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Remediation to Stewardship
In anticipation of
completing remediation of the Fernald site in late 2006, the
Department of Energy (DOE) and Fluor Fernald have been
working with regulators and stakeholders to plan long-term
stewardship of the site. DOE defines stewardship as:
"…all activities required to protect human health and the
environment from
hazards remaining after remediation is completed."
Under existing laws, DOE is required to
implement long-term stewardship at federal facilities that
complete remediation to ensure the cleanup remedies remain
effective and protective of human health and the environment
for future generations.
Long-term stewardship
began to surface as a key issue for Fernald stakeholders
during the late 1990s. At the time, most critical
remediation decisions were complete and workers were in the
field tearing down buildings, excavating contaminated soil,
and preparing waste and nuclear product for disposition.
With the end of cleanup in sight, stakeholders shifted their
attention to post-remediation issues, such as final land use
of the property, public access, and future information needs
to prepare for the site’s transition from remediation to
stewardship. DOE plans to begin full-scale stewardship
activities in 2007, after site remediation is complete.
Fernald Comprehensive Stewardship Plan
During the development of
the site’s cleanup plans, DOE committed to several
conditions that affect long-term stewardship planning. They
include:
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The Fernald site will remain under federal
ownership in perpetuity.
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DOE will achieve final remediation levels
for contamination.
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The OSDF and restored areas of the site
will require long-term stewardship.
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The DOE-Grand Junction Office located near
Denver, Colorado, will be the primary long-term Site
Steward.
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The Site Steward will perform
environmental monitoring and maintenance of the Fernald
site according to approved stewardship plans.
Based on the regulatory
commitments affecting the OSDF and DOE’s decision to restore
natural resources over 904 acres of the site, the draft
Fernald Comprehensive
Stewardship Plan
covers two main
categories: 1. Stewardship of cleanup remedies, including
the OSDF, and 2. Stewardship of restored areas.
Stewardship of cleanup remedies will involve
monitoring and maintenance of the OSDF to ensure its
long-term performance, and enforcing restrictions on public
access and use of the site. Stewardship of restored areas
will involve protecting natural resources from impacts and
maintenance of any site infrastructure so they remain in a
safe and usable condition. Every five years, the Site
Steward will also review the effectiveness of the cleanup
remedies and issue a report to the appropriate regulatory
agencies to comply with the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the 1980
federal law that governs site remediation.
DOE will also develop a separate
Institutional Control Plan to comply with Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) guidance. Institutional controls are
long-term actions or restrictions designed to mitigate any
risks from contamination following remediation. DOE will
revise the Fernald Comprehensive Stewardship Plan so
it is consistent with the Institutional Control Plan. As the
site transitions from remediation to long-term stewardship,
DOE will continue to keep stakeholders and regulators
informed and involved in the planning process.
The following links contain more detailed
information about Fernald’s long-term stewardship plans.
