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Pinellas Plant
Largo, Pinellas County, Florida
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Office: Albuquerque Operations Office
Size:
100 acres (0.2 square mile)
Mission:
The Pinellas Plant has been part of the DOE's nuclear weapons complex since it
opened in 1957. The plant's former mission was component fabrication. The
product lines included neutron generators, lightning-arrestor connectors,
capacitors, magnetics, optoelectronic devices, and other components fabrication
operations.
In September 1994, the plant stopped producing weapons-related components and
has transitioned from a defense mission to an environmental management mission.
The DOE has completed a significant effort to transfer production capability to
the two principal receiving sites.
In March 1995, the Pinellas Plant was sold to the Pinellas County Industry
Council. The DOE leased back a portion of the facility to complete the current
mission, to achieve a safe transition of the facility from defense production,
and to prepare the site for alternative uses as a community resource for
economic development.
Overview of Environmental Conditions:
On-site groundwater contamination from the storage and disposal of drummed
wastes and construction debris containing solvents and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Contamination on the 4.5 Acre Site adjacent to (formerly part
of) the Pinellas Plant is of concern because of offsite groundwater
contamination.
CERCLA/RCRA Remediation Funding in FY 95: $3,222,000
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Remediation of environmental conditions at the Pinellas Plant is being
addressed under authority of a Federal RCRA permit that includes corrective
action requirements and cleanup under state Superfund statutes.
Specific Cost Estimates and Budgetary Proposals
Funds budgeted for environmental restoration at the Pinellas Plant total $5.9
million of appropriated funding for FY 96 and $7.5 million for FY 97 according
to the request in the President's Budget.
Progress in Conducting Remedial Actions
DOE submitted PA/SI information on the Pinellas Plant to EPA Region IV on
October 15, 1987. Remedial activities at the Pinellas Plant are being conducted
under a RCRA permit issued February 9, 1990.
Groundwater contamination from volatile organic compounds, due to past plant
activities, is the main environmental concern at the Pinellas Plant.
In August 1988, the EPA completed a RFA of the Pinellas Plant. In February
1990, the EPA issued the Pinellas Plant RCRA Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments permit. This permit identified 15 solid waste management units that
may have environmental contamination as a result of past plant activities.
Subsequently, three additional solid waste management units were identified.
Environmental investigations later revealed that 11 of these units do not pose
a threat to public health or the environment. A 12th site (Former Pistol
Range), originally identified as requiring a corrective measures study, was
addressed by an interim measure shortly after the original investigation. No
further action is required at this 12th site. EPA Region IV is currently in the
process of modifying the Pinellas Plant RCRA Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments permit to designate these sites as requiring no further action.
During site characterization and routine soil, water, and groundwater
monitoring, plant personnel identified three additional areas: the Production
Components Scrap Area, the West Fenceline Area, and the Wastewater
Neutralization/Building 200 Area. No hazardous waste or hazardous waste
constituents were released to the environment at the Production Components
Scrap Area, and EPA directed that no further action was required at this site.
The other two sites have groundwater contamination exceeding Federal and state
maximum contaminant levels and primary drinking water standards. Consequently,
plant personnel completed a RFI for the West Fenceline Area in 1994 and will
complete the Facility Investigation for the Wastewater Neutralization/Building
200 Area in 1996.
Additionally, the plant is cleaning up the 4.5 Acre Site, which was sold by DOE
to a private party in 1972. A U.S. Geologic Survey in 1985 identified
contamination at this site. The Pinellas Plant completed a voluntary assessment
and source removal in 1985. The plant is now conducting a voluntary groundwater
cleanup at the site following the criteria for state-led CERCLA type actions.
Of the four on-site and one off-site areas identified as requiring further
action, interim remedial actions are currently being performed at three sites
(Northeast Site, 4.5 Acre Site, and the West Fenceline Area). The interim
remedial action at the 4.5 Acre Site consists of groundwater recovery and air
stripping the contaminants. The West Fenceline Area has an air sparging/vacuum
groundwater extraction system in operation. The Northeast Site is undergoing a
groundwater recovery and air stripping of contaminants (currently utilizing the
same treatment system as the 4.5 Acre Site), and a buried drum and debris
removal action was completed in September 1995. The Pinellas Plant plans to
construct an additional air stripping system in fiscal year 1996, which will
treat water recovered from both the Northeast Site and Building 100 Area. This
additional system, along with any approved innovative technologies, will serve
as a final corrective measure for these two sites.
In 1995, DOE received concurrence from EPA Region IV for transfer of the
facility as required by CERCLA 120(h). DOE will retain responsibility for
ongoing environmental remediation activities, including the plant's Hazardous
and Solid Waste Amendments permit as well as the state-led 4.5 Acre Site
cleanup.
Radiological environmental contamination is not a Contaminant of Concern at the
Pinellas Plant. Decommissioning will not be required at the Pinellas Plant due
to proposed future commercial industrial reuse of the building and the fact
that only residual contamination will be addressed by the Nuclear Material
Facility Stabilization process.
The Pinellas Plant was previously identified as a Potentially Responsible Party
at the Peak Oil Superfund Site in Tampa, Florida. A de minimis settlement was
executed in September 1995, releasing DOE from any further liability at this
Superfund Site. Pinellas Plant involvement in the Zellwood/Drum Services Site
(Superfund Site in Zellwood, Florida) is currently under investigation. A
response to a CERCLA Section 104(e) information request regarding involvement
at this site was completed in June 1992.
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