PIKETON, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Energy has issued the latest Annual Site Environmental Report for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

The Report includes the results from on-site and off-site environmental monitoring of air, water, and other pathways; describes actions to comply with environmental regulations; and discusses the overall environmental impacts of Department of Energy (DOE) activities on the area surrounding the 3,714-acre Federal reservation. 

“The results from the monitoring conducted around the plant show that our activities had minimal environmental impacts inside or outside the facility boundaries,” said Russ Vranicar, Acting Portsmouth Site Manager for DOE.

Some highlights from the 2001 Report include:

·        Radiation exposures are well below Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.  The maximum radiological dose a member of the public could receive from radiation released from the Portsmouth plant in 2001 was 2.0 mrem, well below the 10 mrem per year limit established by U.S. EPA.  This is based on monitoring from airborne radionuclides, radionuclides released to the Scioto River, the depleted uranium cylinder storage yards, and off-site sampling locations.  As a comparison, a member of the public receives approximately 300 mrem per year from natural sources of radiation and 2.5 mrem from a one-way cross-country airplane flight. 

·        Environmental laws were followed.  The site continues an excellent record of compliance with state and federal environmental regulations and had only two exceptions in 2001.  The violations were a Notice of Violation (NOV) from an inspection completed by Ohio and U.S. EPAs on worker refresher training.  The NOV was abated because of DOE’s quick response.  A second NOV was issued by Ohio EPA pertaining to deviations to design specifications for construction of a landfill barrier wall without prior approval.  DOE responded to Ohio EPA’s concerns and worked closely with the agency to resolve issues pertaining to this complex construction project.  Overall compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit was 99.8 percent for the year.

·        Continued progress on remediation efforts.  Remediation activities took place at several units in 2001.  Construction of a landfill barrier wall to prevent further migration of groundwater and installation of 11 additional groundwater extraction wells to treat greater volumes of groundwater were begun in 2001.  Removal of two units – a neutralization pit and former lime house – was completed.  There were no significant changes in concentrations of contaminants or the lateral extent of groundwater plume boundaries in 2001.

·        Significantly reduced total waste inventory.  Approximately 7.8 million pounds of waste from the Portsmouth site were recycled, treated or disposed in 2001.  The majority of this waste was shipped to a commercial disposal facility in Utah.

The Annual Site Environmental Report is prepared for distribution to the public, news media, and local, state and Federal agencies.  The Report is published in two volumes – a summary document and a separate detailed data report.  Both are available upon request at the Department’s Portsmouth Environmental Information Center by calling (740) 289-3317 or you may view the Report online at http://www.bechteljacobs.com/port/port-aser2001.htm.

-DOE-

R-02-044