remediation required for surplus property

[William V Lipton <liptonw@dteenergy.com>]

Let me try, again; something happened to the "Federal Register" notice
on my first attempt.

This notice of August 23, 2000 should serve as a caution to any RP who's
management wants to sell potentially contaminated "surplus property."
In this case, even though the material was properly released for
unrestricted use, standards became more conservative, and DOE had to
remediate.

The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Certification of the Radiological Condition of the Kimble
Property in Hamilton, Ohio

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Certification.



SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has completed remedial actions
to decontaminate a property in Hamilton, Ohio. Formerly, the property
was found to contain quantities of residual radioactive material
resulting from materials received from the Department of Energy Fernald
Area Office operations. Radiological surveys show that the property now
meets applicable requirements for radiologically unrestricted use.

ADDRESSES: The certification docket is available at the following
locations:

Public Reading Room, Room 1E-190, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585
Public Environmental Information Center, U.S. Department of Energy,
10995 Hamilton-Cleves Highway, Harrison, OH 45030.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack R. Craig, Director, Fernald Area
Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Cincinnati, OH 45253, (513) 648-3101
Fax: (513) 648-3071.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy, Ohio Field Office,
has conducted remedial action at the Kimble Property in Hamilton, Ohio.
The remedial action, commenced in 1994, was conducted pursuant to
standards established in DOE Order 5400.5 for the purpose of protecting
the health and safety of the public against radiation in conducting the
Department's programs.
    In 1973, DOE-Fernald declared various materials from the Fernald
Plant to be surplus and subject to public sale. Mr. Kimble, a plant
employee at that time, purchased a plant maintenance bus, redwood from
a plant cooling tower, and items of construction hardware. These
materials were released to Mr. Kimble for unrestricted use according to
then-applicable standards (0.3 rad/hr) and were transported to the
Kimble property.
    In 1994, at the request of the property owner, DOE-Fernald
performed a radiological survey of the Kimble property and identified
contamination in excess of the current DOE surface contamination
guidelines for beta-gamma emitters. The survey revealed that the
radiactive contamination was primarily associated with the redwood and,
to a lesser extent, with soil, pipes, and assorted hardware. In
addition to investigating radioactive contamination, DOE-Fernald noted
the need to investigate the potential migration from ash or weathered
redwood of arsenic and chromium contaminants originating from
preservatives used to treat the redwood. Remediation activities were
initiated in August, 1995 and were concluded in June, 1996.
    Post-remedial action surveys have demonstrated and DOE has
certified that the subject property is in compliance with the
Department's radiological decontamination criteria and standards. The
standards are established to protect members of the general public and
occupants of the properties and to ensure that future use of the
properties will result in no radiological exposure above applicable
health-based guidelines.
    The certification docket will be available for review between 9:00
a. m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) in
the Department's Public Reading Room, located in Room 1E-190 of the
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20585. Copies of the certification docket will also be available in the
DOE Public Environmental Information Center, U.S. Department of Energy,
10995 Hamilton-Cleves Highway, Harrison, Ohio 45030.
    DOE, through the Ohio Field Office, has issued the following
statement:
    Statement of Certification: Kimble Property, Hamiltion, Ohio DOE,
Ohio Field Office, has reviewed and analyzed the radiological data
obtained following remedial action at the Kimble Property (4090
Stillwell Road, Hamilton, Ohio; Parcel Numbers 25, 26, and 46 filed in
Plat Book Hanover, Page 18 in the records of Butler County, Ohio).
Based on analysis of all data collected, including post-remedial action
surveys, DOE certifies that any residual contamination which remains
onsite falls within current guidelines for use without radiological
restrictions. This certification of compliance provides assurance that
reasonably foreseeable future use of the property will result in no
radiological exposure above current guidelines established to protect
members of the general public as well as occupants of the site.
    Property owned by Daniel and Maxine Kimble: 4090 Stillwell Road,
Hamilton, Ohio 45013.

    Issued in Dayton, OH on August 9, 2000.
Susan Brechbill,
Manager, Ohio Field Office.
[FR Doc. 00-21505 Filed 8-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P



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