Ashland 1

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Ashland 1, one of the four Tonawanda Site properties, is located in an industrialized area in the Town of Tonawanda, New York, approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) northwest of Buffalo. The property covers approximately 4.4 hectares (10.8 acres) and is bordered on the north and west by United Refining Company, on the east by Penn Central Transportation Company, on the southwest by Interstate 90, and on the northeast by Seaway Industrial Park. While most of the land near Ashland 1 is zoned for industrial use, much of it remains undeveloped.

(Please click here for ASHLAND 2 Site)

FACILITY MISSION

In June 1943, the Manhattan Engineer District leased the Ashland 1 property, formerly known as the Haist Property, for use by the Federal Government. In August 1944, the Manhattan Engineer District purchased the property for use as a disposal site for approximately 7,250 metric tons (8,000 tons) of ore refinery residues generated from the Linde property in Tonawanda. The uranium residues were spread over two-thirds of the property to estimated depths of 0.3 to 1.5 meters (one to five feet).

In 1960, the Atomic Energy Commission determined that the levels of residual radioactivity at Ashland 1 were below then­current criteria and released the land as surplus. The Ashland Oil Company eventually acquired the property where, in 1974, it constructed bermed areas and two petroleum storage tanks. The company deposited most of the soil removed during construction of the bermed area and drainage ditch on the nearby Seaway Landfill and Ashland 2 properties. In 1989, Ashland Oil removed the storage tanks but left the berms in place. Results of Remedial Investigation activities completed in 1989 indicated that 92,000 cubic meters (120,000 cubic yards) of soil contained residual radioactivity above now­current guidelines. Ashland Petroleum Company stores waste that was detected by this investigation in onsite low­specific­activity boxes. The radioactive material poses a minimal risk to the public because its gamma dose rate is very low and access to the property is restricted.

FUTURE USE

The Ashland Petroleum Company currently owns Ashland 1. The company retained the portion of the property where radioactive material was present and sold the balance of the production and storage tank areas to United Refining. United Refining plans to remove the refining equipment and use the property as a tank farm and transfer station.

Future use of the Ashland 1 property depends on the final remedy selected for the Tonawanda site. The Department of Energy proposed Ashland 1 as the site for construction of a waste containment structure for disposal of waste from all four Tonawanda Site properties; however, because of local opposition, the Department of Energy is discussing alternatives with the community. This estimate assumes that Ashland 1 will be used as the site for construction of a waste containment structure for disposal of waste from all four Tonawanda Site properties. Therefore, it assumes that future use of the area with the containment cell will involve Controlled Access, with the balance of the property slated for Industrial/Commercial use.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

Residues from uranium separation processes conducted at Linde Center were the source of the residual radioactivity at the Ashland 1 property. The primary constituents of concern are uranium­238, radium­226, and thorium­230.

Ashland 1, Ashland 2, Seaway Industrial Park, and Linde Air Products are included in the Tonawanda Site integrated environmental documentation process to comply with requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Key regulators are Environmental Protection Agency Region II and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

ASSESSMENT

An initial radiological survey of Ashland 1 was performed in 1958 just before the Atomic Energy Commission released the former Haist property for use without removing the remaining residues.

Beginning in 1978, three characterization efforts were conducted to determine whether radioactive contaminants exceeded existing guidelines. The first, conducted during October and November 1978, addressed radioactive constituents in surface water, sediment, and surface and subsurface soils. The second was a survey consisting of a walkover gamma scan. The third was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 included sampling and analysis for organic compounds on the Hazardous Substances List, total organic halides, and selected constituents in ground water, surface water, and sediment. Phase 2 included investigation of the hydrogeological characteristics of the Ashland area.

Analytical results for soil at Ashland 1 indicated that Manhattan Engineer District-related radionuclides (uranium-238, radium-226, and thorium-230) and characteristic Manhattan Engineer District metals were found across most of the property. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons were also present in the shallow soils as a result of disposal or release of petroleum derivatives. The major pathway for transport of constituents is direct surface runoff carrying particulate constituents. No hazardous waste was found at the site. Radioactive contamination in soil was found to extend north and west of the Ashland 1 property. The maximum depth of contamination generally did not exceed 3.3 meters (11 feet). West of Ashland 1, contaminated areas were identified in and along a drainage ditch that transports storm-water runoff toward Seaway. The depth of contamination in the ditch varied from 0.15 to 1.8 meters (0.5 to 6 feet). Contamination in these areas may have been deposited during construction of the berms and ditch. Contaminated areas north of Ashland 1 were in and along a drainage ditch and extended onto Seaway Area D. The depth of contamination varied from 0.15 to 0.3 meters (0.5 to 1 feet).

Surface water showed moderate degradation from organics, probably originating from refinery operations. Sediments in the drainage ditch from Ashland 1 contained Manhattan Engineer District-related radioactive material; sediments on the northern side of the site contained radionuclides and metals that are primarily Manhattan Engineer District-related, whereas sediments on the southern side of the property contained metals primarily related to refinery operations.

Monitoring conducted from 1987 to late 1990 indicated that the ground water does not contain radioactive constituents. The Department conducts quarterly well inspections and water level measurements at the site.

REMEDIAL ACTION

The Department of Energy has not yet conducted any remedial action at Ashland 1. The scenario used for the Baseline Environmental Management Report cost estimate assumes complete excavation of the contaminated soils and onsite disposal at Ashland 1. Although the Department used this option, which it set forth in the proposed plan issued in November 1993, to establish a cost estimate, it acknowledges that the community did not agree with that plan and is currently discussing alternatives with the community. The Department of Energy will adjust the cost estimate appropriately when it selects the final remedy.

The cost estimate assumes a total waste volume of 92,000 cubic meters (120,000 cubic yards) from remedial action at Ashland 1. After addition of waste from the other three Tonawanda Site properties, including Ashland 2 [40,000 cubic meters (52,000 cubic yards)], Linde Air Products [54,000 cubic meters (71,000 cubic yards)], and Seaway Industrial Park [60,000 cubic meters (78,000 cubic yards)], the estimate assumes that the total volume at the containment cell will be 246,000 cubic meters (321,000 cubic yards), with closure assumed in FY 2003. The FUSRAP will perform surveillance of the facility for two more years and then transfer responsibility for long­term surveillance and maintenance to the Grand Junction Projects Office Long-term Surveillance and Monitoring Program in FY 2006.

FUNDING ESTIMATE

The following table presents estimated funding information for Ashland 1.

ASHLAND 2