A strategy document developed to address problems with contaminated groundwater on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) will be the primary topic of discussion during the November 13 meeting of the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board (ORSSAB). ORSSAB is a federally appointed citizens’ panel that provides independent advice and recommendations to DOE’s Environmental Management program to clean up portions of the ORR.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the DOE Information Center in the Office of Science and Technical Information, 100 block of Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge. The public is welcome to attend.

Beginning in January, representatives of DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation participated in a series of workshops to build consensus on a path forward for managing groundwater challenges on the ORR. Some areas of groundwater on the ORR are contaminated as a result of activities at the Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the former gaseous diffusion plant at East Tennessee Technology Park. There is also concern that contaminated groundwater may be migrating offsite under public and private lands.

As a result of the workshops, a number of objectives were identified and discussed in detail in a strategy document, which was released in September. The groundwater strategy objectives provide a framework for early actions and a long-term strategy. Dan Goode, U.S. Geological Survey, will discuss the document with ORSSAB members. Goode acted as a liaison to the board during the workshop discussions.

ORSSAB meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the DOE Information Center.