Regulatory compliance issues related to the White Oak Creek Embayment time-critical removal action

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6204934

Leslie, M ^[1]; Kimmel, B L ^[2]

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1. CDM Federal Programs Corp., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

In September 1990, Martin Marietta Energy Systems (Energy Systems) discovered high levels of Cesium-137 ({sup 137}Cs) in surface sedimenus near the mouth of White Oak Creek Embayment (WOCE). White Oak Creek (WOC) receives surface water drainage from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Since this discovery, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Systems have pursued actions designed to stabilize the contaminated WOCE sediments under provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the implementing regulations in the National Contingency Plan (NCP) (40 CFR Part 300), as a time-critical removal action. By definition, a time-critical removal is an action where onsite activities are initiated within six months of the determination that a removal action is appropriate. Time-critical removal actions allow comparatively rapid mobilization to protect human health and the environment without going through the lengthy and extensive CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study/Record of Decision process. Many aspects of the project, in terms of compliance with the substantive requirements of the NCP and ARARs, have exceeded the regulatory requirements, despite the fact that there is no apparent authority on conducting removal actions at Federal facilities. Much of the interpretation of the NCP was groundbreaking in nature for both EPA and DOE. 4 refs., 2 figs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6204934
• Report Number(s): CONF-9110168-8; ON: DE92002685; TRN: 91-032549
• Resource Relation: Conference: Department of Energy model conference, Oak Ridge, TN (United States), 14-17 Oct 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
CESIUM 137
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
OAK RIDGE RESERVATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
SEDIMENTS
REMOVAL
SAMPLING
WATERSHEDS
CONTAMINATION
COMPLIANCE
LAND RECLAMATION
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
REGULATIONS
SURFACE WATERS
TIME DEPENDENCE
US DOE
US EPA
US SUPERFUND
WATER RECLAMATION
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LAWS
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
POLLUTION LAWS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
540230* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540330 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety