State,
Department of Energy sign Paducah Cleanup Agreement
FRANKFORT,
Ky. - Gov. Paul Patton today signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the federal
Department of Energy (DOE) that outlines the commitment of accelerating
environmental cleanup at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP).
Patton, and staff from the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection Cabinet, began negotiating the LOI with DOE officials in Washington
on Monday, Aug. 11.
“I
believe that we have now achieved the progress necessary for the environmental
cleanup of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant,” Patton said. “The LOI and
the Agreed Orders to follow sets the projects and the timetables in place so
that accelerated cleanup can now move forward.”
The
LOI is an agreement in principle with DOE for the accelerated cleanup and the
resolution of enforcement and compliance issues from various activities at the
plant. DOE has agreed
to pay a $1 million penalty for Notices of Violations (NOVs) issued by the state
for hazardous waste infractions. DOE
has also agreed to spend $200,000 for environmental improvement projects near
the plant.
The
cleanup will follow a two-phase approach with the first phase addressing five
Operable Unit Strategic Initiatives focusing on the highest priorities at the
plant. The LOI provides for
enforceable deadlines for DOE to complete the cleanup work in the first phase,
ranging from 2010 to 2019. The
second phase will address the balance of work necessary to protect human health
and the environment. Some cleanup
during this phase may not begin until after the plant ceases operation.
The state and DOE have agreed to begin negotiations for the second phase
six months prior to the plant shutdown to establish enforceable deadlines.
The
LOI calls for the state and DOE to negotiate and sign an agreed order by Sept.
15, 2003 to completely resolve the enforcement and compliance issues.
After the agreed orders are reached, DOE will notify Congress that the
PGDP should be considered eligible for additional cleanup funding.
-30-