RECOMMENDATION #99-2
Recommendation to Provide Special Funding to the Fernald Environmental Management Project for Disposition of Remaining Nuclear Materials
March 16, 1999

Presented to: DOE Secretary, Ohio Congressional Delegation

Source of Recommendation:

• Full Board
• Remediation Committee
• Stewardship Committee
• Steering Committee Response

Type of Recommendation:

• Initial
• Follow-on to Recommendation

Requested by: April 15, 1999

The Fernald Citizens Advisory Board has long been an advocate for the rapid removal of the nuclear materials still being stored at the Fernald site from its days as an operating nuclear metals plant. As a Defense Closure site, Fernald is committed to complete the total remediation of the site by 2006. Fernald no longer has a mission that is compatible with the safe stewardship of nuclear materials. Every day these materials continue to be present at the site increases the duration and cost of remediation and the risk to site workers and nearby residents.

Since our first recommendation to expedite removal of this material in 1995, a significant portion of the Nuclear Materials on site have been disposed through sale. At long last, a disposition path has been identified for all of the remaining materials. Recently, 938 metric tons of non-usable materials have been declared waste, clearing the way for its ultimate disposal. The remaining 3,800 metric tons of Uranium at Fernald is now under consideration for receipt by the Oak Ridge Operations Office for storage until final disposition can be achieved. Removing these materials from the Fernald site is one of the highest priority issues with local citizens and crucial to the success of site remediation.

The total cost of the disposition of this 4,738 metric tons of Uranium is likely to be in excess of $60 million. This is money that was not included in the site’s baseline budget because these materials were not considered part of the Environmental Management program at the site.

At this time, the FCAB is requesting that the U.S. Department of Energy and the US Congress work together to identify this additional funding so that Fernald can make its Defense Closure commitments. If these additional funds are not made available beginning with the FY2000 budget, Fernald will be forced to shift this money from other remediation operations and the ability to achieve site closure by 2006 will certainly be compromised.