DOE junks its waste plan; SOCM claims win

DOE junks
its waste
plan; SOCM
claims win
By Frank Munger
News-Sentinel Oak Ridge bureau

OAK RIDGE — The Department of Energy has scrapped a broad-based plan to use private companies for treatment and disposal of Oak Ridge wastes, and an environmental group is declaring victory.

"We certainly see it as a victory for SOCM," said Janice Morrissey, a spokeswoman for the Roane County chapter of Save Our Cumberland Mountains.

She added, however, "It doesn't completely alleviate our concerns."

In a recent letter to "stakeholders," DOE said it was pulling back a plan that dealt with all mixed wastes stored on the government's Oak Ridge reservation. Mixed wastes are those that contain both hazardous chemicals and radioactive substances, and millions of pounds are awaiting treatment at the Oak Ridge sites.

Rick Korynta, an official in DOE's Waste Management Division, said the agency decided to drop an environmental assessment of waste privatization because of widespread opposition in local communities.

Members of SOCM and other local residents, especially in Roane County, opposed DOE's preferred plan to have private companies treat most wastes now stored at K-25 and other federal facilities in Oak Ridge. There was a concern that those wastes would be burned in incinerators at Scientific Ecology Group and other companies located in Roane County, or that the DOE plan would prompt other waste-processing plants to be built there.

Some citizens who attended public meetings on the DOE plan said they believe emissions from waste facilities are harming the health of area residents.

Morrissey said SOCM wants DOE to treat its own wastes on its own property with its own trained workers in Oak Ridge.

Instead of following through with a broad plan for handling the wastes in Oak Ridge, DOE now will review options for dealing with various waste streams on a case by case basis.

Morrissey said SOCM will monitor the DOE plans.