To support the nation’s defense program during the Cold War, the Fernald site produced 500 million pounds of pure uranium metal products from 1952 to 1989, when management shut down operations due to a decline in demand for Fernald’s product coupled with increasing environmental concerns. As a result, 31 million pounds of nuclear product, 2.5 billion pounds of low-level radioactive, hazardous and mixed waste, and 2.5 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris remained on site.

A critical component of Fernald’s cleanup plan is the safe disposition of nuclear material and waste generated during production and cleanup operations. In 1995, with input from the public and regulators, DOE approved a site-wide remedial strategy that involves transporting smaller volumes of higher contaminated materials off site for disposal while containing larger volumes of lower contaminated materials (primarily soil and demolition debris) in an engineered On-Site Disposal Facility (OSDF). 

Because of the radiological nature of the waste, Fernald uses only exclusive-use truck carriers and unit trains to transport waste to off-site disposal facilities. A unit train contains 55 to 60 railcars, stays intact during the trip and receives priority right-of-way service and expedited switching. In 2002, Fernald shipped the last truckload of nuclear product off site, eliminating a radiological source and reducing landlord and surveillance costs associated with storing and managing the product. 

Shipment Tracking and Emergency Planning
All shipping operations are in full compliance with the Department of Transportation regulations. Once a truck or train leaves the site, DOE and Fluor Fernald can track the shipment through the carriers. Trucks are tracked through two-way communication systems mounted in each vehicle, and rail shipments are tracked through the railroad’s Internet tracing programs. Workers also stay in close contact with the dispatchers while the shipments are in transit. 

In the event of an incident within the Greater Cincinnati area, Fernald will immediately assemble a group of emergency responders, technical and communications personnel to the accident site to support the on-scene commander, evaluate the incident, determine appropriate actions and assist with cleanup efforts. If the incident occurs outside the Greater Cincinnati area, DOE has eight Radiological Assistance Teams in place across the United States to provide on-scene commanders with radiological monitoring, communications and information coordination. The teams include DOE and contractor personnel with expertise in health physics, public information and communications. For more information on the DOE's Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program, visit the Office of Transportation and Emergency Management web site: http://www.em.doe.gov/otem.

To prepare emergency response teams along the transportation routes for Fernald’s truck and rail shipments, Fernald contracted the services of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in 1999. Using its existing first responder-operations level course, IAFF developed specific training programs and response guides to reflect current technology and integrate emergency response actions for radiological events with response actions for hazardous material events. IAFF also offered training to emergency response teams along the transportation routes. The IAFF training program is available on the DOE Headquarters Fire Protection web site: http://tis.eh.doe.gov/fire/fro/fro.html.

After normal business hours, emergency response organizations can contact the Fernald Communications Center at 513-648-4444. The Communications Center is staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.