Stakeholders now have through Jan. 9 to weigh in on the proposed new 2.2-million-cubic yard-landfill to eventually replace the existing facility at the Energy Department’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee.
An Energy Department spokesman confirmed by email the public comment deadline has been extended from Dec. 10. This marks the second extension — DOE had initially set the deadline at Nov. 7.
“We extended the public comment period an additional 75 days beyond its original deadline to ensure the community had an opportunity to learn more about the project, have their questions answered, and provide their input,” the spokesman said Thursday. “We will have a final tally of comments when the public comment period ends on Jan. 9.”
The planned Environmental Management Disposal Facility would replace the 16-year-old Environmental Management Waste Management Facility, which is expected to run out of space in the mid-2020s.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) said in comments filed Oct. 25 that DOE might need to modify the landfill design somewhat to address groundwater concerns before it endorses the new facility.
Tennessee does not allow use of “underdrains,” which have been proposed by the Energy Department. These underdrains beneath waste are used to collect and carry water away from the landfill. “Failure of underdrains could make the landfill less stable and allow water to get into the waste,” TDEC said. The state comments did not say how many underdrains would be used.
Generally speaking, Tennessee questioned if the landfill design has fully accounted for the state’s wet weather.
“Interaction between the state and the DOE is ongoing,” TDEC spokeswoman Kim Schofinski said by email Thursday. “To date, TDEC’s concerns have not been resolved.”
The facility needs approval from the state, DOE, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before it can be built. The Energy Department has not issued a final cost estimate for the project.
Like the old landfill, which has been taking waste since 2002, the new site will be built within the Bear Creek Valley at the Oak Ridge Site.
