Site A/Plot M

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Site A/Plot M is located within the Palos Forest Preserve in Cook County, Illinois and encompasses approximately 16 hectares (40 acres). The site is located approximately 64 kilometers (40 miles) west of metropolitan Chicago.

FACILITY MISSION

Site A/Plot M is the former site of early activities undertaken by the Manhattan Engineer District between 1942 and 1956. Site A contained two experimental nuclear reactors and associated research laboratories. Plot M was used to bury radioactive waste from experimental research at Site A. See the Locality Map for the location of Plot M. Initial work involved research and development of radioisotopes and fission products for use in defense and nondefense activities. In 1955 Site A was decommissioned; however, residual soil and ground-water contamination is suspected at both Site A and Plot M.

Site A's long-term ground-water monitoring and investigations to determine the extent of residual soil and ground-water contamination were completed in FY 1995. Surveillance and maintenance activities have also been conducted at Plot M since 1973. New monitoring wells were completed at Site A and are now included in the long-term surveillance and monitoring program. A range of actions to stabilize low-level contamination are also currently being evaluated.

There are no current or planned Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization projects at Site A/Plot M. All waste management activities are conducted within the scope of environmental restoration. The current owner, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, is responsible for landlord activities at the site.

FUTURE USE

This report assumes that Site A will be returned to the current owner, the Cook County Forest Preserve District. This will occur pending an agreement to permit the area to be returned for Recreational use. This report assumes that long-term surveillance and monitoring of ground water and surface streams for a variety of hazardous compounds and radioisotopes will occur through FY 2005.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

Although Site A environmental restoration activities are voluntary and not regulatory driven, various environmental investigations, radiological surveys, and studies have been performed. A comprehensive site characterization, completed during FY 1995 defined the nature and extent of radiological and chemical contamination of soils, surface water, sediment, and ground water. This investigation defined several areas of surface contamination, primarily in the form of heavy metals in shallow soils. The study concluded that: 1) suspect areas 3 and 4 contained the highest concentrations of both radiological and heavy metal contaminants, 2) infiltration of contaminants originating from the surface soil poses little or no threat to the deep water aquifer, 3) ground water has been only slightly affected by tritium in the perched water zones near the bioshield burial area; and 4) surface water transport of contaminated sediments has the highest potential for moving soil contamination offsite; however, concentrations of contaminants of concern in this media are minimal.

ASSESSMENT

Environmental media of concern at Site A/Plot M include air, soil and ground water. Contaminants include low levels of various radioisotopes such as uranium and tritium, and hazardous components such as heavy metals. The Department is currently evaluating data concerning these areas to determine whether future actions beyond surveillance and monitoring are necessary.

A risk assessment was performed in FY 1995 as part of the site characterization to assess potential impacts from contaminants at Site A on human health and the environment if no remedial actions were taken. Human health risks from radiological contaminants at Site A were found to be significantly below the probability of developing cancer from exposure to naturally occurring background radiation, and risks for recreational users onsite and offsite from chemical contaminants at Site A were found to be below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's upper limit. In addition, calculated radiological doses for wildlife receptors were found to be well below safe benchmarks; however, levels of inorganic chemicals suggest some potential for adverse impact to lower species of bio-organisms in contaminated areas.

REMEDIAL ACTION

Current environmental restoration plans will entail some short-term remedial actions to include excavation of surface soils, and long-term surveillance and monitoring. Restoration waste generated by remedial actions will be collected, packaged and classified for shipment to offsite facilities for disposal. This estimate assumes that remedial actions will take place in FY 1997, exhuming approximately 1,376 cubic meters (6,802 cubic yards) of contaminated surface soils from suspect areas 3 and 4. This waste will be disposed of at an appropriate commercial facility.

Long-Term Surveillance and Monitoring

The Site A/Plot M Environmental Restoration program currently plans to continue long-term surveillance and monitoring of ground water and surface streams, and soil and air for a variety of hazardous compounds and radioisotopes. This estimate assumes that these activities will continue until FY 2005.

Direct Program Management/Support

Site A/Plot M provides program management through technical integration and contract-management functions. This includes essential technical support, administrative integration, and oversight to the Environmental Management program. This support helps to identify and remediate environmental contamination. It includes community relations and Environmental Management integration.

Business management accounts for the greatest portion of program management. This includes progress tracking, contract management, facility management, and financial management (budget preparation and control) procedures and programmatic guidance, including integrating and reconciling plans and budgets with Area Offices and the nationwide Environmental Management program.

Also included in program management are the senior management personnel for the Environmental Management programs and the support groups that provide community relations and program integration support. These staffs provide for an integrated Environmental Management program for Chicago Operations Office installations and support such activities as preparing this report and assisting with stakeholder involvement. Also included are strategic planning, personnel management and training, stakeholder support/public participation, advisory boards, and administrative support.

DESCRIPTION OF PERSONNEL

Current Composition

The Department of Energy employs 1.5 Full-Time Equivalents to support Environmental Management program activities at Site A/Plot M. Because the site is currently in the planning phase, the work force consists of only 1.5 federal and no contractor personnel. These employees, a project manager and a project control employee, are included within the Chicago Operations Office.

Site Management Structure

Site A/Plot M is managed by the Chicago Operations Office Environmental Management program. Contracting vehicles include the following: management and operations contract, purchase orders and other contracts for surveillance and maintenance, health physicists, sample analysis, data management, security services, utilities, repairs and maintenance, physical hazards cleanup, and remediation. However, there are currently no formal contracts at this site.

Future Full-Time Equivalent Needs

The number of needed Full-Time Equivalents support by Environmental Management in this estimate is assumed to decrease after FY 1998, following completion of the remedial action.

FUNDING ESTIMATE

The following table presents estimated funding information for Site A/Plot M.

COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS ESTIMATE

The FY 1996 Baseline Environmental Management Report estimate reflects the Department of Energy's plan to streamline and accelerate the Site A remedial action project, which has reduced the estimated costs presented on the FY 1995 estimate by approximately 32 percent. After removal of contaminated soils in FY 1998, the site will enter a long-term ground-water monitoring phase integrated with the Plot M surveillance and maintenance contract, which will conclude in FY 2005.

Comparison Table

Activity	FY 1995 Life Cycle	FY 1995 Only 1	FY 1996 Life Cycle	Change in Dollars	Change in Percent
	Thousands of Dollars
Nuclear Mat. & Fac. Stab.	-	-	-	-	-
Environmental Restoration	10,035	1,173	6,006	­2,856	­32
Waste Management	-	-	-	-	-
Landlord	-	-	-	-	-
Program Management 2	-	-	-	-	-
Site Total	10,035	1,173	6,006	­2,856	­32
1 The FY 1995 life-cycle and annual costs are provided to determine the corrected FY 1995 cost. 2 Program Management was reported in an independent cost table last year, but is reported as a line item in the relevant program (Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization, Environmental Restoration, and Waste Management) activity cost estimate tables for the FY 1996 Baseline Report.