Public Comment Period Begins for Draft Closure Plans for RCRA Buildings

Public Comment Period Begins for Draft Closure Plans for RCRA Buildings
On August 13, 2018, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released the Department of Energy’s (DOE) draft closure plans for the Hazardous Waste Management Facility (HWMF) and the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility (RMHF) at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL). These closure plans specifically address the removal of the remaining structures in Area IV which have Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) permits and therefore require additional, approved closure plans to be removed.

DOE is pleased to see these draft closure plans issued by the DTSC for public comment. The community has been seeking cleanup of the site for some time, and this is an important and necessary next step in planning for final remediation at ETEC.
 
These closure plans do not replace the DOE’s Record of Decision (ROD) and the DTSC’s final Notice of Determination for cleanup. When the EIS is final, the Department of Energy can issue its ROD. Once the ROD is issued and closure plans are approved, these buildings can be removed.

The RCRA Closure Plans for the RMHF and HWMF currently address the demolition, handling, waste characterization, transport, and disposal of the building structures associated with each RCRA permit. This includes concrete slabs. After the buildings are removed, DOE will return to their prior locations to sample and characterize the soils. DOE will develop a separate plan for the management, excavation, and disposal of contaminated soil.
 
Prior to DTSC’s ultimate approval of the plans, RCRA requires that the public be engaged in the review of RCRA closure plans and to provide comment to DTSC regarding the closure activities. We encourage the public to review the closure plans and related materials, found at the following link: https://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/Santa_Susana_Field_Lab/index.cfm

A 60-day public comment period runs from August 13, 2018 to October 12, 2018. For more information on how to comment, please visit the DTSC’s website.

Public Comment Period Begins for Draft Closure Plans for RCRA Buildings