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Oak Ridge Reservation
Environmental Health Archives
Current as of 10FEB99
Compiled by
Captain John R. Stockwell, M.D., M.P.H.
U.S. Public Health Service
c. 01FEB91
Oak Ridge Reservation
Environmental Health Archives
(ORREHA)
Document Number

& iiS
Oak Ridge Pollution — Environmental Update
Simro^jiS
.

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Oak Ridge-Pollution
Environmental Update. Feb 91.
3j
Environmental Update
A Report from the U. S. Department of Energy on Environmental Restoration (ER)
activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation
OAK RIDGE RO
OAK RIDGE PUBLIC I.
Oak Ridge, 'itimmssee
Issue Two
Contents in Brief
The Information Resource Center opened atits new
location in January. The Center provides area
residents access to documents concerning the Oak
Ridge Reservation and Superfund Program
activities. New hours are listed. (Story on Page 3)
***
Tests at the White Oak Creek Embayment
concluded that cesium-137 is present in surface
sediments. Though no increased health risk to the
public is indicated, measures are being taken to
prevent movement of the embayment sediments.
(Story on Page 3)
*** •
Studies on East Fork Poplar Creek are being
conducted to help DOE develop appropriate cleanup
plans. Sampling for contaminants will proceed in
two phases through September 1991. (Story on
Page 5)
DOE has issued the Oak Ridge Reservation
Environmental Report for 1989, a two-volume
report on the comprehensive monitoring of the
effects of releases from Oak Ridge Reservation
facilities to the environment. (Story on Page 9)
***
A public meeting on the Site Specific Plan for the
Oak Ridge Reservation, held on October 16,1990,
allowed citizens to share concerns with cleanup
officials. (Story on Page 2)
The ORAU South Campus Facility will be sampled
for possible contamination resulting from past
research activities. (Story on Page 4)
* **
A Remedial Action Plan is being developed to guide
cleanup of a storage site for low-level radioactive
waste from the United Nuclear Corporation. (Story
on Page 2)
*** ¦
Public comment has been received by DOE on
proposals for remediation of the Elza Gate Site, also
known as Melton Lake Industrial Park. (Story on
Page 8)
February 1991
Letter from DOE's Assistant Manager for
Environmental Restoration and
Waste Management
As the new year begins, I want to emphasize our
continued commitment to clean up the 40-year legacy
from past operations and to further improve the waste
management practices on the Oak Ridge Reservation.
Last year considerable progress was made in these areas,
including sampling along East Fork
Poplar Creek, completion of cleanup
at seven hazardous waste sites at the
Y-12 Plant, holding a public
information meeting, continued
reduction of waste generation rates,
and opening an Information Resource
Center. Additionally, detailed
sampling activities were continued
order to better understand the
in
environmental contamination and to
determine feasible cleanup options.
Bill Adams
Efforts this year will focus on the start of full-scale
operations of the TSCA Incinerator, work at the K-25
drum storage yard to achieve compliance with
environmental laws, and actions to further reduce the
potential for radioactive contamination leaving the
Reservation through White Oak Creek. The sampling
and investigation activities will also be expanded.
I appreciated the interest shown by the community in
our public meeting last October. We will continue to do
our part to keep you informed and involved in our
cleanup and waste management activities.
Sincerely,

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2
Public Meeting Held on Site Specific Plan for Oak Ridge Reservation
\
JL -A. bout 350 people attended the public meeting
on the Site Specific Plan for cleanup and waste
management activities on the Oak Ridge Reservation
held by the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) on
October 16, 1990, at the Pollard Auditorium in Oak
Ridge.
The meeting provided a forum for DOE to discuss
cleanup and waste operations plans for the Oak Ridge
facilities and for citizens to share their concerns and
provide comments. The evening's activities included
an informal poster session, formal presentations, and a
question-and-answer session.
Displays of each of the local DOE facilities (Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, the Y-12 Plant, and the K-25 site)
and the off-site environmental restoration programs
were provided. Environmental restoration and waste
management personnel from DOE Oak Ridge Operations
Office and their contractor staff were available to talk
informally with members of the public about waste
management and cleanup activities. Information
materials about the programs were available (see page
11 for a list of available fact sheets).
In the formal presentations, Bill Adams, DOE Oak Ridge
Operations assistant manager for Environmental
Restoration and Waste Management, introduced DOE
officials who discussed the program. DougUnderwood,
deputy director of the Waste Management Division,
described the DOE Five-YearPlan. Bob Sleeman, director
of the Environmental Restoration Division, spoke about
activities being undertaken in the Environmental
Restoration Program. Larry Radcliffe, director of the
Waste Management Division, outlined the various waste
disposal activities being conducted.
Dr. Robert Smallridge, superintendent of Oak Ridge
Schools, served as moderator for the question-and-
answer period following the formal presentations.
Members of the public had an opportunity to make
formal comments for the record on the Site Specific Plan.
Similar meetings are planned in the future. DOE
encourages the citizens of Oak Ridge and surrounding
communities to attend.
F
JL ron
Remedial Action Plan Scheduled for 1991
rom June 1982 to late 1985 approximately 30,000
drums of low-level radioactive solid waste and 288
boxes of low-level scrap metal were shipped from the
United Nuclear Corporation facility in Rhode Island to
the Y-12 Plant. The material is contaminated with small
amounts of uranium and larger amounts of nitrates, a
chemical byproduct of uranium processing.
Upon arrival at the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, a dozen
drums were found to have been damaged by punctures
or tears in the metal. The contents of the most severely
damaged drums were transferred to new drums before
being placed in a storage area. All of the drums are
temporarily stacked in a trench. Plastic sheeting helps
protect the drums from exposure to rain. The site has
been monitored and, to date, no contaminants from the
drums or boxes have entered the groundwater.
In accordance with environmental regulations,
investigators are performing feasibility studies, which
identify and compare alternatives for closing a waste
site (see fact sheet, OER-0006 listed on page 11). Results
of the 'feasibility studies will be used to develop a
proposed draft Remedial Action Plan. The Remedial
Action Plan for cleanup of the storage site is scheduled
for public review and comment during 1991. A brief
analysis of the proposed plan will be published with a
public notice of availability. There will be an opportunity
for a public meeting and for members of the public to
comment on the proposed plan. After thorough
consideration, a record of decision will be published

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3
Information Resource Center Opens
D
rOE has established a permanent home for the
Information Resource Center that contains the
Administrative Record and other materials related to
the Oak Ridge Reservation environmental cleanup. The
Center is located at the former Ridge Theater at 105
Broadway Avenue, near the Jackson Square Shopping
Center. The building was renovated for its new use, and
parking is available along Broadway Avenue.
Until recently, the Information Resource Center was
temporarily housed in offices of DOE's Technical
Support Contractor, Lee Wan & Associates. The new
Center will provide office and storage space, and house
the many documents relating to cleanup activities.
Information Resource Center Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 a.m. - 5p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday	9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday	9 a.m. -1p.m.
Samples Collected from
White Oak Creek Embayment



An open house at the Information Resource Center is planned for
February 26, 1991.
As required by EPA regulations, the Oak Ridge
Information Resource Center will contain documents
related to the Oak Ridge Reservation cleanup activities
and the Superfund Program in general. The Center
houses the administrative record file, which is an ongoing
collection consisting of all documents used by DOE to
make decisions in their cleanup of the Oak Ridge
Reservation and certain off-site locations, including
separate records from the Elza Gate restoration project
near the eastern city limits of Oak Ridge.
Printed materials such as program publications, fact
sheets, newsclips and background documents also will
be available for review. Personnel will be on hand to
assist visitors with their information searches. Most
often-requested and newly released documents will be
on display and available upon request	Researchers have collected samples of creek sediments below White
Oak Creek Dam to determine concentration of contaminents.
An open house for the public is planned for February 	
26,1991, from4:00-7:00p.m. An announcement will be . „ .	.... ... . . „ . . , ,
1	, .,,,	, ' Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope thathistoncallyhas been produced
made in all local area newspapers and will be distributed wsearch reQdor op(:ml]ons at Qak Ridge NationaI
to everyone on the mailing list for this Update. §g (ORNL).
9HSHHH
Surface sediment samples collected from the lower
portion of White Oak Creek Embayment during the
summer of 1990 indicated higher than expected levels
of cesium-1371 contamination in the top two to four
inches of the sediment. As a result of these findings, an
accelerated sampling effort has been initiated to
determine the extent of the contamination and to prevent
the transport of contaminated sediment into the Clinch
River. These recent findings, however, do not indicate
any increased health risk to the public.

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4
Site Investigation Planned for ORAU's South Campus Facility
T
JL. he Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is
a familiar institution to those in the Oak Ridge Area. As
a private, non-profit association of 59 colleges and
universities, ORAU conducts research and education
programs in the areas of energy, health, and the
environment. ORAU serves DOE, its member
institutions, and other private and government
organizations.
One ORAU site is the South Campus Facility (SCF)
located near Freels Bend, just off the Clinch River, on
Oak Ridge Reservation lands. The site may be
contaminated with unknown types and amounts of
hazardous wastes as a result of past research activities.
Evolution of the South Campus Facility
The South Campus Facility began as a research facility
in 1945 under the Atomic Energy Commission and the
University ofTennessee. Researchers studied the effects
of accidental irradiation of cattle which occurred during
the testing of the first atomic bomb in New Mexico.
Subsequently, the name of the laboratory was changed
to the Comparative Animal Research Laboratory (CARL).
Research conducted by CARL focused on the effects and
metabolism of toxic materials, especially those related
to energy production, on different animals. CARL
became a division of ORAU in 1981. Research is no
longer conducted at the facility.
Possible Contamination
It is suspected that some of the substances used in
research contaminated the facility. These substances
include radionuclides, wastewater sludge, and organic
compounds such as solvents and petroleum
hydrocarbons. Other contaminants may alsobe present.
To determine whether the contamination warrants a
full-scale cleanup under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act, 1986, a site
investigation is planned for 1991. This investigation
will help clarify just what is present, whether the levels
of waste are significant, whether off-site releases have
occurred, and whether the contamination requires
further investigation.
The South Campus Facility, near Freels Bend, may be contaminated
as a result of past practices.
Existing information on the contamination has been
limited to results from on-site sampling. Several previous
assessments of the facility suggest possible
contamination.1
A total of 16 environmental samples will be collected.
These will aid in identifying migration pathways and any
source areas of contaminants which may exist at the site.
A review of facility records will also be performed. The
site investigations are expected to be completed during
1991. DOE will continue to inform the public of
developments through news releases and through
articles in future issues of the Environmental Update. 11
'A DOE report in 1987, entitled Phase 1 Installation Assessment,
identified five potential CERCLA sites at ORAU. A Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act Facility Assessment, completed in
March 1987, listed the same facility. A scoping survey under the
ORAU Remedial Action Program resulted in a Preliminary
Assessment that recommended performance of investigations under

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5
E
Environmental Monitoring and Sampling at East Fork Poplar Creek
and the Sewerline Beltway
I ast Fork Poplar Creek is currently being studied
to determine the type and extent of contamination and
to help DOE develop appropriate cleanup plans. The
Creek contains mercury and traces of other contaminants
as a result of off-site releases from the Y-12 Plant,
located on the Oak Ridge Reservation. Field activities
to obtain soil and water samples began in 1990. Records
from earlier studies are also being reviewed.
In the early 1980s, East Fork Poplar Creek floodplain
soils were used as excavation fill for a new sewerline in
Oak Ridge. The contaminated soil thus contaminated
the sewerline area, which is also being included in the
study with the East Fork Poplar Creek floodplain.
Jefferson and Robertsville Junior High Schools and the
Oak Ridge Civic Center, once contaminated by the fill
dirt, were remediated in 1984. Samplingforthe sewerline
is planned for 1991.
Environmental work at East Fork Poplar Creek is
governed primarily by three federal laws. These laws
are: the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), which is
also known as Superfund; the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA); and the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Investigations,
analyses and documentation for these laws will be
combined and integrated. (These laws are explained in
greater detail in the fact sheet, "Principal Laws and
Regulations Affecting the Cleanup Program," which
can be ordered by using the form on page 11.)
Currently, a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
(RI/FS), required by CERCLA, is underway at East Fork
Poplar Creek. The purpose of the remedial investigation
is to gather all existing data on the Creek and perform
field studies to gather new data that are needed. In order
to select the best cleanup option, DOE must evaluate the
ecological and human health risks posed by the site in
its current condition (a "baseline" risk assessment) and
then evaluate how the risk will change under various
cleanup options. The feasibility study will discuss all
the alternatives that are being considered and the pros
and cons of each alternative in terms of effectiveness in
reducing the human health risk, feasibility, cost, and
compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The
feasiblity study report will be combined with the
Environmental Impact Statement, which is required by
NEPA. By this means, potential effects on the
environment will also be considered. Following the
fi
I
Studies of East Fork Poplar Creek will be used to select the best
overall cleanup alternative.
review of alternatives, a remedial action plan will be
selected.
Near-Term Activities
Activities up to September 1991 will focus on the field
investigation portion of the study, as well as performing
the preliminary screening of the feasibility of possible
cleanup alternatives. The remedial investigation is
divided into two parts, or phases. The first phase (1A)
explores the nature or type of contamination (i.e., what
contaminants are of concern) by looking at a broad
range of possible contaminants. The second phase (IB)
concentrates on defining the extent of contamination
and the risk associated with the different contaminants
and different concentrations of those contaminants at
various locations.
First Phase Sampling
Field work First Phase Sampling began in October
1990. Preliminary results are expected in early 1991.
Water and soil samples will be screened for a variety of
contaminants. Data from this first phase will be used to
develop the sampling plan for the next phase.

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6
Environmental Monitoring and Sampling at East Fork Poplar Creek
and the Sewerline Beltway
(continued from page 5)
For East Fork Poplar Creek and its floodplain, the first
phase involves installing, developing, and sampling 11
new groundwater wells; redeveloping and sampling 10
existing wells; sampling the floodplain soil; and sampling
the surface water and sediment of East Fork Poplar
Creek. Twenty tributaries to the East Fork Poplar Creek
watershed will be sampled to determine if there are
other sources of contaminants besides those from Y-12.
In addition, storm water sampling will be conducted to
help assess the physical transport of contaminants
during heavy rainfall. Researchers are also sampling
Hinds Creek near Norris, Tennessee, to find out what
the Creek would be expected to contain under natural
conditions. Soil, sediment, and surface water will be
collected there. Sampling activity will be conducted all
along the floodplain but will be most noticeable to the
public near the DOE Atmospheric Diffusion and
Dispersion Laboratory, Brunner Center, and the Jefferson
tennis courts.
Second Phase Sampling
This sampling is scheduled to begin in April 1991. It
will include the sewerline beltway as well as East Fork
Poplar Creek. To help researchers obtain information
more quickly, field screen techniques probably will be
used. For example, x-ray fluorescence could be used to
find mercury or lead, and portable test units could
examine gas vapors to identify the presence of toxic
chemicals. In addition, workers will look for "families"
of similar contaminants using one or two key
contaminants as indicators. The results of field tests
will be followed up with laboratory verification to
assure their accuracy.
For the remainder of fiscal year 1991, the study team
will initiate a floodplain and wetlands assessment,
complete laboratory and data analysis of first phase
sampling, complete the preliminary risk assessment,
and initiate the second phase of sampling. As required
by EPA regulations, the study team will prepare a
Preliminary Site Characterization Report, a Phase IB
Sampling and Analysis Plan, a Draft Initial Screening of
Alternatives Report, and a Draft RCRA Facility
Investigation/Remedial Investigation Report.
Community relations and technical staff will arrange to
meet with property owners along East Fork Poplar
Creek to discuss sampling results as they become
(continued on page 7]
Wells are being drilled to determine the presence and concentrations
of mercury and other contaminants in groundwater.
Portable test units are used to detect toxic gas vapors such as

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7
A dosimeter is used to delect trace amounts of radioactive elements
in floodplain soil.
Environmental Monitoring and Sampling
(continued from page 6)
available. Questions will be answered and input on
preferred alternatives will be solicited.
Members of the public will have a variety of
opportunities, both formal and informal, to be involved in
decisions about East Fork Poplar Creek. Citizens can
learn about activities and progress through the
Information Resource Center (see article on page 3),
through news releases and public notices in the media
and Environmental Update, and through direct contact
with DOEstaff. Public meetings, such as the meeting held
in October 1990, will allow all interested persons to hear
presentations about site developments, raise issues, and
ask questions in a public forum. Formal opportunity will
be provided for public comment on the draft Feasibility
Study/Environmental Impact Statement, which is
currently scheduled for publication in 1992.
Samples Collected from White Oak Creek Embayment
(continued from page 3)
White Oak Creek is the primary surface water drainage
for Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The
embayment is located between White Oak Lake Dam
and the Clinch River. The results of recent sampling of
the embayment indicate that the near-surface sediment
contamination resulted from past releases from ORNL.2
Apparently, sediment erosion within the lower
embayment has resulted in the exposure of the older,
more contaminated sediment layer.
Clinch River. Completed design plans are expected
from the Army Corps of Engineers in February 1991.
Completion of the sediment-control structure is
scheduled for this fiscal year (before September 30,
1991).
Information on the activities on White Oak Creek
Embayment will be made available through the local
media and publications distributed by DOE.
"It is important to realize that the location of cesium-13 7
we have observed in the embayment is not the result of
deeply buried contaminants moving up to the sediment
surface," said Bruce Kimmel, Energy Systems
coordinator for the expanded effort on the embayment.
"Instead, it is the result of the gradual erosion and
downstream movement of sediment in a very small,
shallow (2 to 10 feet in depth) body of water that is
subject to both inflowing and outflowing water."
In cooperation with the Stale of Tennessee, the
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the Tennessee Valley Authority, DOE
and Martin Marietta Energy Systems have determined
that construction of a sediment retention structure is
the preferred approach to controlling the contaminated
sediments and preventing them from moving into the
Cleanup researchers discuss the analysis of a sediment sample from
the While Oak Creek Embayment.
'Recent data indicate that no new large release of cesium-137 has
occurred from White Oak Ijake. Also, samples taken from the Clinch

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8
Public Comment Received on Proposed Cleanup Action at Elza Gate Site
O December 6, the DOE Oak Ridge Operations
issued a public notice announcing for public comment
on Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for
cleanup of a portion of the Elza Gate site in Oak Ridge.
The document was available for public review at the
DOE Information Resource Center (see article on page
3).
The comment period closed on January 4, 1991.
Comments are currently being reviewed in anticipation
of preparation of a responsiveness summary
documenting DOE's response to each comment. The
responsiveness summary also will be made available in
the Information Resource Center.
The Elza Gate site, now known as Melton Lake Industrial
Park, is located on the east end of Oak Ridge.
Contamination present in the soil under one of five on-
site concrete pads, referred to as Pad 1, includes uranium,
radium, and thorium.
The Elza Gate site originally consisted of five warehouses
and possibly other smaller structures which were used
to store high-grade uranium ore and processing residues
as part of the Government's early nuclear energy program.
DOE predecessor agencies also used the site to store
various electrical equipment. After decontaminating
the site to levels acceptable at the time (early 1970s), the
property was sold to the City of Oak Ridge and eventually
to a company which plans to develop the site as an
industrial park.
The Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis summarizes
the analysis of cleanup alternatives and rationale for
DOE's remedial action preference for Pad 1. Options
evaluated for control of the contaminated soil underneath
the Pad included the removal of the contaminated soil
by either excavation or treatment, followed by an interim
storage method.
Based on available information, DOE's preferred
alternative for management of the waste is removal by
excavation of the contaminated materials, and interim
storage. This action would include breaking up the
concrete pad, which covers approximately 25,000 square
feet, removing the contaminated concrete and soil, and
storing it onsite until an appropriate storage location on
the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation can be designated.
Additional action will be required to remediate the
remainder of the Elza Gate site. This action will be the
subject of a separate Engineering Evaluation/Cost
Analysis expected to be published during the spring of
1991 when DOE plans to begin implementation of the
complete site cleanup. DOE will also consider combining
the cleanup of Pad 1 with this more comprehensive
plan.
First Issue of Environmental Update Available
The first issue of Environmental Update from September 1990, along with current Fact Sheets
on Environmental Restoration at the Oak Ridge Reservation, is available by using the order
form on page 11. Topics in the first Update include:
• Department of Energy plans for
environmental restoration of the
Oak Ridge Reservation as part of
the National Priorities List.
• Technical progress on the
restoration of key sites and
associated off-site areas of the
Oak Ridge Reservation.
• Information on the Technical
Assistance Grant Program
available to community groups
affected by hazardous waste

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9
Oak Ridge Reservation Environmental Report
for 1989
D
¦flL^^OE has issued the two-volume Oak Ridge
Reservation Environmental Report for 1989, the
nineteenth in an annual series that began in 1971. The
Report describes the results of a comprehensive year-
round program to monitor the environmental effects
resulting from operations of the Oak Ridge facilities.
Groundwater, surface waters, soil, air quality, vegetation,
wildlife, and human health are all considered.
The Oak Ridge monitoring program is important for
ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations
for safe industrial operations. The monitoring also
provides a standard for measuring progress in
environmental practices. DOE is working with the
Tennessee Department of Health and Environment and
the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the
validity of the data.
Environmental monitoring is part of a continuous process
to identify releases of contaminants and compare releases
to applicable environmental standards. The Report
documents waste emissions, both from the sources and
as monitored in the external environment. Its ultimate
goal is to identify potential pathways to humans and the
potential impacts for human health and environmental
quality.
The monitoring system includes over 850 on-site wells,
over 400 discharge and surface-water-sampling stations,
and 96 on-site exhaust-stack monitors for detecting
radionuclide releases. Air, waterways, soils, fish,
sediments, and dairy milk were monitored or sampled.
The Oak Ridge Reservation Environmental Report for
1989 summarizes the environmental impacts both on
and off the reservation and is available for review at the
Information Resource Center, 105 Broadway Avenue,
Oak Ridge.
Atmospheric Releases
As noted in the Report, releases of contaminants to the
atmosphere during 1989 were within air quality
standards, both federal and state, at all sites. Uranium
emissions were less than those measured in 1988.
Sulfur dioxide emissions, fluoride, and suspended
particulates were also within standards.
Surface Water Discharges
Surface water discharges from White Oak Lake showed
an increase in tritium, strontium, cobalt, and cesium
contamination. While measured concentrations of these
metals decreased from 1985 to 1988, heavier rainfall in
1989 flushed these metals into surface waters, causing
an increase in 1989.
Aquatic Life
Bluegill from the Clinch River are used to monitor the
effects of contamination on aquatic wildlife. Over the
five-year period ending in 1989, mercury levels
decreased 40 percent, polychlorinatedbiphenyls[PCBs)
decreased 90 percent, cobalt-60 decreased 82 percent,
cesium-137 decreased 80 percent, and strontium-90
decreased nearly 90 percent.
Sediments
Sediments from the Clinch River, near the K-25 Site,
show that levels of uranium and mercury levels have
changed little in five years, while levels of nickel,
chromium, and aluminum have generally decreased. /
Federal Facility Agreement
Public Meeting
February 5, 6 p.m.
Pollard Auditorium
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
The Environmental Protection Agency recently held a
public meeting to obtain community comments on the
Federal Facility Agreement that guides environmental
restoration activities at Oak Ridge. The agreement has
been negotiated between DOE. the Environmental
Protection Agency (Region IV), and the State of Tennessee
Department of Health and Environment. The agreement
sets priorities, assigns agency roles and responsibilities,
and establishes procedures for document review and
interaction among the agency officials. Copies of the
Federal Facility Agreement are available for public review
at the DOE Information Resource Center (see article on
page 3), 105 Broadway Avenue, Oak Ridge. Members of
the public are able to provide comments on the document

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10
Fact Sheets
JL act sheets, which provide information about the
Oak Ridge Environmental Restoration and Waste
Management Programs, are available to the public.
Tl^ese fact sheets can be obtained by writing: Editor,
Environmental Update, P.O. Box 2501, 800 Oak Ridge
Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. Also, current
information can be obtained from the Information
Resource Center which is located on Broadway near the
intersection of Broadway and Georgia Avenue.
Following is a list of the fact sheets available on the Oak
Ridge Environmental Restoration and Waste
Management Programs. Copies of past and current
issues of the Environmental Update are also available.
Acronyms Commonly Used in the Oak Ridge
Environmental Restoration Program, OER-0002, 7
pages.
A partial listing of acronyms and abbreviations that are
commonly used in the environmental restoration at the
Oak Ridge Reservation is provided.
Community Relations in the Environmental
Restoration Program, OER-0004, 3 pages.
Abrief history of the Oak Ridge Reservation program for
community relations is presented along with a
description of opportunities for public involvement.
Environmental Restoration at the ORNL Plant: An
Overview, OER-0012, 2 pages.
Background information on environmental restoration
at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), located
on the Oak Ridge Reservation, is provided. ORNL has
a variety of restoration sites and contaminants resulting
from many diverse activities over nearly 50 years.
Environmental Restoration at the Oak Ridge
Reservation, OER-0005, 3 pages.
The Oak Ridge environmental cleanup will address
several major facilities and the areas surrounding them.
Summaries of these facilities, their waste sites, and the
primary types of contaminants under investigation are
reviewed.
Environmental Restoration at the K-25 Site: An
Overview, OER-0014, 2 pages.
Background information on environmental restoration
at the K-25 Site, located on the Oak Ridge Reservation,
is provided. A major focus is the closure and
decontamination of uranium separation facilities.
Available
Environmental Restoration at the Y-12 Plant: An
Overview, OER-0013, 2 pages.
Background information on environmental restoration
at the Y-12 Plant, located on the Oak Ridge Reservation,
is provided. The facility supports the developments
special nuclear materials for military applications.
The Environmental Restoration Program for East
Fork Poplar Creek, OER-0016, map, chart, 3 pages.
Background for the cleanup of East Fork Poplar Creek
(EFPC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is provided. Mercury
has been found to be a major contaminant.
Federal Facility Agreement, OER-0007, 2 pages.
The terms for cooperation between the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the Tennessee Department of
Health and Environment (TDHE), and the Department
of Energy (DOE) during cleanup activities at the Oak
Ridge Reservation are defined in a Federal Facility
Agreement. Purposes of the agreement are outlined and
the priorities discussed.
Glossary of Environmental Remediation, OER-0003,
7 pages.
Terms used often during environmental restoration and
waste management activities at the Oak Ridge
Reservation in Tennessee are defined.
Off-Site Programs: Clinch River/Watts Bar Reservoir,
OER-0015, 2 pages.
Over nearly 50years, radioactive elements, heavy metals,
and organic compounds from the Oak Ridge Reservation
have washed downstream into the Clinch River and the
Watts Barr Reservoir. The nature and extent of this
contamination is being studied to determine ecological
and human risk and to identify potential treatments.
Principal Laws and Regulations Affecting the Cleanup
Program, OER-0006, 3 pages.
A summary of the laws and regulations that apply to the
cleanjjp program on the Oak Ridge Reservation is
provided.
Site-Specific Plan for tlie Oak Ridge Reservation,
OER-0017, 2 pages.
As part of its commitment to environmental
responsibility, DOE developed a five-yearplan, one part
of which required a site-specific plan for the DOE Oak
Ridge Reservation. The plan's components are d iscussed

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11
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