Page 3 - SRNS Today December 2021

DECEMBER 2021 | SRNS TODAY | 3

Regulators

approve cleanup

plan for stream

corridor

An SRNS subcontractor technician takes radiological readings of soil near Lower Three Runs.

S and federal environmental regulators on the final cleanup of signage are in place to warn Site workers and the public that potential
RNS reached an important agreement with South Carolina
hazards may be present. “Though it is illegal for the public to cross the
a 25-mile long stream corridor at SRS that is radiologically
“This will be especially true when we work to remove the few areas of
contaminated due to operations during the Cold War. fencing onto SRS, our first priority is always their safety,” said Kupar.
elevated contamination in the canal system, beginning in 2023.”
The corridor consists of Par Pond, nine miles of canals adjacent to
the pond and a stream named Lower Three Runs. The stream begins Kupar said that surveying 25 miles of waterways, especially Lower
near the center of the Site, just above Par Pond, and winds its way Three Runs, was often challenging and sometimes potentially
southward across SRS. hazardous within the forest. “We used aerial detection equipment
along with taking on-site readings every 1,000 meters along Lower
The Record of Decision (ROD) agreement specifies what protective
and cleanup actions are required, along with assurances of long-term Three Runs, often involving difficult terrain. Tripping hazards, feral
monitoring to ensure the corridor remains within environmentally hogs, snakes, spiders and bees could appear at any time. Though the
safe standards. This ROD acknowledges the successful completion survey is complete and active controls are now in place, we continue
of a comprehensive SRNS cleanup strategy following the to conduct inspections along the stream corridor,” he said.
decommissioning and closure of both P and R Areas. Operations “Everything – from characterization of potential contamination through
involving P and R Reactor facilities contributed to the contamination of final negotiation with our regulators – was important to successfully
the Lower Three Runs stream corridor. achieve this Record of Decision as a team. It’s a big deal. We want to
be sure that the public is confident that we’ve fully taken care of the
“This is the first Record of Decision that we’ve ever agreed upon with Cold War legacy issue,” Bergren said.
the regulators and the public that outlines the final closure for a large
parcel of stream systems,” said Chris Bergen, SRNS Environmental “The cleanup of surface water and groundwater at SRS is one of our
Cleanup and Area Closure Projects Director. “We’ve accomplished most important missions,” said Thomas Johnson Jr., DOE-Savannah
much of the cleanup related to this part of the Site over the years, River Deputy Site Manager. “The list of significant environmental
and now, we have determined the remaining actions necessary to remediation achievements at SRS, over just the last 10 years alone,
achieve final cleanup.” is long and impressive. It serves as a testament to the effectiveness
of our relationship with regulators and our mutual commitment to
SRNS Engineer and Project Technical Lead Jim Kupar explained that
much of the remaining work involves ensuring additional fencing and continuous improvement and safety.”