DOE, Ohio EPA Finalize Portsmouth Disposal Cell ROD

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have come to an agreement on the Record of Decision for the planned Portsmouth on-site disposal cell, the two agencies announced yesterday. The ROD paves the way for the disposal of more than two million cubic yards of waste that would be generated from the decontamination and decommissioning of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plan on-site as a way to save costs on disposal. The plan calls for a combination of on-site and off-site waste with the possible excavation of the five existing groundwater contamination plumes and landfills inside the plant’s developable area as the primary sources of the soil fill required to properly dispose of the demolition debris in the cell. “The Portsmouth Site-Wide Waste Disposition Evaluation Project provides DOE with a path for disposal of D&D waste and materials.  It will also help ensure the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible site cleanup going forward,” said William Murphie, Manager of DOE’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, in a statement.  “The Department would like to thank the Site Specific Advisory Board and members of the public who provided comments and all local stakeholders and participants in this collaborative process, in particular the Ohio EPA for its rigorous review and input, ultimately helping this important project move forward.”