Army Corps pledges safety first in Parks Township nuke site cleanup
Safety was the watch word at a public meeting Monday night on the $76 million cleanup of the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township, which now might take as long as eight years to complete.
Although the Army Corps of Engineers plans to excavate 50,000 tons of radiologically contaminated dirt and debris by 2013, the federal agency announced last night that the process could take longer because of safety concerns over the trench contents and completing a total site cleanup.
The 44-acre dump site near Kiskimere Road received a variety of contaminated waste from the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corp. (NUMEC) and its successor, the Atlantic Richfield Co. plant in Apollo, from 1960 to 1970. The Apollo plant produced nuclear fuel for submarines and power plants as well as a range of nuclear products for the U.S. government and others. The waste dump, formally known as the Shallow Land Disposal Area, is owned by BWX Technologies.
Col. Michael Crall of the Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, called the site cleanup "the most complex technologically and legally in our portfolio." The Pittsburgh District covers parts of five states, including Western Pennsylvania.
"Combat is easier than this project," Crall told the crowd of about 70 residents at the Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department Hall.
After studying and sampling the site for the past several years, Corps officials previously said they plan to excavate the trenches in one-foot increments because of uncertainties over what is in them and the commingling of contaminants.
Crall called for a complete cleanup of the site with the Corps working with the state and BWXT to remove any toxic chemical that is not part of the congressional mandate for the Corps cleanup.
Ideally, the Corps would like to complete the project in three years. But safety in handling the materials in the 10 trenches will drive the work schedule, said Bill Lenart, Army Corps of Engineers project manager in Pittsburgh.
Although last night's public meeting was to cover the Corps' work this year — including installing an access road to Route 66, constructing a materials handling building and water treatment plant — residents wanted to hear about safety measures when the trenches are dug up next year.
"What I care most about is my health and exposure during the cleanup," said Mary Anne Walerski who lives in Kiskimere, across the street from the dump.
The Corps offered a tour of the site to Walerski and some of her neighbors. Walerski welcomed the idea, but added, "How about them testing my land?"
The Corps outlined some of its safety procedures, including installation of monitors around the work site and the dump's periphery.
Trench contents will be misted with water to prevent airborne contamination. Contents will be taken to a materials handling building where contaminants will be packaged for shipment to a nuclear waste dump in Clive, Utah.
Sparks flew when Crall and Leechburg environmentalist Patty Ameno locked horns on a hazard ranking system for the cleanup and additional studies.
Crall promised to execute his cleanup plans to the letter of the law.
"You just don't believe it, ma'am," he said to Ameno.
"Make your word your bond," Ameno shot back.
Crall conceded that the cleanup issue is "highly emotional."
The Corps will provide more information on its Web site and hold more public meetings, especially next year before excavation of the trenches, according to Jeff Hawk, Corps spokesman.
