An NRC
administrative review found the request for license amendment (LA)
acceptable to begin a technical review. If NRC approves the amendment
request, SFC will be required to submit a reclamation plan for the site
that meets the requirements of Appendix A to 10 CFR 40. If that plan is
approved and SFC remediates the site to the specified criteria, the
U.S. Department of Energy would become the owner of the land and
responsible for long term stewardship under provisions of Title II to
the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act."
A request for a hearing must be filed within thirty (30) days of Nov. 14, 2002.
On Dec. 11, 2002, NRC issued the requested license amendment.
> See also NRC release Nov. 18, 2002
> See also: SECY-02-0095, APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 11e.(2) OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT
TO MATERIAL AT THE SEQUOYAH FUELS CORPORATION URANIUM CONVERSION FACILITY (June 4, 2002): HTML · PDF (3.5M)
NRC to hold public meeting on Decommissioning of Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Uranium Conversion Facility in Gore, Oklahoma
Federal Register: October 2, 2000 (Vol. 65, No. 191) p. 58832-58833 (download full text ):
"SUMMARY: The NRC will conduct a meeting to discuss the status of the
environmental review of decommissioning activities at the SFC facility
near Gore, Oklahoma, and to obtain public comments on the environmental
impacts that need to be addressed. Ample time will be provided for
public comment at the meeting, although comments and questions will
generally be limited to the remediation of the SFC facility. This
meeting is part of the continuing process to keep affected stakeholders
and the public informed of plans, schedules and important issues
related to the remediation of the SFC facility.
DATES: The NRC will meet with the public on Tuesday, October 17, 2000,
from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m."
> See also NRC news release Oct. 10, 2000
Decommissioning of the Sequoyah Fuels Corp. site near Gore, Oklahoma to be licensed
from Federal Register, June 9, 1999 (Vol. 64, No. 110) p. 31023 (download full text ):
"Notice of Consideration of an Amendment Request for Sequoyah
Fuels Corp., Gore, Oklahoma and Opportunity for a Hearing
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of a license amendment to materials license SUB-1010 to
authorize decommissioning of the Sequoyah Fuels Corp. (SFC) site near
Gore, Oklahoma. This license is issued to SFC to possess contaminated
material at its Gore site. NRC licenses these facilities under 10 CFR
part 40. Specifically, the license authorizes SFC to possess up to 20 million metric tons of source material in any form. The contaminated
material at the Gore site is in the form of uranium, uranium oxides,
uranium fluorides, thorium, radium, and decay-chain products in process
equipment and buildings, soil, sludge, and groundwater." [...] (emphasis added)
The shutdown Sequoyah Fuels uranium conversion plant is
disposing of low-level radioactive waste by spraying it on 9,000
acres of company-owned grazing land.
(The Seattle Times, July 4, 1997)
In 1999, a total of 5.53 million gallons (20.9 million litres) of ammonium nitrate fertilizer was applied to 80 acres (32 hectares) of a control plot which is located within the facility boundary. Forage samples collected from the first cutting had excess molybdenum concentrations of 47 mg/kg, while the caution level is 20 mg/kg.
(Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Application Program, 1999 Completion Report, Sequoyah Fuels Corporation, April 28, 2000)
In 2006, a total of 7.4 million gallons (28 million litres) of ammonium nitrate fertilizer was applied.
The forage sample collected for the first cutting during 2006 had elevated
molybdenum concentrations of 53.8 mg/kg. SFC determined that use of the hay should be restricted.
(Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Application Program, 2006 Completion Report, Sequoyah Fuels Corporation, April 25, 2007)
NRC approves decommissioning performed at American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility
On Sep. 23, 2019, NRC approved the final status survey report on the decommissioning performed at the American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility (LCF). NRC also returned the decommissioning financial assurance funding instrument provided by Centrus Energy Corp.
As the NRC license remains in place at the request of Centrus, NRC added a license condition that the licensee cannot receive any licensed material at the LCF without prior NRC approval.
Withdrawal of license termination request for American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility in view of HALEU project
On June 27, 2019, Centrus Energy Corp. withdrew the request submitted on Aug. 9, 2018, to terminate the American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility NRC materials license.
"On May 31, 2019, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a letter contract to Centrus to deploy a 16-machine AC100M high assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU), cascade in ACO [American Centrifuge Operating, LLC] leased areas at DOE's site in Piketon, Ohio. Project commencement began on June 1, 2019. [...]
Moving forward under the HALEU project, ACO will update and amend the American Centrifuge
Plant (ACP) NRC license for NRC review and approval to allow HALEU production."
> Download Centrus Energy Corp. letter to NRC , June 27, 2019 (PDF)
NRC acknowledged the request on Aug. 7, 2019.
> See also: High assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production at American Centrifuge enrichment plant
License termination requested for American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility
On Aug. 9, 2018, Centrus Energy Corp. requested termination of the NRC materials
license SNM-7003 for the American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility.
> Download Centrus Energy Corp. letter to NRC , Aug. 9, 2018 (PDF)
NRC approves Decommissioning Plan for American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility
> Download NRC letter to Centrus Energy Corp. , Aug. 7, 2018 (PDF)
> Download NRC Safety Evaluation Report on Decommissioning Plan , Aug. 2018 (PDF)
NRC invites comment on Proposed Decommissioning Plan for American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility
Submit comments by July 2, 2018.
> Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018) p. 19119-19120 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2018-0079
> Download Decommissioning Plan for the American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility in Piketon, Ohio , Rev. 1, DP-2605-0001, January 2018 (76MB PDF)
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding Of No Significant Impact for shipment of radioactive waste from American Centrifuge Plant Lead Cascade to Nevada disposal site
> Federal Register Volume 82, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 13, 2017) p. 27088-27089 (download full text )
> Download Environmental Assessment (139kB PDF)
> Access Docket ID NRC-2017-0137
> View older issues
NRC Docket No.
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> DOE Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office
DOE awards US$ 1.5 billion Deactivation and Remediation Contract for former Paducah gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plant
The United States Department of Energy announced today that Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC., a CH2M-led company with partners Fluor Corporation and BWX Technologies, Inc., was awarded the Paducah Deactivation and Remediation (D&R) Contract at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The Paducah site is situated on approximately 3,500 acres in Western Kentucky, eight miles west of Paducah, Kentucky, and 3.5 miles south of the Ohio River.
The performance based contract is valued at approximately $1.5 billion over ten years; the base term is five years valued at approximately $750 million, followed by three-year and two-year option periods, valued at an approximate total of $750 million combined. A transition period is scheduled to begin on June 2017.
The site, built in the 1950s as part of the nation's nuclear weapons complex, processed uranium from 1952 to 2013 for military reactors, nuclear weapons, and nuclear power plant fuels. The D&R contract includes management of over 650 structures, properties, and buildings and will optimize short- and long-term surveillance and maintenance costs to allow for additional stabilization, deactivation and remediation activities, reducing risk and future demolition costs.
(CH2M May 26, 2017)
Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC (FRNP) commenced work under a new Paducah Deactivation and Remediation Contract at EM's former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant on Oct. 20.
(DOE Oct. 24, 2017)
New dose model reveals significant organ doses from Technetium-99 for former gaseous diffusion plant workers caused from early processing of recycled uranium
> View here
Lookheed Martin agrees to tentative US$ 5 million settlement over Paducah Diffusion Plant violations
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin has agreed to pay $5 million to the federal government to settle a pair of 17-year-old lawsuits over contamination from hazardous waste at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The agreement is tentative until approved by the federal government.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Lockheed Martin and its subsidiaries were contractors at the plant. The lawsuits allege the company didn't properly handle, store and transport hazardous waste, like companies are required to under federal law. The lawsuits also claim Lockheed Martin knew it was improperly handling and storing the hazardous waste, and lied about it to the federal government.
The hazardous waste in question includes chemicals like hydrofluoric acid, a contact poison, and trichloroethylene, a probable carcinogen. TCE contaminated the groundwater on the plant's site, too.
The lawsuits cover the period between 1984 and 1998, and were originally filed in 1999 by the U.S. Department of Justice, environmental non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council and several former employees of the plant.
(WFPL Feb. 25, 2016)
Closed Paducah gaseous diffusion enrichment plant returned to DOE for decommissioning
On Tuesday (Oct. 21), United States Enrichment Corporation, a subsidiary of Centrus Energy Corp., returned full control of the 750-acre uranium enrichment complex near Paducah, Kentucky, to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
United States Enrichment Corporation had leased the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant from DOE since it was privatized by the U.S. Government in 1998 and enriched uranium there for the global nuclear fuel market until May of 2013. DOE has responsibility for the decontamination and decommissioning of the 60-year old complex and has contracted with Fluor Federal Services, Inc. to begin deactivation activities at the site.
(Portsmouth Daily Times Oct. 21, 2014)
Enrichment company USEC Inc. emerges from bankruptcy under new name Centrus Energy Corp.
A Maryland-based company that wants to build a uranium enrichment plant in southern Ohio announced Tuesday (Sep. 30) that it has emerged from bankruptcy restructured and with a new name: Centrus.
The company, which declared bankruptcy and saw their reorganization plan approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Sept. 5, 2014, said it has satisfied all conditions from emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday.
(The Columbus Dispatch Sep. 30, 2014)
DOE selects deactivation contractor for Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant
On July 22, 2014, DOE announced that it awarded a Task Order under the Nationwide Environmental Management ID/IQ Unrestricted Contract to Fluor Federal Services, Inc. for deactivation activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP) in Paducah, Kentucky, which is currently leased to the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC).
Enrichment company USEC files for bankruptcy
USEC Inc filed for bankruptcy after struggling with weak prices for the enriched uranium it supplies to nuclear power plants and difficulties in financing a major project.
Shares of the company, which said in December it expected to file for bankruptcy protection, fell as much as 46 percent to $3.01 in premarket trading on Wednesday.
Prices for low-enriched uranium have plummeted more than 30 percent since March 2011, when a tsunami crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.
(Reuters Mar. 5, 2014)
Enrichment company USEC expects to file for bankruptcy in first quarter of 2014
USEC Inc. expects to file a prearranged and voluntary Chapter 11 petition for relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in the first quarter of 2014.
(USEC Dec. 16, 2013)
Presumed tornado hits shut-down Paducah enrichment plant
At least two homes were destroyed, more than 3,000 were without power and a possible tornado touched down at a uranium enrichment plant in Paducah, Kentucky, on Sunday (Nov. 17) as strong storms moved through the state. No deaths or injuries were reported, and plant officials said no hazardous materials were released from the plant.
[...] Also in McCracken County, what may have been a tornado touched down at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, damaging one of the plant's four enrichment production buildings, the adjacent cooling towers and nearby electrical switchyard, Georgann Lookofsky, a spokeswoman for the plant's parent company USEC Inc., said in a news release.
"Electrical power poles, wiring and other electrical circuits were also damaged," Lookofsky said, while the collars surrounding the fans on those cooling towers were destroyed.
Lookofsky said there were no reports of injuries and that monitoring of the plant showed "no radiological or hazardous material releases."
Lookofsky said USEC ceased enriching uranium at the plant in June, and only limited plant operations "related to inventory management" were operating when the storms hit. She said a recovery team was now focusing on cleanup and repair.
(The Republic Nov. 17, 2013)
DOE seeks deactivation contractor for Paducah gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Request for Task Proposal (RTP) for deactivation activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP) in Paducah, Kentucky. These services are required so that DOE can address the return of the Paducah GDP facilities that are currently being leased by the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC), a private company. USEC is expected to return the facilities to DOE in the near future.
Proposals are to be submitted to DOE no later than September 20, 2013.
> View DOE EM release Aug. 9, 2013
> View Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) Deactivation (DOE Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center)
> View older issues
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> Fluor-B&W Portsmouth
> DOE Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office
DOE issues Draft Request for Proposal for the Portsmouth Decontamination and Decommissioning Contract, worth up to US$5.87 billion
On Jan. 4, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (EM) issued a Draft Request for Proposal for the new Portsmouth Decontamination and Decommissioning Contract (PORTS D&D) to be performed at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP) Site in southern Ohio.
The new Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) Contract under the End State Contracting Model (ESCM) will have a maximum value of up to $5.87 billion, includes a 10-year ordering period, and performance of task orders issued before the end of the Contract ordering period shall not exceed five years beyond the end of the Contract ordering period. The Contract includes requirements for meaningful work to be performed by small businesses.
Work to be performed under the new PORTS D&D Contract will include, but not be limited to demolition and disposal of GDP facilities, process equipment, related process buildings, and other ancillary facilities. The PORTS D&D Contract also includes remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater, and disposition of uranium material. The purpose of the follow-on Contract will be to achieve completion of the D&D mission at the PORTS Site by successfully completing the environmental cleanup at the best value to the U.S. taxpayer. The new PORTS D&D Contract will replace the PORTS GDP D&D contract currently held by Fluor–BWXT Portsmouth, LLC (FBP).
> View: DOE EM release Jan. 4, 2022
On July 13, 2023, DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded the Portsmouth Decontamination and Decommissioning Contract (PORTS D&D) to Southern Ohio Cleanup Company, LLC (SOCCo) of Aiken.
> View: DOE EM release July 13, 2023
DOE extends cleanup contracts for former Portsmouth enrichment plant
On April 6, 2021, BWX Technologies, Inc. announced a contract extension, valued at up to $690 million including options, from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for environmental management work at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
The agreement took effect on March 29, 2021, and includes a one-year extension with two additional six-month options. Cleanup work at the site has been conducted by joint venture Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth, LLC (FBP) since the contract was awarded in 2010.
Residents at former Portsmouth enrichment plant file lawsuit against DOE contractors operating the plant
Earlier this month, former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant employees and their families came forward with a lawsuit against contractors of the U.S. Department of Energy with allegations of a culture of corruption, misinformation, and endangerment to families across southern Ohio.
According to the DOE's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, the 3,777-acre site operated from 1954 to 2001 and enriched weapons-grade uranium during the Cold War. While working with hazardous, radioactive materials, the suit claims safety measures were insufficient causing exposure and subsequent bodily injuries and diseases.
"The United States Department of Energy and its contractors, through their criminal acts, negligence, and reckless and intentional misconduct, have created a situation akin to a creeping Chernobyl," the 77-page suit reads, filed in the U.S. District Court in Columbus. "They are responsible for unconscionably poisoning workers and the people, land, air, and water for miles around PORTS causing an increased risk of disease, fatal illnesses and death."
(Portsmouth Daily Times Sep. 18, 2020)
Additional US$ 367 million in federal funding secured for cleanup of former Portsmouth enrichment plant
An additional $367 million in federal funding has been secured for the continuing cleanup of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon. However, that doesn't address neighbors' concerns about contamination from the cleanup.
"We appreciate the fact that the federal government recognizes the importance of ensuring funding with this appropriation for the environmental cleanup of the U.S. Department of Energy Portsmouth site," said Matt Brewster, Pike County's health commissioner. "However, this does nothing to address the contamination that has escaped the site boundary and is showing up in our community."
The U.S. Department of Energy, which initially conducted testing, said there are "no public health or safety risks."
The final funding bill for fiscal year 2020, released this week, includes $367 million for cleaning up the Piketon plant site, according to U.S. Sen. Rob Portman's office.
An additional $51 million has been earmarked for the on-site disposal cell. That is $10 million more than the enacted funding level in fiscal year 2019, according to the news release from Portman's office.
(The Columbus Dispatch Dec. 18, 2019)
Neptunium found in air at school near decommissioning Portsmouth enrichment plant
School remains closed for suspected contamination from nearby decommissioning Portsmouth enrichment plant:
In what was called an open letter to the students, parents and staff of the Scioto Valley Local School District, district superintendent Todd Burkitt announced the closure of Zahn's Corner Middle School in Piketon following the discovery of enriched uranium inside the school as well as detection of a substance known as neptunium 237 in the air around the school.
"The top priority the Scioto Valley local school District Board of Education is to ensure the safety and health of our students and staff," Burkitt wrote in the letter dated Monday (Dec. 30). He added the school will remain closed "until the source, extent, level of contamination and potential impacts to public health and the environment can be determined."
(Portsmouth Daily Times Dec. 30, 2019)
No unusual radioactive material found at school closed for fear of contamination from nearby decommissioning Portsmouth enrichment plant:
State health officials and the U.S. Department of Energy say dust samples taken in late May from a southern Ohio school near a former uranium enrichment plant showed no radioactivity beyond naturally occurring levels.
Scioto (sy-OH'-tuh) Valley Local School District had closed the Zahn's Corner Middle School in Piketon in mid-May after traces of radioactive material were discovered.
But the Department of Energy tells The Columbus Dispatch there is no public health risk from radioactive material at the school.
A university scientist who found some of the earlier traces questioned the department's testing methodology, which the DOE defends.
(AP July 26, 2019)
School closed for suspected contamination from nearby decommissioning Portsmouth enrichment plant:
In a letter to parents and the community, the Scioto Valley Local School District announced Monday (May 13) that it is closing Zahn's Corner Middle School for the rest of the school year due to concerns over possible contamination from the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant nearby.
"The Scioto Valley Local School District was notified that enriched uranium was detected inside Zahn's Corner Middle School and that Neptunium 237 was detected in a U.S. Department of Energy air monitor located adjacent to Zahn's Corner Middle School," the letter states. "As a result of this information, the SVLSD Board of Education has made the decision to close the Zahn's Corner Middle School until the source, extent, level of contamination, and potential impacts to public health and the environment can be determined."
"It is the position of the Board that any level of contamination on or near our school is unacceptable."
(Chillicote Gazette May 13, 2019)
County health commissioner holds public forum on neptunium found in air at school near decommissioning Portsmouth enrichment plant:
In response to information released by the Department of Energy and later reported on by the Portsmouth Daily Times, the Pike County General Health District is holding a public forum to address concerns regarding the detection of traces of neptunium, a transuranic element and known carcinogen, at an air monitoring station on the grounds of Zahn's Corner Middle School in Piketon and part of the Scioto Valley Local School District.
The meeting is slated for 1 p.m., Saturday [Apr. 27] at the health district headquarters, 116 S. Market St., Waverley.
"It is the health district's responsibility to continue to investigate the information and is inviting members of DOE, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Health, and the public to attend Saturday's forum," Pike County Health Commissioner Matt Brewster said in a press release announcing the forum.
"It is our belief, based on DOE documentation, that neptunium is on the Portsmouth reservation and has reached the air monitoring station as a likely result of activities related to the construction of the waste disposal facility," Brewster continued, referring to the ongoing construction of a controversial permanent waste disposal site planned as the part of the ongoing demolition of the defunct Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
The presence of neptunium in the air at the middle school was first made public by DOE in its 2017 Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER) which was released in January of this year.
The ASER specifically talks about neptunium-237 being found at the school. The ASER states the amount found [0.00015 pCi/m3 = 5.55 µBq/m3] was 0.08 percent of the acceptable standard for the radioactive material.
(Portsmouth Daily Times Apr. 25, 2019)
> Download: Portsmouth Annual Site Environmental Reports (DOE)
Resident launches online petition against on-site waste disposal at former Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
Well-known local activist and former worker at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Vina Colley is attempting to take nationwide her quest to block construction of an on-site waste disposal facility at the defunct Piketon uranium enrichment facility.
With the help of a national nonprofit group, the Food & Water Action Fund, Colley has launched an online petition asking the federal Department of Energy to reopen the record of decision (ROD) which cleared the way for construction of the permanent disposal facility, or landfill, on the grounds the Piketon plant.
As the disposal facility will hold debris from demolition of the diffusion plant, vocal opponents routinely refer to the facility as a radioactive garbage dump. Those opponents include numerous Village of Piketon officials and others.
(Portsmouth Daily Times Nov. 12, 2018)
DOE approves US$ 850 million extension of cleanup contract for site of former Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
On Sep. 27, 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has exercised its option to extend the contract with Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC (FBP) for decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP) for a period of 30 months beyond the current expiration date of September 30, 2018.
The estimated value of the option period is approximately $850 million. The initial five-year base contract with FBP commenced in March 2011. An initial 30-month option was exercised on March 28, 2016. Today's new option period will extend FBP's current engagement through March 28, 2021.
U.S. Congress provides funding for cleanup of former Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant to allow for suspension of surplus uranium sales
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) has announced that the final FY 2018 appropriations bill includes an increase in $30 million over last year for the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon. This additional funding is needed to maintain current employment levels for the decontamination and decommissioning work at the Portsmouth Plant as the Department of Energy suspends its barter program for the remainder of FY 2018.
(Portsmouth Daily Times Mar. 22, 2018)
> See also: U.S. Congress suspends DOE's sale of surplus uranium
Residents oppose on-site waste disposal at former Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
A newly formed citizen group pledges to fight federal plans to store contaminated waste in southern Ohio from the cleanup of a Cold War-era uranium plant.
The Chillicothe Gazette reports more than 100 people gathered for a recent meeting of the Citizens Against Radioactive Dump.
The group opposes a plan by the Department of Energy to create an on-site disposal facility at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
Federal officials say the facility would save money for the cleanup of low-level waste. However, an environmental report commissioned by the village of Piketon says there is cracked bedrock in the area and waste would put groundwater at risk.
(Roanoke Times Aug. 27, 2017)
> Visit Citizens Against Radioactive Dump in Pike County (Facebook)
New dose model reveals significant organ doses from Technetium-99 for former gaseous diffusion plant workers caused from early processing of recycled uranium
> View here
U.S. Senate approves further short-term funding for decommissioning of Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
Funding in the Continuing Resolution (CR), passed late last week, will stave off the possibility of a disappointing Christmas season for workers at the Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) project at Piketon.
The Senate passed the CR, which provides the U.S. Department of Energy with the necessary funding to avoid disruption of the clean-up activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon and fund the project through April 28, 2017, when the process will have to begin all over again unless the new administration offers a complete budget.
(Portsmouth Daily Times Dec. 12, 2016)
U.S. Senate approves short-term funding for decommissioning Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
Ohio's U.S. senators say a resolution passed by the Senate continues short-term funding for cleanup of a Cold War-era uranium plant in southern Ohio where workers have been warned about the threat of layoffs for years.
Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Rob Portman say the continuing resolution approved Wednesday (Sep. 28) provides the Department of Energy with flexibility to avoid disrupting the cleanup of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon.
A continuing resolution is a temporary spending measure that legislators can use to continue funding programs until the House and Senate reach agreement on a final budget for the next fiscal year that also has the president's approval.
(Roanoke Times Sep. 29, 2016)
DOE reviews sales policy of surplus uranium
> View here
Environmental database for decommissioning Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant now online
Environmental sampling data at the Department of Energy's Portsmouth Site is now accessible to the public through an enhanced geographic mapping tool on the Internet.
The tool offers access to information such as publicly available environmental documents, and groundwater-level and analytical data.
The Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Environmental Geographic Analytical Spatial Information System (PEGASIS) features an external GIS (Geographic Information System) and analytical data viewer that provides easy access to environmental data previously attainable only through a formal Freedom of Information Act request.
PEGASIS can be accessed here (Cookies must be enabled).
(Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office June 15, 2016)
Energy Department extends contract for cleanup of Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
On March 28, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has exercised its option to extend the contract for decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant for a period of 30 months beyond the current expiration date of March 28, 2016. The estimated value of the option period is approximately $750 million. The initial five-year base contract with Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth, LLC commenced in March 2011.
Demolition plan approved for Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and DOE have agreed to a plan to demolish the massive, iconic process buildings and other facilities undergoing deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
> View DOE release July 30, 2015
> Download Record of Decision , July 2015
Plan approved for waste disposition at former Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have agreed upon a plan for the disposition of more than two million cubic yards [1.53 million m3] of waste that would be generated from the decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio.
The plan calls for a combination of on-site and off-site waste disposition and the construction of a 100-acre On-Site Waste Disposal Facility (OSWDF) in the northeast corner of the DOE reservation. A separate but related plan that will decide whether DOE will demolish the plant's massive process buildings and related structures is in review with the Ohio EPA.
The Waste Disposition Record of Decision (ROD) allows the compliant on-site disposal of all waste materials generated from the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant that meet the waste acceptance criteria approved by Ohio EPA for the facility. Waste not meeting the requirements will be shipped from the plant for compliant disposal at appropriate, off-site federal or commercial disposal facilities. Recycling of waste materials from non-radiological areas is also considered in the decision.
(DOE PPPO July 7, 2015)
> Download Portsmouth Waste Disposition Record of Decision
DOE invites comment on issues related to continued sale of excess uranium
> View here
DOE seeks comment on decommissioning and waste disposal alternatives of Portsmouth gaseous diffusion enrichment plant
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed the investigation and evaluation of decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) and waste disposal alternatives of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS).
The DOE invites public comment on two Proposed Plans:
Process Buildings and Complex Facilities D&D Evaluation Project
Two alternatives were developed to address the proposed D&D of more than 200 PORTS buildings and structures being considered in the Process Buildings and Complex Facilities D&D decision. A renovation and reuse alternative was not evaluated because of the nature and age of the buildings and structures, their current state of deterioration, and the lack of any identified future need or use.
Remove Structures, Treat as Necessary, and Package Waste for Final Disposition, is the preferred alternative.
Site-Wide Waste Disposition Evaluation Project
Three alternatives were developed for the disposal of nearly 1.5 million cubic yards [1.15 million m3] of radiologically contaminated and uncontaminated waste that would be generated by demolition of the PORTS facilities.
Combined On-Site and Off-Site Waste Disposal, is the preferred alternative.
In this alternative, an engineered, permanent disposal facility, called an On-Site Disposal Cell (OSDC) would be built to safely manage the large volume of PORTS D&D waste.
Waste that didn't meet the criteria would be shipped to licensed off-Site waste disposal facilities. It is estimated that approximately 84 percent of the waste would be disposed on the DOE Site.
Submit comments by January 10, 2015.
> Download Fact Sheet on the Proposed Plans (3.1MB PDF)
> Download Proposed Plans: DOE or Fluor-B&W Portsmouth
Enrichment company USEC Inc. emerges from bankruptcy under new name Centrus Energy Corp.
> View here
Enrichment company USEC files for bankruptcy
> View here
Enrichment company USEC expects to file for bankruptcy in first quarter of 2014
> View here
Fluor-B&W Portsmouth is investigating claims that employees altered documents to cover up problems with radiation detection equipment being used at the uranium enrichment plant in Piketon.
"It became clear that some of our radiation monitoring equipment was left in service even though it had failed some daily source checks," Fluor-B&W spokesman Jeff Wagner told the Daily Times on Saturday. "[...] So as we started looking into this it became clear that some folks went back into these logs, which had been filed away in records, and they changed them."
The issue was discovered in April, and Fluor-B&W and the Department of Energy Inspector General each opened an investigation which uncovered 25 altered reports.
In a company memo sent May 22 to all employees, Fluor-B&W Site Project Director Dennis Carr said the number of incidents was limited and primarily associated with the Model 2360 Ludlum Alpha-Beta probes. He said the company has also tracked usage of that equipment on those days "to ensure there was no potential for contaminated objects to have been improperly released from our radiological areas."
(Portsmouth Daily Times May 26, 2013)
On Jan. 30, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Preliminary Notice of Violation (PNOV) to Fluor B&W Portsmouth (FBP) for violations of the DOE's nuclear safety and radiation protection regulations, and has proposed a $243,750 civil penalty.
> View: DOE release Jan. 30, 2014
> Download: Preliminary Notice of Violation, Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, LLC - January 29, 2015 (5.9MB PDF)
Area counties support on-site disposal of wastes generated from decommissioning of Portsmouth enrichment plant
Commissioners in Scioto and Jackson counties recently passed resolutions supporting an on-site disposal system for the waste generated from the Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant in Piketon.
The on-site option is one of two alternatives being considered by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ohio EPA. The other is to dispose of waste off the A-Plant site.
Fluor-B&W Portsmouth is estimating the all off-site disposal would cost about $1.62 billion and the on-site disposal would cost about $668 million.
Using the off-site alternative, 763,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil would be shipped away from the A-Plant site. There would be 1,032,000 cubic yards of building debris shipped off and a total of 2,177,000 cubic yards of material would need to be shipped off.
Using on-site disposal a total of 1,949,000 cubic yards of material would be processed on-site. Using the on-site disposal option, 228,000 cubic yards of material would still need to be shipped off.
(Portsmouth Daily Times Apr. 21, 2012)
> View older issues
Cleanup of former Oak Ridge enrichment plant completed
On Oct. 13, 2020, the Department of Energy announced the completion of the cleanup of the former Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
Demolition of Oak Ridge enrichment plant building completed
On Dec. 19, 2013, the Department of Energy announced that it has completed demolition of the K-25 gaseous diffusion building, the largest facility in the DOE complex.
The K-25 building, located at the East Tennessee Technology Park formerly known as the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, was built in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project.
The K-25 building operated until 1964, producing enriched uranium for defense and commercial purposes.
DOE to pay $800,000 in environmental fines for failure to meet cleanup milestones at former Oak Ridge enrichment plant
The Department of Energy and environmental regulators have resolved two disputes involving cleanup activities in Oak Ridge, and DOE has agreed to pay more than $800,000 in fines for failing to meet multiple milestones.
Under terms of the resolution, DOE will pay $500,000 in fines to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and $303,388 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
One of the disputes involved tons of excess materials and equipment stored at the former K-25 and K-27 uranium-enrichment facilities. DOE reportedly had not completed removal of all those materials as scheduled, despite sending the regulators a series of letters indicating the projects had been completed.
The other dispute was similar. The state and EPA said the Department of Energy prematurely indicated it was finished with a pond restoration project in Oak Ridge, even though a damaged barrier - that potentially jeopardized the project's success by allowing unwanted fish into the pond from nearby Poplar Creek - had yet to be repaired.
(Knoxville News Sentinel Oct. 26, 2010)
ATSDR releases Public Health Assessment on historical fluoride releases at former Oak Ridge enrichment plant
On Sep. 24, 2010, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released its public health assessment (PHA) of historical air releases from the K-25/S-50 sites at the Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee. The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant at the K-25 site generated a variety of radioactive and nonradioactive wastes between 1944 and 1995, when the facility closed. The K-25 site is now the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP).
The federal public health agency concluded that current and future exposures away from the site itself are unlikely to pose a threat to human health. ATSDR evaluated potential past short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) off-site exposures from K-25/S-50 air releases of ionizing radiation, uranium, hydrogen fluoride, and fluoride in three nearby communities. Happy Valley, Sugar Grove, and Union/Lawnville had the highest potential exposures because of their proximity to the site.
In the PHA, ATSDR concluded that:
- The estimated levels of uranium, hydrogen fluoride, fluoride, and radioactive materials released from the K-25 and S-50 sites into nearby off-site community air were lower than generally accepted harmful health levels. Breathing low levels of uranium and other radioactive materials, or low levels of hydrogen fluoride and fluoride from 1944 to 1995 is not expected to have harmed the health of off site residents.
- In the 1940s and 1950s, large, sudden releases of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) occurred during accidents and equipment maintenance at the site. But, not enough data exist to determine if past short-term breathing of fluoride and hydrogen fluoride during these events could have harmed people's health.
- Current and future off-site exposure to potential air releases of uranium, radioactive materials, hydrogen fluoride, and fluoride from the K-25/S-50 sites are not expected to harm the health of those living near the site. People are not currently exposed to these contaminants nor are they expected to be exposed in the future.
> Download Public Health Assessment, K-25 and S-50 Uranium and Fluoride Releases, Oak Ridge Reservation (USDOE), Oak Ridge, Roane County, Tennessee, EPA FACILITY ID: TN1890090003, September 13, 2010 (17.5M PDF)
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for change in exemptions granted for disposal of Oak Ridge enrichment plant demolition waste at Clive, Utah, radwaste disposal site
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of the fifth amendment to an Order that was initially issued
to Envirocare of Utah, Inc. on May 24, 1999 (64 FR 27826). The amended Order would
continue to grant EnergySolutions (formerly Envirocare of Utah, Inc.)
an exemption from the requirements for an NRC license under 10 CFR Part
70. The amendment is required to allow EnergySolutions to receive steel
piping waste containing residual special nuclear material (SNM). The
steel piping waste will be generated by the Department of Energy as it
decommissions the K-25 gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment facility in
Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
EnergySolutions requests additional changes to the
Order so that it may receive and dispose of Oak Ridge K-25 gaseous
diffusion plant piping from the Department of Energy (DOE) in larger
containers than would be allowable under the 2006 Order.
The public comment period on the draft FONSI closes on November 6, 2009.
Federal Register: October 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 193) p. 51622-51625 (download full text )
> Open Docket ID: NRC-2009-0440
On June 18, 2010, NRC issued the final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact.
Federal Register: June 28, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 123) p. 36701-36705 (download full text )
Widespread presence of technetium-99 could slow demolition of former Oak Ridge enrichment plant, raise cost
It appears the presence of technetium-99 may be more widespread than previously thought in processing equipment at the K-25 uranium-enrichment plant. If so, that could complicate plans for taking down the east wing of the massive, U-shaped building and potentially delay the project's schedule and jack up the cost.
The radioactive technetium, along with other products of nuclear fission, was introduced into the Oak Ridge equipment decades ago when reprocessed uranium - that had previously been in a nuclear reactor - was used as feed material to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel.
The remnants of Tc-99 are problematic because regulations allow only tiny amounts in DOE's Oak Ridge nuclear landfill, where most of the massive amount of contaminated rubble from K-25's demolition is destined for disposal.
(Knoxville News Sentinel Sep. 9, 2009)
Predemolition work begins at former Oak Ridge enrichment plant
Predemolition work at the former K-27 uranium-enrichment building is under way, and the Department of Energy said the Recovery Act project will employ between 225 and 275 people for most of the two-year effort.
Bechtel Jacobs Co., DOE's cleanup manager in Oak Ridge, is managing the $118 million project. DOE said the work will involve removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials and generally prepare the big four-story building - with a total square footage equivalent to six football fields - so it can be demolished safely in the future.
(Knoxville News Sentinel Aug. 20, 2009)
ATSDR study finds no public health hazards from past Oak Ridge enrichment plant releases
No public health hazards occurred from past atmospheric releases of ionizing radiation, uranium, fluoride and hydrogen fluoride from the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) is the conclusion of a public health assessment issued by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
The study looked at the atmospheric releases of radioactive and nonradioactive hazardous substances from the K-25/ S-50 facilities between 1944 and 1995 when the facility closed. After evaluating potential chronic and acute exposure to ionizing radiation and uranium releases, ATSDR found those doses were not expected to cause adverse health effects for people living near the ORGDP. The ORGDP is currently known as the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP).
Similarly, ATSDR looked at doses of fluoride and hydrogen fluoride released into the atmosphere either accidentally or in controlled releases during routine maintenance. ATSDR found potential chronic (long-term) exposures to fluoride and hydrogen fluoride were not a public health hazard for people living near the ORGDP. Hydrogen fluoride is a by-product of the uranium enrichment process.
Comment period ends February 20, 2009.
> View ATSDR release Jan. 5, 2009
> Download K-25 and S-50 Uranium and Fluoride Releases Public Health Assessment - Public Comment Version, Dec. 23, 2008 (6MB PDF)
Further delay for demolition of former Oak Ridge enrichment plant
The demolition of the shuttered, mile-long K-25 Building where uranium was enriched for nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War has been pushed back more than two years to 2010, officials say.
Department of Energy contractor Bechtel Jacobs Co. was supposed to have K-25 - once the largest building under one roof in the world - torn down by Sept. 30, 2008, as part of a $1.6 billion accelerated cleanup contract signed in 2003.
But a lack of funding, safety concerns - including a worker falling through a floor in 2006 - and project revisions have delayed the undertaking, which is proving to be almost as much work as constructing K-25 in the first place during World War II's Manhattan Project.
(The Oak Ridger Aug. 21, 2007)
Cleanup of former Oak Ridge uranium enrichment plant behind schedule
Federal officials say the former Oak Ridge uranium enrichment plant is not expected to be cleaned up on time and the government's contractor may lose millions of dollars as a result.
U.S. Department of Energy's environmental manager Steve McCracken says a revised timeline calls for closure of the K-25 plant site at Oak Ridge in the summer of 2009, nearly 10 months past the earlier forecast.
Officials say a number of factors have contributed to the delay, including inadequate funds, increasing cost of materials and complexity of some clean-up tasks. (AP April 15, 2006)
ATSDR report finds no public exposure to contaminated groundwater from the Oak Ridge Reservation
The public comment version of the public health assessment evaluating off-site groundwater adjacent to the Oak Ridge Reservation was released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
> View ATSDR release July 8, 2005 · ATSDR release Aug. 4, 2005
> Download Draft ATSDR Public Health Assessment, Contaminated Off-Site Groundwater from the Oak Ridge Reservation, July 2005
ATSDR releases public health assessment on Oak Ridge Y-12 uranium releases
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) evaluated past and current exposure to uranium released from the Y-12 plant and found that the off-site exposures to uranium were too low to be a health hazard for either radiation or chemical health effects.
> View ATSDR release, March 24, 2004
> Download ATSDR Public Health Assessment, Y-12 Uranium Releases, May 2004
DOE releases 2002 Oak Ridge Environmental Report
The 2002 Annual Site Environmental Report for the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Reservation facilities is now available.
> Oak Ridge release, March 8, 2004
> Oak Ridge Reservation Annual Site Environmental Report for 2002
Report on the security of UF6 at the former Oak Ridge enrichment plant classified
On Dec. 18, 2003, DOE's Inspector General finalized an inspection report on the security of UF6 at the former Oak Ridge site. The inspection report is classified.
Inspection Report on "The Security of Uranium Hexafluoride at the East Tennessee Technology Park (U)", DOE - Report IG-0633 (PDF)
> Download classification notice (PDF)
Oak Ridge water study called off
The U.S. Department of Energy has called off its investigation of water-quality problems at the former K-25 uranium enrichment site, saying the study has accomplished all that's reasonable achievable. Richard Frounfelker, DOE's project manager, said he has "very high confidence" that the Oak Ridge plant's drinking water in past years was not contaminated, as has been alleged.
Several workers at K-25 came forward a couple of years ago and said cross-connection of pipes allowed untreated or chemically contaminated water to potentially enter the plant's potable water supplies. There was speculation that water problems might explain some of the illnesses of plant employees, especially office workers who didn't have known exposures to nuclear materials or toxic chemicals.
(caller.com Feb. 10, 2002)
DOE releases independent investigation report on former Oak Ridge, Tennessee, enrichment plant
An Energy Department report for the first time details the radioactive and chemical hazards faced by workers at the old Oak Ridge, Tennessee, uranium enrichment plant, which used to enrich uranium for nuclear bombs.
The report is based on a six-month investigation into how practices at the old K-25 uranium enrichment plant may have affected the environment and endangered workers.
During World War II and the Cold War, K-25 workers were exposed to radiation from uranium, plutonium and neptunium at higher than allowable levels. Workers also were exposed to toxic substances such as beryllium and fluorine.
DOE news release Oct 11, 2000
> Download Independent Investigation of the East Tennessee Technology Park, October 2000 , U.S. DOE Office of Oversight
Environment, Safety and Health
(formerly Framatome ANP, Framatome Cogema Fuels)
License No. SNM-1168, Docket No.
> see older issues
NRC Docket No. /
License No. SNM-1067 / 06-00217-06
Aerial view: Google Maps · MSRMaps
ABB applies for license termination of decommissioned CE Windsor nuclear fuel plant
On Dec. 21, 2011, ABB Inc. notified NRC that it does not intend to apply for a renewal of its license that expires on Jan. 31, 2012. ABB rather applied for the termination of the license.
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for revised Decommissioning Plan for CE Windsor nuclear fuel plant (Connecticut)
The purpose of the proposed amendment is to approve a revision,
Decommissioning Plan Revision (DP) 2, to the previously approved site
DP for the licensee's facility. The original DP was approved on June 1,
2004, and revision 1 was approved on July 8, 2009. Specifically, this
Revision 2 to the approved DP expands the scope of the DP and provides
the radiological status and remediation plans for select Formerly
Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) areas, including the
Site Brook and the adjacent Debris Pile. In addition, site-specific
derived concentration guideline limits (DCGLs) for thorium-232 (Th-232)
and radium-226 (Ra-226) are provided in the revised DP.
Federal Register: May 31, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 104) p. 31379-31381 (download full text )
NRC invites comment on decommissioning plan for CE Windsor nuclear fuel plant (Connecticut)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a license
amendment application for decommissioning from ABB, Inc., requesting
approval of a revised decommissioning plan and site specific derived
concentration guideline levels at its Combustion Engineering site
located in Windsor, Connecticut.
Submit comments or requests for a hearing by April 18, 2011.
Federal Register: February 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 31) p. 8785-8787 (download full text )
> Open Docket ID NRC-2011-0033
> Download ABB, Inc. Decommissioning Plan Rev. 2, CE Windsor Site, August 2010:
Main part ·
Figures ·
Tables ·
Appendix A ·
Appendix B ·
Addendum
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for partial remediation of CE Windsor nuclear fuel plant (Connecticut)
Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact for License Amendment to Materials License No.
06-00217-06, for Remediation of Portions of a Site in Windsor, CT
Federal Register: July 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 126) p. 31770-31772 (download full text )
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for partial site release of CE Windsor nuclear fuel plant for unrestricted use (Connecticut)
Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact for License Amendment to Byproduct Materials
License No. 06-00217-06, for Amendment of the License and Unrestricted
Release of a Portion of the ABB, Inc. Facility in Windsor, CT
Federal Register: January 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 6) p. 965-967 (download full text )
NRC and ABB, Inc., to discuss proposed change to decommissioning plan
for former nuclear materials site in Windsor, Conn.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff and representatives of ABB, Inc., will meet on Friday, Sept. 14, 2007, to discuss the company's plans to supplement the decommissioning plan for a former nuclear materials site in Windsor (Hartford County), Conn.
> View NRC release Sep. 11, 2007
NRC issues notice on opportunity to request a hearing on decommissioning plan for former Combustion Engineering Windsor nuclear fuel plant
The NRC must receive requests for a hearing on or before March 8, 2004.
Federal Register: February 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 25) p. 5879-5880
(download full text )
NRC issues Finding of No Significant Impact for decommissioning
Federal Register: October 17, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 201) p. 64147-64150 (download full text ):
"SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
the issuance of a license amendment to ABB Prospects, Inc. Materials
License No. 06-00217-06 to authorize dismantlement and deconstruction
to grade level of the buildings in Building Complexes 2, 5, and 17 at
the CE site in Windsor, CT and has prepared an Environmental Assessment
in support of this action. Based upon the Environmental Assessment, the
NRC has concluded that a finding of No Significant Impact is
appropriate, and, therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement is
unnecessary."
NRC to approve decommissioning plan
Federal Register: April 10, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 69) p. 17472 (download full text ):
"The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering issuance of a
license amendment to By-Product Materials License No. 06-00217-06
(License No. 06-00217-06), issued to ABB Prospects, Incorporated, to
authorize decommissioning of Building Complexes 2, 5 and 17 at the CE
Windsor Site in Windsor, Connecticut. [...]"
By letter dated May 8, 2002, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection submitted a Request for Hearing and Petition to Intervene for several deficiences identified in the decommissioning plan.
NRC Docket-No.
NRC Licence No. SNM-928, SNM-1174
NRC releases revised groundwater decommissioning plan for former Kerr-McGee Cimarron nuclear fuel plant, providing phased approach in view of shortage of funding
"[...] Available funding was determined to be insufficient to provide for full implementation of the decommissioning plan, and the NRC and the DEQ [Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality] agreed that a phased approach to decommissioning must be developed and implemented.
Both agencies agreed that the highest priority is the removal of sufficient uranium from groundwater to achieve termination of the NRC license. The decommissioning plan was therefore revised to provide for a phased approach to groundwater remediation, in which the first phase targets only those areas in which the concentration of uranium in groundwater exceeds the NRC criterion for unrestricted release. The cost and schedule to achieve license termination, based upon the implementation of only Phase I, would be estimated to determine if available funding is sufficient to achieve license termination."
> Download: Cimarron Environmental Response Trust Facility Decommissioning Plan, Revision 2 , Feb. 2021
Request submitted to redefine licensed area of former Kerr-McGee Cimarron nuclear fuel plant
On Nov. 22, 2019, Environmental Properties Management LLC (EPM) submitted to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) a request to amend License SNM-928 to re-define the area under license. The request proposes to release for unrestricted use areas that comply with the decommissioning criteria, while those portions of the site where groundwater contamination was detected after they were released shall be brought back under license.
> Download: License Amendment Request to Redefine the Licensed Area , Nov. 22, 2019 (15.5MB PDF)
Presence of Technetium-99 complicates groundwater cleanup at former Kerr-McGee Cimarron nuclear fuel plant:
During meetings with the NRC on April 4 and 5, 2019, "discussions addressed the anticipated presence of technetium 99 (Tc-99) in groundwater that will be extracted and treated to remove uranium and nitrate during proposed remediation activities. Also discussed was the potential for Tc-99 to be present in spent ion exchange resin and/or biomass generated by the uranium and nitrate treatment processes, respectively, as well as in effluent that will be discharged or injected. This letter summarizes the issues discussed and a proposed path forward."
"Background. Elevated concentrations of gross beta were discovered in groundwater at the Cimarron site in the 1990s in the Uranium Pond #1 (UP1) and Uranium Pond #2 (UP2) Areas, and at locations downgradient from these areas. The radionuclide Tc-99 was identified as the source of the elevated beta concentrations, and monitoring for Tc-99 began in 1996. Beginning in 1997, groundwater and surface water samples were collected and analyzed for Tc-99 at locations where the ratio of gross beta to gross alpha exceeded 3:1 and gross beta results exceeded 30 picoCuries/liter (pCi/L) [1.11 Bq/L].
It was determined that Tc-99 was a contaminant in some of the uranium hexafluoride (UF6) received at the facility; Tc-99 was present in the UF6 generated by the processing of recycled nuclear material at the Department of Energy's Paducah, Kentucky facility."
> Download: Potential Technetium 99 Impact to Influent, Waste, and Effluent , Environmental Properties Management LLC letter to NRC, May 3, 2019 (4.5MB PDF)
Technetium-99 in groundwater and wastes at former Kerr-McGee Cimarron nuclear fuel plant presents "no unique or significant radiation hazards to workers or the public", study finds:
A dose calculation performed by Enercon Services, Inc. concluded that "the contribution to the total radiation exposure from the Tc-99 that may be present is less than 1 % of the total exposure, and the associated dose rate is insignificant in magnitude.".
> Download: Evaluating the Need to License Tc-99 , Jan. 14, 2020, Environmental Properties Management LLC submission to NRC (15.6MB PDF)
NRC provides opportunity to provide comments, request a hearing on license amendment request for decommissioning Cimarron facility
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a
license amendment application from the licensee, Cimarron Environmental
Response Trust (CERT) for the Cimarron Facility, located in Logan
County, Oklahoma. The license authorizes possession of Byproduct,
Source, and Special Nuclear Material (SNM-928). CERT requested approval
of its proposed Facility Decommissioning Plan (DP), Rev. 1 for the
Cimarron Facility in Guthrie, Oklahoma and incorporation of the DP into
its license by license amendment. The requested license amendment would
also: Revise to the possession limit; change the description of the
licensed site; eliminate License Conditions that are no longer
applicable; and incorporate a revised Radiation Protection Program into
the license.
Submit comments by May 10, 2019.
> Federal Register Volume 84, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 10, 2019) p. 14423-14426 (download full text )
> Download License Amendment request , Nov. 2, 2018
> Access Docket ID NRC-2019-0093
NRC releases groundwater decommissioning plan for former Kerr-McGee Cimarron nuclear fuel plant
The Cimarron facility was formerly operated by Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corporation (KMNC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kerr-McGee Corporation. Mixed oxide fuel was produced in the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication (MOFF) facility from 1970 through 1975. Enriched uranium fuel was produced at the Uranium Plant from 1966 through 1975. Decommissioning of materials and equipment, buildings and structures, and surface and subsurface soils is complete.
Licensed material exceeds decommissioning criteria for unrestricted release in groundwater in several areas of the Site, which are further described in Section 2 of this Plan. The intent of the Plan is to reduce the concentration of uranium in groundwater to achieve unrestricted release of the Site and license termination. The Derived Concentration Goal Level (DCGL) for groundwater at the Site is 180 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) total uranium, based on a Site-specific drinking water scenario.
Groundwater in several areas of the Site also contains two non-radiological contaminants of concern (COCs): nitrate and fluoride.
> Download: Cimarron Facility Decommissioning Plan, Dec. 2015
Site Name and No.: Former Sylvania Electric Products Facility, Site No. V00089-1
Project Location: 70, 100, & 140 Cantiague Rock Road, Hicksville, NY Nassau County, NYSDEC Region 1
New York State DEC site documents
Residents file $1.6 billion lawsuit
A lawsuit filed on April 3, 2002, in federal court contends that a former nuclear processing plant in Hicksville leaked radioactive materials and toxins into the air, soil and water, causing a host of cancers and deaths in the area.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Central Islip on behalf of 25 families, mostly from the Jericho Gardens neighborhood, also says that GTE and Sylvania, which operated the plant, and Verizon, their parent company, conspired to keep the contamination secret from residents.
The suit alleges that the facility, which operated from 1952 to 1966, discharged uranium, thorium and other toxins and caused various illnesses, including lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma and cancers of the kidneys, lungs, pancreas, liver and breasts.
(Newsday April 4, 2002)
Soil Remediation Work Plan available for comment
> View NYSDEC ENB Region 1 notice, March 27, 2002
The public comment period is: March 27, 2002 to April 27, 2002.
Note: The public meeting originally scheduled for April 9, 2002, has been postponed.
(formerly Combustion Engineering, Inc.)
License No. SNM-33, Docket No.
Aerial view: Google Maps · MSRMaps
> See also: NRC Review of Performance Assessment for Decommissioning Plans
NRC terminates license of Westinghouse Hematite nuclear fuel plant after decommissioning completed
On Sep. 27, 2018, NRC terminated Special Nuclear Materials License No. SNM-00033.
> Federal Register Volume 83, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2018) p. 50123-50124 (download full text )
> Download: NRC letter to Westinhouse , Sep. 27, 2018 (PDF)
> Download: Safety Evaluation Report , Sep. 27, 2018 (PDF)
> Access Docket ID NRC-2018-0223
Brookfield Business Partners to buy bankrupt Westinghouse
> View here
Westinghouse seeks license termination for decommissioned Hematite nuclear fuel plant
By letter dated Dec. 20, 2017, Westinghouse Electric Co submitted to NRC an Application for Termination of the License for the Hematite Decommissioning Project.
"Westinghouse has completed all decommissioning activities specified in License Condition 15 [...] Westinghouse certifies that the Special Nuclear Material Inventory is zero [...] Westinghouse has completed the Final Status Survey for the Hematite Facility which demonstrates that the premises are suitable for unrestricted release in accordance with the criteria of 10 CFR 20.1402."
Toshiba's nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co declares bankrupt
> View here
NRC offers opportunity to request a hearing and to petition for leave to intervene concerning criticality monitoring exemptions at Hematite nuclear fuel plant decommssioning site
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received a license amendment application from Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC., dated August 16, 2012, requesting an exemption and an amendment of NRC License Number SNM-00033. The requested exemption pertains to requirements for criticality monitoring systems at WEC Hematite Decommissioning Project site in Missouri.
A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must be filed by December 31, 2012.
> Federal Register Volume 77, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2012) p. 65910-65912 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2012-0262
NRC invites comment on decommissioning project for Hematite nuclear fuel plant
Submit comments by May 18, 2012.
Requests for a hearing or leave to intervene must be filed by May 18, 2012.
> Federal Register March 19, 2012 (Volume 77, Number 53) p. 16077-16082 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2012-0054
Westinghouse releases report on Technetium-99 contamination in soils at former Hematite nuclear fuel plant
On May 5, 2011, Westinghouse Electric Co submitted to NRC an "Evaluation of Technetium-99 Under the Process Buildings" at its former Hematite nuclear fuel plant.
NRC staff proposes imposition of $16,250 penalty for violations during decommissioning of Hematite nuclear fuel plant
On Oct. 23, 2009, NRC staff issued a Notice of Violation to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and proposes the imposition of a $16,250 penalty for violations identified during inspections conducted between November 17, 2008, and June 24, 2009.
- The first violation involved the deactivation of the nuclear criticality accident
monitoring system sometime between February 21 and March 22, 2006, prior to Hematite
receiving NRC approval to deactivate the system.
- The second violation involved the submittal, on March 17, 2006, of inaccurate information about the amount of uranium-235 remaining in the process building.
The NRC noted that on November 11, 2008, during routine surveys, Westinghouse staff
determined that the amount of uranium-235 remaining in the process building piping significantly exceeded the amounts reported to the NRC (2,638 g U-235 rather than 250 g U-235).
- The third violation involves the failure to provide adequate training to a health physics technician.
> View NRC release Oct. 29, 2009
> View Notice of Violation EA-09-084, Oct. 23, 2009
NRC approves Decommissioning Plan for Westinghouse Hematite nuclear fuel plant:
> Download NRC letter to Westinghouse, Oct. 13, 2011
> Download License Amendment No. 57, Oct. 13, 2011
> Download Safety Evaluation Report Oct. 2011 · Supporting Documents · Basis for Hematite License Changes
NRC issues Notice of License Amendment Request for approval of Decommissioning Plan for Westinghouse Hematite nuclear fuel plant and Opportunity To Request a Hearing:
On Dec. 8, 2009, NRC issued a Notice of License Amendment Request of Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC for Approval of Hematite Decommissioning Plan, Festus, Missouri and Opportunity To Request a Hearing.
A request for a hearing must be filed by February 8, 2010.
> View NRC release Dec. 10, 2009
Federal Register: December 8, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 234), Page 64765-64769 (download full text )
> Download Hematite Decommissioning Plan (ADAMS Acc. No. ML092330136)
Westinghouse issues Decommissioning Plan for Hematite nuclear fuel plant:
On Aug. 12, 2009, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC submitted to NRC its Decommissioning Plan for the Hematite nuclear fuel plant.
(available for download through ADAMS )
NRC issues Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact on proposal to more than double the amount of Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste to be transferred to non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho
> Federal Register Volume 80, Number 74 (Friday, April 17, 2015)
p. 21266-21268 (download full text )
> Download Environmental Assessment
> Access Docket ID NRC-2012-0054
NRC issued the requested license amendment on April 29, 2015.
> Download Safety Evaluation Report, April 2015
NRC offers opportunity to request hearing or petition for leave to intervene on Westinghouse application to more than double the amount of Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste to be transferred to non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho:
"The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received an
application from Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC dated July 11,
2014, and subsequently modified by submittal dated September 25, 2014,
for amendment of the Hematite Fuel Cycle Facility license (License No.
SNM-33), which authorizes decommissioning of the facility. The
amendment would allow disposal of an additional 87,100 m3 (cubic
meters) of debris and contaminated soil, concrete and asphalt, filter
media, ion exchange resin and piping containing NRC-licensed source,
byproduct and special nuclear material at U.S. Ecology Idaho, Inc."
A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must be filed by February 2, 2015.
> Federal Register Volume 79, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014) p. 71795-71800 (download full text )
> Access Docket ID NRC-2012-0054
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC once again wants to more than double the amount of Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste to be transferred to non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho:
On July 11, 2014, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approve an increase in the volume of waste authorized for transfer from the Hematite Decommissioning Project for alternate disposal at US Ecology Idaho, Inc.
This request is to more than double the volume by 87,100 m3 to a cumulative volume of 154,909 m3. The total volume is now almost seven times the amount of 23,000 m3 approved in the first place.
NRC issues license amendment for disposal of additional Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste at non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho:
On Jan. 14, 2014, NRC issued license amendment No. 63 to Westinghouse Electric Corp. LLC (WEC):
"WEC is now permitted to dispose of an additional 22,000 m3 of soil and soil like material generated by its HDP [Hematite Decommissioning Project], provided the total inventory of Tc-99 based on average concentration and total mass shipped remains below 1.3 Ci or 2.05 Ci based upon the 95th upper confidence limit.
The above amount for disposal is in addition to the previously approved 23,000 m3 in April 2013 and 22,809 m3 in November of 2011."
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on additional exemptions for disposal of Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste at non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho:
> Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013) p. 77722-77724 (download full text )
> Download Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact , Dec. 12, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13269A308)
> View Docket ID NRC-2013-0184
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC once again seeks additional exemptions to dispose of Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste at non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho:
On May 28, 2013, Westinghouse sent to NRC a third request for additional alternate disposal approval and exemptions for specific Hematite decommissioning project waste at the US Ecology Idaho facility.
> Download Westinghouse request May 28, 2013
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC seeks additional exemptions to dispose of Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste at non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho:
On Jan. 16, 2012, Westinghouse sent to NRC a request for additional alternate disposal approval and exemptions for specific Hematite decommissioning project waste at the US Ecology Idaho facility.
On Feb. 1, 2013, NRC issued its Safety Evaluation Report regarding this request.
> Download Safety Evaluation Report, Feb. 1, 2013
> Federal Register Volume 78, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2013) p. 8194-8195 (download full text )
> View Docket ID NRC-2009-0278
On Apr. 11, 2013, NRC approved the request and issued a revised Safety Evaluation Report.
> Download NRC letter Apr. 11, 2013
> Download Safety Evaluation Report, Apr. 11, 2013
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
for exemption of material from decommissioning of Hematite nuclear fuel plant for disposal at unlicensed facility in Idaho:
> Federal Register: October 24, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 205), p. 65753-65755 (download full text )
> Download Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to issuance of Amendment No. 58 to Materials License No. SNM-33, Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC Hematite decommissioning project located in Festus, Missouri
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and FONSI on proposed waste disposal from decommissioning of Hematite nuclear fuel plant at unlicensed facility in Idaho:
> Download NRC release Oct. 31, 2011 (PDF)
> Federal Register: September 29, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 189) p. 60557-60559 (download full text )
> Federal Register: October 31, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 210) p. 67229 (download full text )
> Download Environmental Assessment and Finding On No Significant Impact, Sep. 2011 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML112101726 - corrected)
NRC holding public meeting to discuss the Westinghouse Hematite nuclear fuel plant decommissioning plan:
The NRC has scheduled a public meeting on July 12, 2011, to discuss the pending issuance of amendments to the Hematite license (NRC License No. SNM-00033), including approval of the site's decommissioning plan and the Hematite soil alternate disposal requests.
> Download NRC news July 1, 2011 (PDF)
NRC invites comment on Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI on proposed waste disposal from decommissioning of Hematite nuclear fuel plant at unlicensed facility in Idaho:
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for a License Amendment to Materials, License No. SNM-33, Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, Hematite Decommissioning Project, Festus, Missouri.
The public comment period on the draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) closes on May 25, 2011.
Federal Register: April 25, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 79) p. 22926-22928 (download full text )
> Download Draft Environmental Assessment and FONSI (ADAMS Acc. No. ML110870992)
> View Docket ID NRC-2009-0278
NRC issues opportunity to request a hearing and to petition for leave to intervene on proposed waste disposal from decommissioning of Hematite nuclear fuel plant at unlicensed facility in Idaho:
The NRC has received a license amendment application from
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (WEC or the licensee) dated March 3,
2010, for disposal of NRC-licensed source, byproduct and special
nuclear material pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002 from its former fuel cycle
facility located in Festus, Missouri. WEC holds NRC License No. SNM-00033, which authorizes the licensee to conduct decommissioning
activities. The amendment requests authorization for WEC to transfer
decommissioning waste to U.S. Ecology Idaho, Inc., a Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C disposal facility
located near Grand View, Idaho. The U.S. Ecology Idaho facility is
regulated by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and is not
an NRC-licensed facility. Pursuant to 10 CFR 30.11 and 70.17, WEC's
application also requests that U.S. Ecology be granted exemptions from
the licensing requirements of 10 CFR 30.3 and 70.3 for byproduct and
special nuclear material, respectively. These exemptions are necessary
because the disposal of byproduct and special nuclear material must
occur at a facility licensed by the NRC to possess such material and
the U.S. Ecology Idaho facility does not have an NRC license.
Requests for a hearing or leave to intervene must be filed by August 17, 2010.
Submit comments by September 16, 2010.
Federal Register: June 18, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 117) p. 34792-34794 (download full text )
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC seeks exemptions to dispose of Hematite (Missouri) fuel plant decommissioning waste at non-NRC-licensed disposal facility in Idaho:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting June 9, 2010, in Bruneau, Idaho, to brief members of the public on a proposal by Westinghouse Electric Co. to dispose of low-activity radioactive materials at the U.S. Ecology Disposal Facility in Grand View, Idaho.
> View NRC release June 2, 2010
By letter dated May 21, 2009, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received a license amendment application from Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (WEC), seeking authorization allowing WEC to transfer decommissioning waste to U.S. Ecology Idaho, Inc., a hazardous waste disposal facility located near Grand View, which does not have the NRC license required for such transfer.
A request for a hearing must be filed by October 5, 2009 (period extended by NRC order of Sep. 4, 2009).
Federal Register: September 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 177) p. 47287-47289 (download full text )
Notice of License Amendment Request of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC for Hematite Decommissioning Project, Festus, MO and Opportunity To Request a Hearing
Federal Register: July 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 127) p. 31994-31996 (download full text )
> Download Request for Alternate Disposal Approval and Exemption for Specific Hematite Project Waste (ML090180071)
> Download Review Acceptance Letter to Westinghouse on 20.2002 Alternate Disposal Request for Hematite (ML091690253)
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for building demolition at former Hematite fuel facility
Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to issuance of Amendment No. 52 to Materials License No. SNM-00033, Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC Hematite former fuel fabrication facility located in Festus, Missouri site (TAC NO. L52641) , June 14, 2006 (ADAMS ML061170282)
Federal Register: June 29, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 125) p. 37124-37129 (download full text )
NRC staff proposes $16,250 fine against Westinghouse for safety violations at shutdown Hematite fuel facility
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $16,250 fine against Westinghouse Electric Co. for violations of NRC safety requirements during decommissioning activities at the company's Hematite Fuel Manufacturing Facility in Festus, Mo.
The fine is proposed for two violations of requirements for assuring that uranium used in nuclear fuel processing is properly controlled and stored to preclude any accidental nuclear reaction. The violations were identified in an NRC inspection conducted from January through April 2005.
> View NRC release Aug. 26, 2005
> View Notice of Violation EA-05-104, Aug. 25, 2005
Missouri Department of Natural Resources invites comment on Consent Decree with Westinghouse on Hematite fuel plant cleanup
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Attorney General's Office have entered into a consent decree with Westinghouse Electric Company LLC. This consent decree pertains to the Hematite Radioactive Site. The consent decree states Westinghouse will reimburse the state for past and future costs of oversight of response actions at the Hematite Radioactive Site. Westinghouse will also perform studies and response work consistent with the National Contingency Plan, 40 C.F.R. Part 300, including a remedial investigation and feasibility study, with a baseline human health risk assessment and ecological risk assessment.
The Department of Natural Resources invites the public to review and offer written comments on the consent decree until August 29, 2005.
> View DNR release (July 26, 2005)
> Download Consent Decree and Settlement between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the State's Attorney Generals Office and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, July 2005 (343k PDF)
Westinghouse seeks public comment on soil-removal plan for former Hematite nuclear fuel plant
Westinghouse Electric Co. seeks public comment on a plan to remove about 1,100 cubic yards of uranium-contaminated soil from the grounds of the company's shuttered nuclear fuel plant in Hematite, as part of a planned decommissioning of the facility.
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch Dec. 16 2004).
Westinghouse issues Hematite decommissioning plan
Westinghouse - Hematite Former Fuel Cycle Facility Decommissioning - Hematite
Decommissioning Plan, Revision 0, License SNM-33, April 30, 2004, 95 p.
> Download full report (3.4MB PDF)
Inadvertent shipment of nuclear fuel pellets in "empty" zirconium tubes
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun a special inspection at the former Hematite Fuel Fabrication Facility in Festus, Missouri, to review the circumstances around an inadvertent shipment of nuclear fuel pellets, which were included in a shipment of zirconium metal tubes for reprocessing, from the facility to a recycling facility in Canada. The employees of Mississauga Metals and Alloys, Inc. , a recycling company located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada discovered 36 fuel pellets containing low-enriched uranium in the zirconium tubes.
> View NRC release July 31, 2003
On September 4, 2003, Westinghouse informed the NRC that 63 additional fuel pellets were
discovered in scrap zirconium tubes that had been shipped on June 18 and 25, 2003, to the
Mississauga Metals and Alloys (MM&A) facility in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, for recycling.
(NRC Event Report Sep. 5, 2003)
On December 22, 2003, NRC issued a Notice of Violation (EA-03-182 ), but NRC did not propose a civil penalty in this case.
Chemicals from old nuclear plant are found in two more wells
Two more drinking wells in Jefferson County are contaminated with chemicals from a closed nuclear fuel plant in Hematite owned by Westinghouse Electric Co.
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch Aug. 30, 2002)
Residents sue over well-water contamination
Three families whose drinking wells were contaminated with chemicals from the shuttered nuclear fuel plant in Hematite have sued Westinghouse Electric Co. and the previous owners of the plant.
The suits, filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court, allege that the companies knowingly deposited and released radioactive and chemical wastes at the plant site. The suits seek unspecified damages and name Westinghouse, its parent company, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., ABB C-E Nuclear Power, Inc., and the plant's founder, Mallinckrodt chemical company, as defendants.
The plant was in operation from 1956 to 2001. Initially, it was used to fill military contracts, and later it manufactured nuclear-fuel-rod assemblies for commercial power plants.
The suits name as plaintiffs three of six families whose wells in 2002 were found to be contaminated with the chemicals, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene and their byproducts. The chemicals were used as cleaning agents at the plant in the 1950s and 1960s and have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch August 10, 2002)
NRC updates decommissioning of former nuclear fuel plant
Jefferson County residents concerned about possible well contamination from the former Hematite nuclear fuel plant got the chance on Apr. 3, 2002, to hear the government's update on the site's decommissioning and the planned cleanup.
State officials continued last week to take water samples from wells near the plant, about 35 miles south of St. Louis. Previous tests have showed four wells contaminated with traces of two chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems. (Carthage Press Apr. 4, 2002)
> View older issues
Appeals court refuses lawsuits against former Apollo nuclear fuel plant
A federal appeals court refused to reinstate lawsuits alleging that exposure to radioactive emissions from a former nuclear fuels plant in Apollo caused cancer among residents.
The federal 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 90-page ruling released Wednesday (Aug. 23), said it agrees with a lower court ruling that dismissed lawsuits filed on behalf of more than 70 people who claimed their cancers were caused by radioactive emissions from the former Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp. plant.
The defendants are Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group and the Atlantic Richfield Co., which operated a uranium fuel-processing plant founded by the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp., or NUMEC, in Apollo and a plutonium plant in Parks Township. The plants operated from about 1957 to the mid-1980s.
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Aug. 23, 2017)
Radiation report cites years of 'large' releases at former Apollo and Parks nuclear fuel plants (Pennsylvania)
An expert's report on shuttered nuclear fuels plants in Armstrong County provides new detail on allegations that operators Babcock & Wilcox Co. and Atlantic Richfield Co. knew about worst-in-the-nation releases of radioactive materials that spanned decades, but opted not to do enough to protect neighbors from cancer-causing dust.
The 37-page report by Harvard University Radiation Safety Officer Joseph P. Ring, who teaches at Harvard and the University of Massachusetts, was filed late Tuesday (April 24) in a series of federal lawsuits against the companies by about 90 cancer victims. Mr. Ring found "numerous large-scale releases of ionizing radiation into the neighboring environment" during the operating lives of the plants in Apollo and Parks Township, which spanned 1958 through 1984, adding up to "the largest quantity ... of any nuclear facility in the United States."
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Apr. 26, 2012)
More residents sue former Apollo and Parks nuclear fuel plant operators (Pennsylvania)
Fifteen area residents filed federal lawsuits on Friday (May 28) on their behalf or an estate, claiming that the operations of two former nuclear fuel plants in the Parks Township-Apollo area caused illness and death.
The defendants, Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group and Atlantic Richfield, operated a uranium fuel-processing plant in Apollo and a plutonium plant in Parks from 1957-86.
The lawsuits add to similar suits first filed Jan. 26 in the same federal court.
A first round of lawsuits settled in 2008 and 2009 for $80 million.
The new suits covers plaintiffs whose illnesses didn't manifest until after the filing of the first lawsuits and other exceptions.
The companies always have maintained that their operations did not cause illness and damages.
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review May 29, 2010)
Babcock & Wilcox pays $52.5 million to settle with plaintiffs from Apollo and Parks area (Pennsylvania)
Babcock & Wilcox has settled a 14-year-long lawsuit for $52.5 million for personal injury, wrongful death and property damage to 365 claimants from the Apollo and Parks area.
U.S. District Court Judge Donetta Ambrose, chief judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, approved the settlement April 17, 2009.
The plaintiffs alleged that airborne radioactive emissions from the B&W plants in Apollo and/or Parks, caused cancer, deaths and other illness, as well as property damage.
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review April 17, 2009)
Settlement offered to some residents near former Apollo nuclear fuel plant (Pennsylvania)
Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO) has offered $27.5 million to settle claims that pollution from a nuclear fuel processing plant damaged nearby residents' property and caused cancer and other illnesses.
ARCO and plaintiff attorneys asked a federal judge to approve the proposed settlement in a joint motion filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh this week.
The case concerns the former Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp., or NUMEC, which processed uranium and plutonium for nuclear submarines and other purposes at a plant in Apollo borough and another in neighboring Parks Township, about 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The Apollo plant was built in 1957, and the Parks plant was built a few years later.
Residents say they inhaled white radioactive dust for three decades and that microscopic particles of uranium from the plant caused an unusually high cancer rate. A doctor once testified that 351 of Apollo's 1,895 residents, or nearly one in five, had been diagnosed with some form of cancer.
Atlantic Richfield Co. bought both plants in 1967 and sold them to Babcock & Wilcox Co. in 1971.
(PennLive Feb. 8, 2008)
NRC License No. SNM-2001, Docket No.
> View Shallow Land Disposal Area (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District)
Removal of radioactive material from Parks Township nuclear waste site to resume
After finding greater than expected amounts of Special Nuclear Material "potentially suitable for a nuclear explosive" the Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday (Dec. 22) announced its final decision to stay the course for a $350 million project and remove 36,000 tons of radioactive waste from a nuclear dump in Parks Township.
The Corps shut down the cleanup of the 44-acre site along Route 66 at Kiskimere Drive in 2011 after unearthing more Special Nuclear Material than its contractor or cleanup plans were prepared to handle, driving up costs and triggering a yearlong review of the cleanup plan.
The agency's final decision, resulting in an amendment to its cleanup plan, clears an important regulatory hurdle.
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Dec. 22, 2015)
> Download USACE Release , Dec. 22, 2015 (42k PDF)
> Download Record of Decision Amendment , Dec. 17, 2015 (423k PDF)
OIG report finds nuclear waste underestimated at Parks Township Shallow Land Disposal Area: "abysmal lack of records"
A federal report released today by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey , D-Pa., confirmed a significant underestimation of the amount of nuclear waste buried at a former Babcock and Wilcox plant site in Armstrong County.
The report shows a lack of records at the Shallow Land Disposal Area, a 44-acre site in Parks Township near Apollo. Mr. Casey commissioned the report by Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Inspector General.
The study found that a remediation plan begun by the Army Corps of Engineers "significantly underestimated" the amount of the "complex materials" at the site.
"This report confirms an abysmal lack of records and raises serious concerns about the NRC's oversight of the SLDA," Mr. Casey said in a news release.
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Mar. 14, 2014)
> Download Office of Inspector General report: NRC Oversight of Decommissioning Activities at the Shallow Land Disposal Area Consistent with USACE MOU, March 6, 2014 (10.2MB PDF - image scan only)
Cleanup costs expected to skyrocket at Parks Township nuclear waste dump
The cleanup costs for the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township are expected to soar from $170 million to at least $250 million and maybe as much as half a billion dollars because of recently discovered complexities of the site and safety considerations.
The waste dump, currently owned by BWX Technologies (Babcock & Wilcox) was active from about 1960 to the early 1970s receiving nuclear and chemical waste from the former Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp. in Apollo and Parks, which produced nuclear fuel for submarines and a range of nuclear products for the government and private industry.
After starting and stopping excavation last year in two of 10 waste trenches on the 44-acre site along Route 66, the agency is revising its cleanup plans and budget and changing contractors.
After the first shovel hit the dirt last summer to dig out the first trenches, more than nuclear waste hit the fan.
Worked stopped at the Parks site in October after workers for the prime contractor, Cabrera Services, of East Hartford, Con., allegedly mishandled some nuclear waste in barrels, according to the Corps.
The contractor violated safety procedures that were in place to prevent too much radioactive material from being placed close together, potentially causing a chain reaction that could release unsafe levels of radiation. The situation is known as a "criticality."
Although no one was hurt, a criticality can cause severe radiation exposure to workers and contamination of the environment.
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review March 4, 2012)
Removal of radioactive material from Parks Township nuclear waste site interrupted
The removal of tons of radioactive soil and materials from a nuclear waste dump in Armstrong County has been halted because of "a deviation" from the site plan established by the contractor and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Jeff Hawk, a spokesman for the corps, said although the deviation presented no health threat to workers or local residents, excavation work at the rural Parks Township site will not resume until "corrective measures" are put in place.
The plants closed in the mid-1980s, and residents and officials battled for years over a cleanup plan that was put into place this year. Cabrera Services, a Connecticut-based contractor, began the eight-year, $180 million excavation in August.
On Sept. 30, however, the work was stopped.
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 18, 2011)
Army Corps of Engineers to remove radioactive material from Parks Township nuclear waste site
Five years after its initial assessment of a former nuclear waste dump in Armstrong County, the Army Corps of Engineers has decided to pursue a $53 million plan to excavate and remove soil from the 40-acre site along the Kiskiminetas River.
Based on the decision announced by the corps on Dec. 11, 2007, a contractor will dig out an estimated 40,000 cubic yards [30,582 cubic metres] of radioactive waste material and soil from the property known as the "Shallow Land Disposal Area." It is a former disposal site for the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Co., or NUMEC, in Parks, 32 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
The soil will be taken to a radioactive dump site in Clive, Utah.
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dec. 12, 2007)
> Download USACE release Dec. 11, 2007 (PDF)
> Download Record of Decision for Shallow Land Disposal Area in Parks Township, August 2007 (5.5MB PDF)
On Aug. 19, 2011, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that it and its contractor, Cabrera Services Inc., Conn., will begin excavation work next week to remove radiological contaminants at the Shallow Land Disposal Area, Parks Township.
Bill calls for cleanup plan
A bill submitted by U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, mandates that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers develop a cleanup plan for the Parks Township SLDA. (Post Gazette March 30, 2002)
"Until 1970, the SLDA was used for the disposal of hazardous and low-level wastes from a nuclear fuel fabrication facility in nearby Apollo, Pennsylvania. Based on available records, the radioactive material was placed in the trenches in the SLDA and consists of natural uranium, enriched and depleted uranium, and lesser quantities of thorium, americium, and plutonium. It is estimated that up to 700,000 cubic feet [20,000 cubic meters] of radioactive material is involved. [...]
An abandoned coalmine lies between 60 and 100 feet [18 and 30 meters] beneath the upper trench area. Mine subsidence and underground mine fires are a concern. Progressive collapse of an abandoned mine over several years recently caused structural damage to residential foundations in nearby Leechburg." (Pennsylvania DEP Site Summaries )
> View USACE FUSRAP site info
> Download USACE Preliminary Assessment, March 11, 2002 (1.3M PDF)
In H.R. 3338 ("Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes.") the cleanup of the site had been transfered to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This bill on Jan. 10, 2002, became Public Law No: 107-117.