Talks Extended Another Month
Kenneth Fletcher
WC Monitor
2/13/2015
In a step forward in resolving discussions between South Carolina, the Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Savannah River tank closure milestones, the parties have agreed to a 27-day extension on one tank and will continue discussions one more month. The issue was elevated a month ago to the dispute resolution committee, and three parties had until this week to come to an agreement. The agreement would give a 27-day extension for Tank 16, which DOE has already said it expects to close by the September 2015 milestone date. However, the second remaining tank under that milestone, Tank 12, remains farther behind schedule and discussions are to continue until March 12.
The talks are the first step in what could be a string of tank closure delays and missed deadlines DOE has attributed to a combination of funding cuts at the site and a change in schedule for the startup of the Salt Waste Processing Facility, among other factors. Citing technical and funding issues, DOE in August requested an extension of the closure dates for Tanks 12H and 16H from September 2015 to December 2016. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control originally agreed to a 27-day extension for both tanks, citing the length of the 2013 government shutdown. The EPA and DHEC questioned the technical issues, and the state also said DOE did not make the efforts necessary to obtain money for the program.
Officials this week struck an optimistic tone on the discussions. “This agreement shows that our dispute resolution process under the Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) works through collaborative discussions,” DOE SR Acting Assistant Manager of Waste Disposition Jim Folk said in a statement. “Our discussions have been very productive; both in the informal and formal process, but with Tank 12 more time is necessary to address a resolution.”
Franklin Hill, EPA Region 4 Superfund Division Director, emphasized that all parties “are negotiating in good faith.” Hill added, “The ability of DOE to reduce document revision times combined with EPA and SCDHEC agreement to reduce review times for the Tank 16 closure demonstrates that all three parties are willing to do what it takes to be successful in Tank Closure. The Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) is designed to allow the 3 parties to work through issues and come to resolution. All parties recognize that there are budgetary constraints. It is the willingness of SRS, SCDHEC and EPA to work collaboratively to address problems that makes the difference,” said Franklin Hill, EPA Region 4 Superfund Division Director.”
Daphne Neel, SCDHEC Chief, Bureau of Land and Waste Management, said in a statement: “SCDHEC is pleased that the closure request for Tank 16 has been pulled back over a year from December 31, 2016 to October 27, 2015. SCDHEC continues to seek a fix to the overall liquid waste problems caused by lack of budget and treatment delay. SCDHEC eagerly anticipates DOE’s offer of a permanent solution to avoid the need for further extensions.”
