The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment from April 26- June 12, 2023 on the Proposed Plan for the Record of Decision for Groundwater in the K-31/K-33 Area at the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The Proposed Plan identifies monitored natural attenuation and land use controls as DOE’s preferred alternative to remediate contaminated groundwater in the K-31/K-33 Area of the East Tennessee Technology Park. Monitored natural attenuation is a groundwater remediation approach that relies on natural processes to reduce the concentrations of contaminants in groundwater. It was the method selected to address groundwater contaminated with metals, primarily chromium and nickel, detected in concentrations above drinking water standards. Overall contaminant concentrations have been trending downward since the late 1980s, and there are no current exposure pathways that affect human health or the environment. Land use controls will be implemented to prohibit groundwater use and notify future landowners concerning the presence of contaminated groundwater.

The alternatives evaluated for K-31/K-33 Area groundwater are:

• No action
• Monitored natural attenuation and land use controls
• Pump and treat groundwater in areas with the highest concentrations of chromium and nickel, and monitored natural attenuation and land use controls in the other areas

Public meeting

DOE is hosting a public meeting about this topic on May 9, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the TownePlace Suites, located at 300 South Rutgers Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. At this meeting, DOE will provide information about the Proposed Plan and listen to your views about the plans for this groundwater cleanup action.

How to share comments

You can submit written comments on the Proposed Plan from April 26, 2023 - June 12, 2023. Formal comments should be written and submitted to:

OakRidgeEM@orem.doe.gov

or 

Mr. Roger Petrie
OREM FFA Project Manager
P.O. Box 2001
Oak Ridge, TN 37831