February 25, 2008

This is from the front page of today's The Courier-Journal, of Louisville, Kentucky.

See full text of this story via the web version of this article.

November 9, 2005

Kentucky's Agreement State program - concerns ratchet up category of federal oversight

NRC's Management Review Board has directed that the Kentucky Radiation Control program be placed on "monitoring status", a slightly increased level of NRC oversight. An NRC Region I official will call to discuss the Agreement State program progress every calendar quarter until next scheduled meeting in July 2006. Here's the body of the November 9 letter informing the state:

"This letter is to inform you that performance concerns were identified during the Kentucky Radiation Control Program periodic meeting that was held on July 14, 2005. It was noted that the program's overall performance has declined since the 2004 Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program (IMPEP) review. Specifically, a decline in program performance was noted with respect to two of the IMPEP performance indicators, 'Technical Staffing and Training' and 'Status of Materials Inspection Program.' Performance with regard to the remaining IMPEP indicators did not change over the last year. As discussed during the October 19, 2005 Management Review Board (MRB) meeting, it appears that staffing changes, namely the loss of one experienced staff member, one newly-hired staff, and the Radiation Health Branch Manager, as well as pre-existing staff vacancies, have caused a lack of progress in addressing the recommendations from the 2004 IMPEP review. These recommendations, many of which are contingent upon the program hiring additional staff, remain open. It was noted at the periodic meeting that program management is committed to getting the program up to its full staffing level and to improve program performance. The MRB acknowledges the effort that the program has shown in filling the vacant Radiation Health Branch Manager position and the reduction of the program's licencing backlog.

"However, due to the areas still in need of improvement, the MRB has directed that the Kentucky program be placed on monitoring status. At the MRB, you presented an action plan to address the program concerns raised during the periodic meeting (ML053010321 in ADAMS). After review of your plan, we believe the actions are appropriate to address the noted performance issues. We have tentatively scheduled another periodic meeting for July 2006 where we will evaluate the effectiveness of these corrective actions as well as implementation of your overall program. Prior to this periodic meeting, Ms. Sheri Minnick, the Region I Regional State Agreements Officer, in conjunction with the Office of State and Tribal Programs, will conduct quarterly calls with you to discuss the status of the corrective action plan.

"I thank you for your efforts to address our concerns and preparation of the corrective action plan. I look forward to our Agencies continuing to work cooperatively in the future."

[Ref: letter from Janet R. Schlueter (Director of NRC's Office of State and Tribal Programs) to Dewey Crawford (Kentucky's Cabinet for Health Services, Manager of Radiation Health and Toxic Agents Branch), November 9, 2005 ACN ML053160002]

August 20, 2003

Paducah - hazmat cleanup deal between state and feds

Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton on Wednesday signed a tentative agreement for the U.S. Department of Energy to clean up hazardous waste at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Patton said the work might begin within weeks.

The new "agreement in principle" covers toxic metals, solvents and carcinogenic materials under the state's jurisdiction. It does not cover radioactive waste, which is under federal jurisdiction, Patton said at a news conference. Nor does it affect health claims from thousands of employees who worked at the plant over the years.

The plant, which opened 50 years ago, turned uranium into nuclear fuel. Nuclear waste buried in landfills and chemicals that were used in cleaning equipment caused widespread contamination of soil and ground water... The ultimate cost of the hazardous waste cleanup is still to be determined, Patton said. "It's safe to say it's in the billion-dollar range," he said.

Under the agreement, which is to be finalized Sept. 15, the Department of Energy would be obligated to request the funding and to meet a series of deadlines, ranging from 2010 to 2019, for resolving "the five known, most critical problems" at the plant, Patton said. They include an open drainage ditch known to be polluted with solvents that are being spread by rain water. DOE and state officials have been at odds over the agreement for more than two years. DOE resisted establishing deadlines, or milestones, for completing specific projects, contending that such a process created costly bureaucracy that delayed work and wasted money. However, the state insisted on milestones to ensure that DOE keeps its promise of completing the major part of the cleanup by 2010. The state thought an agreement in principle had been reached back in April, but problems arose in establishing the milestones. All of those problems were discussed and resolved in meetings with DOE last week.

Also under the agreement, state inspectors would get to oversee the work, Patton said.

"We're under the impression ... some elements of the cleanup can begin within a matter of weeks," Patton said, citing the drainage ditch in particular. Cleaning up the ditch could take about three years, Bob Logan, commissioner of the state Department for Environmental Protection, said at the news conference.

Other targets for the first 5-year phase of the cleanup:

* Removal and cleanup of a scrap metal yard that includes thousands of tons of equipment taken out of service during an upgrade of the plant 20 years ago. The material is believed to be contributing to the contamination of groundwater.

* Cleanup of two areas that are believed to be contributing to offsite groundwater contamination. They are the C-400 building, where material was cleaned and rebuilt for many years, and the Southwest Plume.

* Interim action to make sure that landfills and burial grounds are not releasing contaminated material outside the plant.

In addition to continuing funding, the Energy Department agreed to pay a $1 million fine for violations of state hazardous-waste laws and to put $200,000 into a fund for environmental projects near the plant. Patton said the plant still produces pollution that will have to be cleaned up when the plant eventually closes, which is at least several years away.

[Refs: Bill Bartleman (Paducah Sun), "Energy Agency Nears Agreement over Cleanup at Paducah, Ky., Nuclear Fuel Plant", The Paducah Sun, August 16, 2003; Bill Bartleman (Paducah Sun), "Agreement Could Accelerate Cleanup of Paducah, Ky., Gaseous Diffusion Plant", The Paducah Sun, August 19, 2003; Charles Wolfe (AP writer), "Patton says hazardous waste cleanup at Paducah might begin in weeks", Associated Press, August 20, 2003 12:28 PM Eastern Time]

August 16, 2003

Kentucky to aggressively seek USEC's new plant for Paducah

USEC plans to decide in October where to build the 500-job, $1.5 billion gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant. Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton said that, as he approaches the final four months of his administration, his highest priority in economic development is to persuade USEC to build its new $1.5 billion gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in Paducah. Patton said that when the incentive package is completed, he'll brief legislative leaders and seek their support. "It is a legislative issue and will require legislative action," Patton said. "I'll make sure there's a commitment from the legislative leadership to pass it during the 2004 session." Patton also said that at the appropriate time, he will meet with local leaders to seek their support for the incentive package and add incentives of their own.

USEC spokesperson Elizabeth Stuckle said the company plans to send bid requests to Kentucky and Ohio "by the middle of August."

USEC said in the past that the biggest drawback to building the new plant in Paducah is the concern over its being located in an earthquake zone. Making the new facility earthquake-resistant would increase construction costs. Patton has said Kentucky would try to overcome the concern in its incentive package.