All News Releases By Date

EPA ANNOUNCES THAT AGREEMENT IS REACHED ON CLEANUP AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PADUCAH GASSEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT

Release Date: 10/05/2000
Contact Information: Wesley Lambert, (404) 562-8316, [email protected]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 announced today that an agreement among EPA, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection has been reached on the schedule for cleanup and assessment activities for the DOE Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky. The agreement ensures the available DOE resources are being utilized for the highest priorities (e.g., initiating cleanup to mitigate potential for off-site contaminant releases) during Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002. However, EPA recognizes that to achieve the 2010 goal for completion of cleanup, significant increases over the Fiscal Year 2001 funding levels will likely be necessary in future years. "I am pleased with this agreement," said John H. Hankinson, Jr., Regional Administrator for EPA Region 4. "EPA shares concerns raised in recent news articles showing possible plutonium contamination on and around the facility. The presence of plutonium off-site and the public concern should be a good reason for DOE to increase funding for investigation of off-site releases. The public should not have to chose between investigation of off-site contamination or high priority cleanups." Hankinson further stated, "EPA will continue to work with DOE and Kentucky to support DOE's requests for sufficient funding to meet its obligation to complete cleanup of the Paducah facility by 2010, including investigation and any response needed to address off-site contamination."