the preserve. Research projects conducted with
nearby universities include invasive plant control,
American chestnut reintroduction, and reforestation
methods. The Fernald site provides a living laboratory
for restoring an industrial site to a natural condition.
"The effort of so many people at the Fernald site is
amazing," said Jane Powell, DOE Office of Legacy
Management Site Manger, "and we honor their
accomplishments in the restoration and long-term
monitoring of the site, as well as the construction of a
Visitors Center."
In mid-2008, the visitors center will open to the
public to provide education about the continuing
activities at Fernald, such as legacy management
activities, ground water management, and land use
restrictions. The center will include an exhibit area
detailing aspects of Fernald's rich history such as
land acquisition, construction, Cold War production,
plant workers, environmental contamination, citizen
involvement, studies, cleanup and restoration. The
Fernald Community Alliance is developing a living
history of the site which will include tens of thousands
of photographs and thousands of video tapes.
RAL FACILITIES RESTORATION AND REUSE OFFICE
Community Essential to
Sucessful Reuse at Former Nuclear Plant
Former Feed Materials Production Center, Fernald Plant
What happens when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA), the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), active and interested local residents
and citizen groups, elected officials, and private parties come together to address a challenge?
It becomes the recipe for successful cleanup of a major federal facility.
For more information, call or write:
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
•
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
•
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Mail Code: 5106P
Washington, DC 20460-0001
Phone: (703) 603-0048
www.epa.gov/fedfac
Visit the FFRRO Web site for more information about federal facility cleanups, including success stories,
descriptions of new initiatives, policy and guidance documents, and our newsletter.
EPA-505-F-08-002 April 2008
UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
FERNALD PLANT
OPERATED BY
The cleanup and reuse of the 1,050-acre former Feed Materials
Production Center Fernald Plant (Fernald) is the fruition of close
collaboration among government agencies, early and active public
participation, and an open dialogue among all interested parties. In
2006, after nearly 20 years of cleanup activity and $4.4 billion in costs,
stakeholders celebrated the completion of cleanup at Fernald - and
this was no small feat.
Approximately 60 years ago in the rural community of Fernald, Ohio
construction began on a new DOE facility for use in the production
of nuclear materials to support national defense programs during the
Cold War era. Operations began in 1952 and for the next 37 years the
facility produced high-purity uranium and thorium metal products for
the nation's nuclear weapons program. Production of these nuclear
materials required use, storage and disposal of radionuclides, some
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contaminating the surrounding environment. When production at the facility stopped in July 1989, the site
was added to U.S. EPA's National Priorities List (NPL), which designated it as warranting further environmental
investigation and cleanup.
After subsequent assessment, it was estimated that 31
million pounds of uranium products, 2.5 billion pounds
of other waste, over 300 buildings and structures, and
three million cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris
required action that included either on-site treatment
and disposal, or transport to an appropriate off-site
disposal location. Approximately 23 percent of the waste
was shipped off site and 77 percent is contained on site
in an engineered disposal structure. Seventy-five acres
at Fernald are dedicated to the footprint of the on-site
disposal facility and are permanently closed to the public.
Ohio EPA and the U.S. EPA worked together to develop
a framework for cleaning up the site. Ohio EPA and U.S.
EPA worked together to navigate the myriad of laws
and regulations that applied to a cleanup of this nature.
By entering into joint agreements, and amending those
agreements as needed, Ohio EPA, U.S. EPA, DOE and
concerned stakeholders were able to set and achieve
realistic schedules and budget expectations. In fact, it
is estimated that expedited activities and cooperation
between Ohio EPA, U.S. EPA and DOE resulted in reducing
cleanup costs at Fernald by $2 billion. According to
Jim Saric, the U.S. EPA Remedial Project Manager at Fernald, "Closing out this site - which we refer to as a
'megasite' - proves that large, complex sites like Fernald can be cleaned up, and that federal and state
agencies and that cooperation between federal and state agencies can facilitate cleanup and save money."
Due to the unique and contentious nature of nuclear waste
disposal, the Fernald community was galvanized by the discovery
of radioactive waste contamination associated with the nearby
facility. The Fernald community came together and created the
citizen group called Fernald Residents for Environmental Safety
and Health (FRESH). From 1984 through 2006, FRESH played an
active role in the cleanup process at Fernald by educating and
serving as a voice for the larger community, influencing key
decision-makers, and participating in the national debate on
nuclear waste issues. In 1993, various community representatives convened the Fernald Citizens Advisory Board
(FCAB) to address the more technical challenges. FCAB issued reports and recommendations on future use,
waste disposal, cleanup levels and priorities. FCAB also participated in major budget and policy initiatives.
FCAB was instrumental in alleviating the fear and mistrust brewing in the community and fostering a renewed
spirit of collaboration between the community and government agencies.
Other citizen groups that contributed to the
process include the Fernald Citizens for Health
and Environment Committee, the Fernald
Community Reuse Organization, and Fernald
Living History, Inc. With the completion of much of
the cleanup, many of these groups disbanded in
2006 as their missions were complete. With long-
term stewardship issues still looming, the Fernald
Community Alliance emerged as the single voice
for the Fernald community.
In June 2006, DOE finalized the Comprehensive Legacy
Management and Institutional Controls Plan to provide the
roadmap for the future of Fernald. This plan documents
requirements going forward for institutional controls,
ongoing operations and maintenance, integrated
environmental monitoring, and community involvement.
The focus of DOE's Legacy Management Mission is to
ensure continued protection of human health and the
environment through effective and efficient long-term site
monitoring and maintenance. The reuse plan for Fernald
includes restoring the site to native wetlands, prairie, and woodlands to provide wildlife habitat and transform
Fernald into a community asset. The site will remain under federal ownership and management indefinitely.
Today, 975 acres of Fernald are designated for
the creation of a park to be known as the Fernald
Preserve. The preserve will provide opportunities
for wildlife viewing, environmental education,
wetlands development and research. Restoration
activities around the preserve include wetland
mitigation, stream bank stabilization, prairie
management, thinning and maintenance of a
major pine stand, and grass seeding. There also will
be parking areas and footpaths throughout
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