Pike County Commissioners passed and signed the following letter to DOE on April 7, 2020.
Members of the Board of Commissioners
- Tony Montgomery, Chairman
- Blaine Beekman
- Jerry Miller
- April Elliott, Clerk
- Angie Burggraf, Secretary
For nearly 70 years, Pike County has borne the burden of being host to a nuclear facility. It has been an economic benefit for the area and for that we are grateful. It has also been a major contributor to our Nation and its defense and for that DOE should be grateful. The decision by the Department of Energy (DOE) to decommission and demolish the facility was met with equal parts optimism and
skepticism but the desire to ‘clean up’ a massive environmental problem for our area resulted in approval from nearly all parties involved, both public and private.
The primary sticking point for area residents was the decision by DOE to construct a Disposal Cell, more commonly known as the construction debris landfill. Some residents refer to it as the nuclear dump. The formation of the waste disposal cell would accomplish several objectives. It would handle some of the demolition debris from the tear down of the plant and most importantly partially remediate
decades worth of radioactive and/or toxic waste in cleanup of the unlined landfills that have existed for many years. The selling points communicated by the DOE to citizens of the area were as follows.
- This is the safest option.
- Jobs will remain for decades to come, transitioning from specialized jobs unique to the nuclear industry to all the trades needed to accomplish D&D tasks.
- Pike County will receive a ‘clean’ site to reindustrialize, complete with all the infrastructure an industrial site would need.
- Any highly contaminated materials will NOT be placed in the Disposal Cell and all materials placed in the cell would ultimately be approved by Ohio EPA and documented in the Waste Acceptance Criteria Implementation Plan or WACIP (WACIP details specifics of what is allowed in the landfill)
Based on what we have experienced with DOE recently there is substantial reason to not only doubt DOE but to actively oppose any further action unless and until the WACIP is fully disclosed to the public and an open dialog for the public to question areas or topics of concern is made possible. In the order listed above, below are direct contradictions and concerns about DOE statements and
plans.
- The safest option is for all contaminated material located at the site to be removed from Pike County. The levels of contamination and quantities are what must be made known to the public and explanations provided to justify being placed in a waste cell. Since no landfills or plumes outside of perimeter road are planned to be removed the insistence that Pike County will eventually receive a fully
remediated, ready to industrialize site is simply not true. A true clean up removes all contamination created by DOE, not just relocating a portion to a safer location while leaving many tons of existing waste in place because it’s located outside of an arbitrary section of pavement. The promise of safety not only rings hollow, it completely ignores waste buried outside of perimeter road. The promise of this being the safest option is demonstrably false unless and until ALL current landfills are
removed, not removing them now essentially guarantees their existence far into the future and the subsequent environmental risks they pose.
- The existing testing laboratory located at the DOE site is being demolished. Since testing functions will still be required a Request for Proposal (RFP) for construction of a new lab was issued by the DOE contractor. Pike County was assured that not only would a new permanent lab be constructed but that the approximately 30 full time jobs the lab represents would remain for years to come. We asked what
would happen if bids were returned that didn’t require the new lab to be constructed in Pike County and we were assured that the RFP would be reissued to require the new lab to be built here. DOE did accept a bid for a new lab but rather than building one they approved a proposal that will have lab work done in mobile trailers and that employs fewer than half of the 30 people that work there now. Most recently a contract for DOE support functions was awarded to a company that resulted in the
elimination of even more jobs, and to add insult to injury, the people that were retained were offered employment at a reduced rate of $5.00 per hour less than they previously earned. In summary, the promise of existing jobs either transitioning or remaining has been proven by DOE action to be demonstrably false.
- Regarding infrastructure, DOE has blocked every attempt to utilize the first 80 acres already deeded to SODI. The lab mentioned above was to be constructed on this parcel but not only will there be no construction, DOE refuses access to the sewer line closest to the 80 acre parcel insisting that Pike County pay for installation of nearly a mile of sewer line to connect to another location. The reason
given is that ‘DOE will not allow Pike county to connect to infrastructure we plan to tear out’. Based on numerous DOE roadblocks to utilize the property they assured us would be available to reindustrialize, the promised ability to do so is demonstrably false.
- Due to the consistent falsehood of nearly every statement or assurance offered by DOE it is impossible for any reasonable citizen to trust that the WACIP is in the best interests of Pike County and its citizens.
DOE has made the following statements to Commissioners in recent weeks;
- When we asked for public input on the WACIP we were told … ‘Absolutely not, never going to happen.'
- We have been told in presentation after presentation that there is more infrastructure at this site than you will ever need to assist with reindustrialization. DOE shared drawings and plans outlining all electrical, water and sewer lines in detail for Pike County’s future use. Now DOE is saying…‘We’re not letting you connect to infrastructure we’re going to tear out.’
- When we voiced our opposition to the elimination of existing jobs due to a DOE support contract being awarded to a different company. DOE responded …‘That’s not our problem, the new contractor is responsible’
Based on what appears to be a very effective and repetitive use of a bait and switch tactic we are very concerned about the trustworthiness of DOE statements and intentions.
There have been several comments like those above that speak directly to DOE’s intent. Their stated goal is to ‘complete the mission’. That mission is defined in the Record of Decision (ROD) and involves moving forward regardless of Pike County citizens concerns. This is unacceptable.
DOE has consistently misled elected officials and/or outright lied about nearly all talking points they’ve put forth. Accordingly, it is foolish to assume DOE will conduct itself transparently and honestly regarding the yet to be approved WACIP.
A draft of which was sent recently, without notice to anyone in Pike County, to Ohio EPA. To assume that to be coincidence when the submission coincides with a global pandemic dominating daily news cycles is also foolish. Ohio EPA have not returned Commissioners calls to discuss the WACIP in a lack of transparency that is not acceptable to Pike County.
We are very disappointed with DOE and the repeated and unnecessary disparity between words and actions. We will continue to push for the promises made to be kept and most importantly for a thorough review and vetting of the WACIP through public participation and input. To most Pike countians someone’s word means something. We intend to keep our word and will do everything within our power to ensure
that DOE keeps theirs.
If any Pike County resident would like to see the WACIP draft sent to Ohio EPA here is a link that provides instruction on how to request public records as well as a contact at the Ohio EPA to make the request.
http://epa.ohio.gov/Portals/44/pp/PublicRecordsChecklist.docx
Ohio EPA Southeast District
ATTN: Angie Hardesty
2195 Front Street
Logan, Ohio 43138
740-385-8501
740-385-6490 FAX
Angie.Hardesty@EPA.Ohio.gov
Pike County Board of Commissioners
Tony Montgomery, Chairman
Blaine Beekman, Commissioner
Jerry Miller, Commissioner
