Energy Department, and State of Kentucky Agree to Pursue Accelerated Cleanup Strategy for Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant

8/20/2003

From: Dolline Hatchett, 202-586-5806, Joseph Davis, 202-586-4940, both of the Department of Energy

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -- The Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that a Letter of Intent has been signed with the state of Kentucky to enter into an agreement to accelerate cleanup at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Ky.

As outlined in the letter, the parties will work to complete cleanup activities at the plant by 2019 and have identified strategic initiatives to accelerate this date. The parties have also agreed to seek the Environmental Protection Agency's agreement and cooperation with respect to implementing the Letter of Intent.

"This agreement provides the framework necessary to accelerate cleanup and it is a major step to effectively reduce health risks and expedite the environmental cleanup of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant," said Jessie Roberson, Assistant Secretary of Environmental Management. "Working with the states and regulatory agencies, DOE is proposing a new way of doing business, leading to greater accountability, responsibility, and opportunities for both the department and the state."

"This accelerated cleanup agreement will accomplish results in a manner that is safe, protective of human health and the environment, and in compliance with state and federal environmental laws," Roberson said.

This Letter of Intent was developed under the department's Environmental Cleanup Reform Initiative to resolve all outstanding violations and compliance issues, whereby DOE works with states and regulators to address health and environmental cleanup issues. This initiative is designed to accelerate the pace of cleanup to reduce the greatest health and environmental risks at national laboratories, nuclear weapons production sites and research and test facilities.

Roberson added, "This agreement emphasizes the Bush administration's commitment to accelerated environmental cleanup and ensures progress long sought by the department, and the state of Kentucky.

Initiatives for accelerating cleanup and reducing risks under the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant include the following:

-- Groundwater source term removal contributing to off-site contamination at the plant;

-- Decontamination and decommissioning of inactive facilities on the site;

-- Investigation and any necessary mitigating actions at the on-site burial grounds;

-- Characterization and removal of contaminated soils at the gaseous diffusion plant.

The Letter of Intent is available on the DOE Environmental Management website at http://www.em.doe.gov.