DOE Seeks Public Input on Pantex Groundwater Contamination

April 10, 2000
Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson is asking the public to comment on two interim reports regarding actions to protect groundwater at the department's Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas.

Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson received two interim reports last week on actions to protect groundwater at the department's Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas.

One report focusing on the plant's groundwater monitoring program confirms last year Pantex Plant operators did not follow DOE procedures, resulting in an approximate nine month delay in notifying senior managers and the public of newly discovered groundwater contamination at the site.

Steps are now being taken to determine the extent of the contamination, however, to date no trichloroethylene (TCE) has been detected in the Ogallala Aquifer beyond the boundaries of the plant.

The second report, focusing on environmental remediation, recommends a two-phase approach to characterizing the extent of TCE in the groundwater.

It also outlines innovative technologies that can be used to monitor and remove risks associated with TCE and other potential groundwater contaminants.

"It's our responsibility to keep the Ogallala Aquifer clean for people who live near Pantex and the many others who depend on it. We've also got to make sure the public is promptly informed of our environmental monitoring results," said Richardson. "I am carefully reviewing these two reports, and I have opened up the process for anyone who wishes to make comments on them as we come to our final assessment this May."

The department is asking the public to comment on the reports over the next two weeks.

Richardson noted that many of the issues -- such as clear and immediate reporting procedures and several groundwater characterization improvements -- are already being addressed by Pantex management as a result of research and compilation of these two reports.

Pantex is now being managed by the new semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

The public is encouraged to make comments on both interim reports at a public meeting today in Amarillo or by sending written comments by April 21 to addresses provided in the reports.

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Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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