August 7, 1998

DEP TO OFFICIALLY SUSPEND LOW LEVEL CONTRACTOR ACTIVITIES

DEP Secretary James M. Seif has directed the Bureau of Radiation Protection to begin negotiations with Chem-Nuclear Systems, LLC (CNS) to officially suspend the Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) Disposal Facility Siting Project by Dec. 31.

CNS and DEP signed an agreement on Aug. 23, 1990, authorizing CNS to provide the activities and services to site, design, construct, operate, close and decommission a regional LLRW disposal facility in Pennsylvania.

Since that time, the factors that drove the need for such a facility have changed dramatically. There is currently disposal capacity at two out-of-state facilities, which is projected to be available to Pennsylvania generators for at least 25 years. In addition, volumes of LLRW generated in Pennsylvania have decreased from more than 225,000 cubic feet in 1991 to less that 30,000 cubic feet in 1997.

The Appalachian States LLRW Commission voted on June 18 to support the DEP’s suspension of the siting process and that the suspension would not violate the Commonwealth’s obligation under the federal and state Compact Acts to cause a Regional Disposal Facility to be sited and developed on a timely basis. (UPDATE 6/19/98)

The agreement between DEP and CNS will not be terminated by the suspension and will be structured so that the project can be expeditiously resumed if conditions are warranted.

It is anticipated that the local CNS office will be closed down by the end of the year, at which time DEP will take control of all project records and related equipment.

For more information, contact Rich Janati at 717 787-2163.

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