**Stewardship/Environmental Management**

**Combined Committee Meeting Minutes**

**Wednesday, January 16, 2008, 5:30 p.m.**

**DOE Information Center**

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+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **[Committee Members             | **[Others Present]{.underline}**  |
| Present]{.underline}**           |                                   |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Ben Adams, Stewardship           | Jason Darby, Department of        |
|                                  | Energy-Oak Ridge Office (DOE)     |
| Darryl Bonner, EM/Stewardship    |                                   |
| Chair                            | Sid Garland, Bechtel Jacobs, Co.  |
|                                  | (BJC)                             |
| Hubert Gibson, EM                |                                   |
|                                  | Spencer Gross, Spectrum           |
| Luther Gibson, EM                |                                   |
|                                  | Pat Halsey, DOE                   |
| Ashlyn Hall, Stewardship         |                                   |
|                                  | Berny Ilgner, ARCADIS             |
| Charles Jensen, EM               |                                   |
|                                  | Dan Jones, ARCADIS                |
| Ted Lundy, Stewardship           |                                   |
|                                  | Dick Ketelle, BJC                 |
| Gloria Mei, EM                   |                                   |
|                                  | John Kubarewicz, BJC              |
| David Martin, Vice-chair,        |                                   |
| Stewardship                      | Steve Mead, ORSSAB                |
|                                  |                                   |
| ##### Lance Mezga, EM            | Bob Seyer, GEL Laboratories, LLC  |
|                                  |                                   |
| Norman Mulvenon, EM/Stewardship  | Lynn Sims, BJC                    |
|                                  |                                   |
| Ron Murphree, Chair, EM          | Ralph Skinner, DOE                |
|                                  |                                   |
| Tim Myrick, Vice-chair, EM       |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| ##### Bob Olson, EM              |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Sondra Sarten, Stewardship       |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| ##### Kerry Trammell, EM         |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| ##### [Absent]{.underline}       |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Rhonda Bogard, EM                |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Al Brooks, Stewardship           |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Donna Campbell, Stewardship      |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| John Coffman, EM                 |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Heather Cothron, Stewardship     |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Susan Gawarecki, EM/Stewardship  |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Tyler Johnson, Stewardship       |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| John Kennerly, EM                |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Claudia Lever, Stewardship       |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Roger, Macklin, Stewardship      |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| John Million, Stewardship        |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| ##### Bob Peelle, Stewardship    |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| ##### Sandy Reagan, EM           |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| Lorene Sigal, Stewardship        |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| #####                            |                                   |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

**[2007 Remediation Effectiveness Report Briefing]{.underline}**

Mr. Darby, the DOE program manager for the Remediation Effectiveness
Report (RER), briefed the EM and Stewardship Committees on the 2007 RER.
The RER is published annually. It's purpose is to evaluate if
Comprehensive Environmental Restoration, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA) remedial actions used in cleaning up portions of the Oak Ridge
Reservation (ORR) are effective.

He reviewed the scope of the 2007 RER (Attachment 1, pages 3 and 4). The
main points are:

-   Evaluate implementation and performance of remedies

-   Report monitoring results for the previous fiscal year

-   Determine if remedies remain effective

-   Recommend monitoring changes

    Some changes to the 2007 report have been made from previous
    reports. The document is now in two volumes to separate current
    monitoring and stewardship data from historical information
    regarding cleanup decisions and actions. Volume 1 is a compendium of
    project descriptions and background information on all 64 CERCLA
    actions on the ORR. Volume 2 contains data and analysis and
    effectiveness evaluation of each of the CERCLA actions on the ORR
    that are completed and have monitoring and/or stewardship
    requirements. The document now includes land use control
    requirements and DOE certification of land use control
    implementation for Melton Valley.

    Page 7 of Attachment 1 lists 2007 remedial action status, which
    shows the completion of hydrologic isolation in Melton Valley,
    implementation of the Y-12 Big Spring water treatment plant, work
    done at East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), and waste disposed in
    the CERCLA Waste Disposal Facility at Y-12.

    Mr. Darby showed a chart of rainfall amounts since 2000. He said any
    discussion of monitoring results has to include an understanding of
    how rainfall affects results. Rainfall mobilizes contaminants in wet
    periods, but there is less contamination flow during dry periods.

    Mr. Darby reviewed monitoring results from various areas on the ORR
    (Attachment 1, pages 9-19). For the most part remedies appear to be
    effective. The only problem is elevated beta activity at the UNC
    Site on Chestnut Ridge. Mr. Darby said this not a new occurrence,
    however, and the increase has been referred to the Upper East Fork
    Poplar Creek core team for investigation. Mr. Darby said the source
    of the contamination is not known.

    Mr. Darby said the 2007 RER has been approved by both the
    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Tennessee Department of
    Environment and Conservation (TDEC). He asked for any comments on
    the document to be provided to him by January 30, 2008.

    Mr. Trammell asked if changes in monitoring are made based on the
    remediation results. Mr. Ketelle said monitoring had been increased
    at the UNC site on Chestnut Ridge. Some changes have been made in
    Bear Creek Valley related to the S-3 ponds remediation that came
    from the 2006 RER.

    Mr. Mulvenon said he thought there should be the same introduction
    in both volumes. He asked about the annotated outline that was
    provided to DOE by the Stewardship Committee some time ago. Mr.
    Darby said an attempt was made to follow the outline. Mr. Mulvenon
    said the outline should be used, but if it isn't or if changes are
    made in how it was used that should be noted. Mr. Mulvenon said
    there is no official designation of the Environmental Management
    Waste Management Facility in original decision documents. He said
    there should be a way to indicate how to reference the facility in
    future RERs.

    Mr. Myrick asked about the treatment plan for the Big Spring water
    flow at Y-12. Mr. Ketelle said water went through an equalization
    tank and then through a filtration system to remove mercury. Mr.
    Myrick said there was nothing in the presentation about monitoring
    starlings and fish for contamination in East Fork Poplar Creek. Mr.
    Ketelle said methyl mercury is still being detected in fish. He said
    BJC is working with a technical assistance team to better understand
    how to reduce contamination is surface water. Mr. Darby said
    starlings are no longer being monitored.

    Mr. Ketelle said administrators from the National Pollutant
    Discharge Elimination System have given DOE a total maximum load of
    contaminants in fish in an attempt to lower concentration in fish
    tissue. He said DOE is studying how to meet that threshold.

    Mr. L. Gibson asked about updated monitoring. Mr. Darby said there
    is a reference section in the RER that has a monitoring plan that
    lists the various systems. Mr. Gibson said he knew of a BJC
    monitoring reference. Mr. Darby said that was a plan used by
    contractors that captures all the monitoring specified in records of
    decisions. Ms. Sims said there was another monitoring plan submitted
    to EPA that would be more useful.

    Mr. L. Gibson asked when chromium had been discovered in surface
    water around ETTP. Mr. Ketelle said it was discovered in 2007.

    Mr. Jensen asked if there has been an attempt to determine
    effectiveness of remediation in relation to trends in rainfall. Mr.
    Ketelle said some models are in place, but trying to forecast the
    rapid transit of contaminants is not easy with the complicated
    geology in Oak Ridge. He said there is no reliable predictor. He
    said an analysis is done to hypothesize what is happening.

    Ms. Halsey asked Mr. Darby to explain why there are two volumes. Mr.
    Darby said the first volume is static that will not be updated from
    year to year except for the CERCLA Five-year Review. Ms. Sims said
    volume 2 is updated annually from information provided in volume 1.
    Mr. Murphree said there should be an indication in volume 2 that it
    references volume 1. Mr. Darby said the FY 2007 RER has been placed
    on the DOE Information Center website at
    <http://www.oakridge.doe.gov/external/PublicActivities/InfoCenter/Resources/tabid/139/Default.aspx>.
    It is also available at the information center on compact disc.

    Mr. Martin asked how the water table was being tracked. Mr. Ketelle
    said there is a wide range of responses in groundwater. There are a
    number of wells that are monitored for water levels and there is
    quite a bit of documentation. He said not all wells can be monitored
    regularly because of expense and lack of personnel. Some wells do
    have continuous recorders on them and others are checked regularly.
    Mr. Martin said perhaps key wells could be monitored regularly. Mr.
    Ketelle said that could be taken as a comment to be evaluated.

    Mr. Murphree asked if there are any third parties involved in
    verification of results. Mr. Darby said all work was done by DOE and
    BJC. Mr. Skinner noted that the D0 version of the RER is reviewed by
    EPA and TDEC but no other reviewer.

    Mr. Mezga asked what the radionuclide is at the UNC site. Mr.
    Ketelle said it was potassium-40. Mr. Mezga asked if the remediation
    effectiveness results are related to actions taken or rainfall. Mr.
    Ketelle said in Melton Valley it is related to the remedy. In Bethel
    Valley it is probably rainfall. Mr. Bonner said the presentation is
    done in 'broad strokes' and may not be completely accurate. Mr.
    Ketelle said the RER notes that climatic conditions are part of the
    results measured. Mr. Bonner said he thought there could be better
    representation on the effects of rainfall or lack of it.

    Mr. Murphree said the committees have identified a number of things
    that DOE and BJC should consider in future RERs. Mr. Darby said he
    needed comments by January 30. Mr. Murphree said there would not be
    enough time to issue formal comments, but asked if he would make
    note of the comments that were voiced at this meeting. A formal
    recommendation on future RERs could be drafted by the committees
    later. Mr. Murphree asked which committee should take the lead in
    drafting a recommendation. Mr. Bonner said Stewardship Committee
    would work on a draft recommendation.

    **[ARCADIS Briefing on East Tennessee Technology Park Remedial
    Investigation/Feasibility Study]{.underline}**

    ARCADIS was contracted by the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board
    for the EM Committee to review the D3 version of the remedial
    investigation/feasibility (RIFS) study for ETTP. ARCADIS had
    reviewed an earlier D2 version and reported to the committee.
    ARCADIS was asked to review the comments on the D2 version by EPA
    and TDEC and look for any changes in the two documents. The ARCADIS
    review is attachment 2.

    The review is in three sections: remedial investigation (RI)
    comments, ecological risk assessment comments, and feasibility study
    (FS) comments.

    Mr. Jones said there are new data in the RI portion of the RIFS. The
    new data are updated groundwater tables and trend analyses and
    chromium levels in Mitchell Branch surface water.

    Mr. Jones said a number of comments from EPA were related to
    not-to-exceed remedial goal options for soil hotspots. He said DOE
    believes the use of not-to-exceed levels for small areas protect
    individuals rather than wildlife. EPA's concern is that short-term
    exposure to high concentrations of some contaminants could be
    lethal. Such concentrations could create 'kill zones' that
    negatively affect wildlife.

    In the feasibility study comments ARCADIS noted two changes related
    to alternatives selection and monitored natural attenuation. Those
    changes are noted in Attachment 2, sections 4.1 and 4.2.

    In its summary ARCADIS said most comments from EPA and TDEC on RI
    methods were addressed sufficiently and revisions were made. Most
    comments on ecological risk assessments were addressed with the
    exception of how hotspots should be evaluated if surface water in
    Mitchell Branch is in compliance with applicable or relevant and
    appropriate requirements.

    Mr. Jones said that changes made in the D3 version from the D2 are
    highlighted and easy to see.

    Mr. Murphree said the EM committee will study the summary in more
    depth and respond to DOE in some fashion.

    Ms. Halsey said she didn't know if the D3 version would approved by
    EPA and TDEC, but this is the kind of information needed to evaluate
    the coming proposed plan.

    **[K-25 Historic Preservation Discussion]{.underline}**

    Mr. Bonner reported that several members of the Stewardship
    Committee went on a tour of the K-25 north tower on Saturday,
    January 12. He said it gave those members a better idea of what
    condition the building is in.

    He said a meeting is being planned for Thursday, February 7 at
    Pollard Technology and Conference Center for the public to ask
    questions and provide input on how preserve the historical
    significance of K-25. He urged all ORSSAB members to attend that
    meeting.

    Mr. Bonner said there are ongoing discussions with the Partnership
    for K-25 Preservation (PKP) and BJC to come up with a plan for K-25
    preservation. He said PKP has offered to present more information to
    the committee on the topic. It was suggested that perhaps the next
    meeting with PKP and BJC be held at the DOE Information Center so
    some committee members could attend. Mr. Bonner said he would talk
    with PKP about that. The suggested date was February 5 at 2 p.m.

    Mr. Martin said the committee should have some criteria on how to
    make a recommendation about K-25. He said that criteria could be
    benchmarks that DOE could look at. Mr. Bonner said the criteria
    should be the basic components of an interpretive plan for K-25. He
    said the problem is that a single interpretive plan does not exist.
    Any recommendation the board could make on K-25 would have to be
    general in nature.

    **[Old Business -- Stewardship]{.underline}**

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-   Update on Long-term Stewardship Directive

    Mr. Skinner said he has gotten comments needed from the proper
    people in the Oak Ridge EM office, but he still needs to get input
    from the National Nuclear Security Administration at Y-12 and how
    the long-term stewardship directive would be addressed at Y-12.

    **[New Business -- EM]{.underline}**

-   Recommendation on Engineering and Technology Development on the Oak
    Ridge Reservation

    The committee reviewed the recommendation portion of Recommendation
    on Engineering and Technology Development on the Oak Ridge
    Reservation (Attachment 3).

    The committee was unable to come up with acceptable language and
    decided to have Mr. Murphree and Mr. Myrick work more on the
    language and submit revised wording to the committee to consider at
    the February meeting.

    The meeting adjourned at 7:35

**[Action Items -- Stewardship]{.underline}**

*Open*

1.  Ms. Campbell, Ms. Sigal, and Mr. Mulvenon will develop a concept,
    scope, and outline for stewardship video. **Status.** Group has been
    unable to meet to date.

2.  Mr. Mulvenon will talk with Oak Ridge City Manager James O'Connor
    about addressing the committee on the city's stewardship
    responsibilities. **Status**. Mr. Mulvenon spoke briefly with Mr.
    O'Connor, who suggested he meet with Amy Fitzgerald about giving a
    presentation to the committee.

3.  Ms. Sigal will determine if recommendations made by a focus group on
    reindustrialization at ETTP are being implemented.

4.  Mr. Mulvenon will get input from the Executive Committee to develop
    a letter or recommendation to DOE on the FY 2006 Remediation
    Effectiveness Report public meeting.

5.  Mr. Bonner will take the lead on drafting a recommendation on the
    2007 RER.

*Closed*

1.  Ms. Hall will check with Oak Ridge High School video production
    about its availability to work on stewardship video. **Closed.** Ms.
    Hall reports the school production facility is not available at this
    time.

2.  Mr. Bonner and Mr. Mulvenon will work on a public meeting with Local
    Oversight Committee to gather public input on K-25 historic
    preservation. **Closed.** A planning session was held Thursday,
    January 10 at 1 p.m. at DOE Information Center. A public meeting has
    been tentatively set for Thursday, February 7 at Pollard Technology
    and Conference Center.

Attachments (3) are available through the ORSSAB support office.

rsg