Plutonium contamination clean-up in a city park
The Department of Energy`s (DOE) Mound Plant (listed on the NPL), located in Miamisburg, Ohio, utilized Plutonium-238 in various research and production operations. Due to plant operations and a rupture of a waste transfer line in 1969, contamination migrated off site into an abandoned canal located in an adjacent city park. The affected area was approximately forty feet wide and one mile long. The estimated volume of contaminated soil was approximately 25,000 cubic yards. The plutonium concentration ranged from less than a hundred pCi/g up to 4560 pCi/g with an average of approximately 500 pCi/g. The total amount of Plutonium-238 was 5.2 Curies (Ci). The Plutonium was determined not to be a health hazard to the public under current use by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). DOE, with input from a group of stakeholders, decided to voluntarily conduct a clean up pursuant to Section 104 of CERCLA. This paper discusses the issues and concerns raised by the stakeholders, and their resolution. The issues ranged from the safety of the operation to the clean up goal and disposal of the contaminated soil. Difficulties encountered included site access, liability, waste shipment and disposal. Several innovative approaches were implemented during this clean up which allowed it to proceed smoothly and with a minimum of lost time and unnecessary delays. These included a team approach with designated personnel, special heavy duty haulers, bulk rail shipment and private waste disposal site. Over 35,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed from the canal located in a city park and shipped to Utah for disposal. The volume of soil excavated exceeded the original estimates because contaminated soil piled along the banks was inadvertently left out of the original estimate. The removal was accomplished within the budget estimate of $25 million and within the time schedule allotted.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 679408
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-980632-; TRN: 99:009405
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 91. annual meeting and exhibition of the Air and Waste Management Association, San Diego, CA (United States), 14-18 Jun 1998; Other Information: PBD: 1998; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 91. annual meeting and exhibition. Bridging international boundaries: Clean production for environmental stewardship; PB: [5000] p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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