All waste has been removed from the site of EM’s 10th and final building demolition at the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) Radioactive Materials Handling Facility complex earlier this month.
All waste has been removed from the site of EM’s 10th and final building demolition at the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) Radioactive Materials Handling Facility complex earlier this month.

EM continues to make progress on its 2020 priorities. EM Update is highlighting accomplishments in EM’s priority groups through the end of this year.

Crews are maintaining momentum on removal of contaminated buildings at the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC). Earlier this month, they completed demolition of the last of 10 buildings at the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility (RMHF) at ETEC. The cleanup takes place in Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Ventura County, California.

With teardown of the 10 buildings at the RMHF complex complete, only eight DOE-owned structures remain at ETEC. Earlier this month, DOE announced the signing of an Amendment to the May 2020 Order on Consent with the State of California to demolish those eight remaining DOE buildings. The action will fulfill DOE’s commitment to complete building demolition at ETEC.

Separately, DOE on Nov. 10 published a Record of Decision (ROD) outlining planned groundwater remediation activities at the site where nuclear and liquid metals research was conducted from the 1950s until site operations ended in the late 1980s.

Those actions will address areas of the site where investigations indicated the presence of chemical solvents and metals from historic site activities. The ROD describes monitoring and treatment approaches tailored to address the contaminants and potential impacts in each affected area of the site, as well as interim actions.

“We are thrilled that crews were able to accomplish demolition of the RMHF buildings at ETEC on time, even with the hurdles of COVID. The positive momentum continues with DOE and the State of California working together on the Amended Order to advance cleanup at the site,” said John Jones, ETEC federal project director.

In May, DOE and the State of California signed a consent order to demolish the 10 DOE buildings at the RMHF site. Demolition started in July.

Removing all 10 RMHF facilities, which were used for the processing, packaging, and shipment of radioactive and mixed hazardous wastes, reduces potential risk of release of hazardous substances due to wildfires or erosion from severe storms.