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Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky
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Office: Oak Ridge Operations Office
Size:
3,423 acres (5.3 square miles)
NPL Status:
Placed on the NPL on May 31, 1994.
Mission:
The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, established in 1950 on the grounds of the
old Kentucky Ordnance Works Trinitrotoluene Plant, is actively engaged in the
enrichment of uranium using gaseous diffusion technology. Most of the uranium
output from the plant is designated for the commercial sector. In July 1993,
DOE officially transferred responsibility for site operations to the U.S.
Enrichment Corporation in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Overview of Environmental Conditions:
The site consists of 204 SWMUs and areas of concern, which have been divided
into 30 WAGs. Onsite chemical contamination of soils was identified. Offsite
groundwater contamination consists of trichloroethylene and technetium-99;
offsite creek sediment contamination consists of PCBs.
CERCLA/RCRA Remediation Funding in FY 95: $50,599,000
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Progress in Reaching Interagency Agreements
Although Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is listed on the NPL, remediation is
currently being addressed under authority of a RCRA 3008(h) Administrative
Consent Order that was signed November 4, 1988, and a RCRA Part B Permit
(referred to as a Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments permit) that was jointly
issued by EPA and the State of Kentucky on July 16, 1991. DOE is working with
EPA and the state to develop an IAG; while negotiations are still underway, DOE
expects the agreement to be signed in 1996.
Specific Cost Estimates and Budgetary Proposals Involved in Each Interagency
Agreement
Funds budgeted for environmental restoration at Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant
total $45.8 million of appropriated funding for FY 96 and $32.4 million for FY
97 according to the request in the President's Budget.
Public Comments Regarding Interagency Agreements
Because the IAG is currently under development, the public has not commented on
the IAG.
Progress in Conducting Remedial Investigations/Feasibility Studies
The Administrative Consent Order for Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant was
executed by DOE and EPA on November 4, 1988. The RCRA Part B Permit with EPA
and the State of Kentucky was executed on July 16, 1991. During FY 95, work
completed or underway at Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant was as follows:
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Completed treatability study for WAG 23 PCB spill sites;
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Submittal and signing of the WAG 22 Burial Grounds (SMWUs 2 and 3) interim
action ROD;
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Submittal and signing of northeast plume interim action ROD;
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Continued water policy and submitted the Post Construction Report;
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Continued sampling of approximately 140 groundwater monitoring wells and 30
residential wells;
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Submittal of two RI workplans (WAG 6 and WAG 17), one RI addendum (WAG 23), one
preliminary characterization and study report (northeast plume), and two
operation and management plans (northwest plume and north/south diversion
ditch);
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Continued negotiation of the FFA;
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Continued development of the waste management strategy and site treatment plan;
and
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Completed the WAG 1 and WAG 7 RI Report and began the development of the FS.
Progress in Conducting Remedial Actions
During FY 95, the following work was completed or underway at Paducah Gaseous
Diffusion Plant:
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Completed construction of northwest Plume Treatment Facility. The facility
became operational in September 1995;
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Completed construction of the North/South Diversion Ditch Interim Action; and
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Continued development of dense nonaqueous phase liquid technology and completed
construction of a decontamination pad and field support laboratory to support
all remedial action projects.
All of this work is being conducted under individual RODs. The Paducah site is
currently negotiating an FFA that would direct overall remedial work.
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