ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD

 

                                                                FEBRUARY 2004

 

                                                                Regular Meeting

                                                    Municipal Building, Training Room

                                                Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 7:30 p.m.

 

                                                                     MINUTES

 

A.         Call to Order

 

            The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

1.         Introduction of EQAB members and recognition of visitors:

 

            Members Present:                       Visitors:                                                Staff:

 

            Ellen Smith, Chair                       Mark Belvin, DOE                                  Amy Fitzgerald

            Chuck Agle                                John Michael Japp, DOE

            Shelaine Curd-Hetrick                 Joe Williams, Bechtel Jacobs                   Members Absent:

Jimmy Groton                            David Whitehead, Bechtel Jacobs

            John Huotari                              Dennis Hill, Bechtel Jacobs                      Charlie Burger   

            Tyler Johnson                            Julie Miller, Bechtel Jacobs                      Ann Huston

            Mike Maston                              Norman Mulvenon, LOC/SSAB/LWV       Sara Sams

            Aaron Peacock                                                                                       Al Skyberg

                                                           

2.         Recognition of Recording Secretary:         Amy Fitzgerald

 

3.         Amendments to the Agenda:        At the request of the Chair, the presentation was moved ahead of other agenda items to accommodate the presenter.

           

            4.         Announcements: None.

 

B.         Presentation

 

            Joe Williams of Bechtel Jacobs gave an update on DOE's Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF), with a particular emphasis on the recently installed under drain.  He noted that the drain was designed to hold approximately 50 times more flow than needed per the model.  A number of questions and issues were discussed, including security issues, cost of the drain ($2.8 million), fill material, records management and other closure/post-closure plans.  Mr. Williams indicated that the current Record of Decision (ROD) allows for a build-out of 1.7M yd3 and that plans were underway to increase the capacity from the current 0.4M yd3 to 1.2M yd3.  He added that the current CERCLA waste generation forecast was 1.9M yd3 and that DOE/Bechtel Jacobs will seek either an amendment to the ROD or an Explanation of Significant Difference by October 2004 to authorize an expansion of the facility to accommodate the additional waste as projected. He anticipated a maximum site capacity 30% design by July of this year, and complete design by June 2005.  If approved, construction would begin on the final expansion of the facility in December 2005; construction would be completed in April 2007.

 

C.         Approval of Minutes from January 8, 2004

 

            A motion was made to approve the January minutes. Upon second, the minutes were discussed and several minor corrections were made.  The minutes, as corrected, were approved by a 7-0 vote; Tyler Johnson abstained since he was not in attendance at the January meeting.

 

D.         High School Representatives (Sara Sams, Ann Huston)

 

            None.

 

E.         Report on DOE-related matters (from EQAB Regulatory Oversight Committee and DOE representative Mark Belvin). 

 

            Mark had no items to report.  Ellen reported that she and Amy participated in the National Academies of Science committee meeting on Opportunities for Accelerating Characterization and Treatment of Waste at DOE Nuclear Weapons Sites on January 20th.  Several stakeholders made a presentation to the committee.

           

F.         Communications

 

None.

 

G.         Staff Report

 

Amy reported that (1) Duratek had asked to allow that license amendments be sent via e-mail and Amy requested that copies continue to be sent via regular mail to help ensure continuity; (2) Jim O'Connor, City Administrator of St. Charles, Missouri, had been selected for the City Manager position by Council; (3) she would not be in attendance at the March EQAB meeting due to her participation in the Energy Communities Alliance conference; and (4) she had spoken to Larry Bailey in the Recreation and Parks Department who confirmed that city staff was not planning to submit an Urban Forestry Grant this year due to the fact that the grant award is still in effect.  Amy and members discussed the need and desire to continue monthly meetings of EQAB if there is no official city business on the agenda.  After considerable discussion, there did not appear to be a consensus among the members.  Ellen expressed a desire to discuss the matter further and Tyler suggested that EQAB have a meeting to look at how the group conducts its business.

 

H.         Planning Commission (Chuck Agle)

 

            Chuck reported that the Regional Planning Commission was officially reconstituted as the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission at the recent City Council meeting. The commission now has ten members.  He provided an update on several proposed rezonings, including the proposed Professional Services PUD near the Masonic Lodge, and an update on the sketch plat for Oak Ridge Summit.  A discussion ensued regarding the ownership of the detention ponds on the Oak Ridge Summit development.  A motion was made by Jimmy Groton to transmit a memo to the Planning Commission recommending that (1) detention basins and storm water systems be maintained in common ownership--such as a property owners' association--to ensure proper maintenance, operation, and protection of resources; and (2) steep slopes be maintained or restored with forest vegetation to mimic the natural condition, reduce erosion and assist in stabilizing the steep slopes.  Upon second by Mike Maston, the motion was passed by unanimous vote.          

 

I.          Committee Reports

1.         Regulatory Oversight (items not covered under E) (Ellen Smith, Chair)

a.          Local Oversight Committee (LOC).  Ellen reported that the LOC sent a letter to the New Mexico environmental agency expressing concern that the existing permit didn't cover some of the Oak Ridge Reservation's waste, e.g. Core 8.  She added that the existing officers were re-elected to an additional term.

b.         LOC CAP (Al Skyberg).  None.

c.         Stewardship Team (Tyler Johnson).  Tyler reported that the SSAB Stewardship Committee was preparing an annotated outline for DOE's use as the agency writes its stewardship implementation plan for the Oak Ridge Reservation.

d.         CROET (Jimmy Groton).  None

e.          Storm water Management.  A handout on storm water runoff was distributed; the Ohio State Extension Service produced the document.

f.          Health Effects activities.  Ellen reported that a letter of endorsement was sent to ATSDR in support of Al Skyberg's application for membership on the Health Effects Panel.

g.         Other

2.         Resource Conservation and Management (Chair Vacant)

a.          Anderson County Solid Waste activities.  None.

b.         Tree-planting follow-up.  Ellen reported that spoke to Charlie Burger, who said he thinks the Urban Forestry grant could be amended to allow for tree planting in additional locations within the city.  She also spoke to Jon Hetrick who reported that the Boy Scouts will assist in planting trees in Milt Dickens Park.

c.         Other

3.         Urban Design (Tyler Johnson, Chair).  Ellen noted that EQAB will need to decide who will take over the Urban Design Chair/Awards if Tyler does not reapply for another term on EQAB.

4.         Greenbelts & Open Space (Jimmy Groton, Chair). None.

5.         Special Projects

a.          Karst and Mona Lane.  Ellen noted the letter of complaint that was written by a neighborhood resident and which appeared in the newspaper.

b.         ORHS Stakeholders Committee.   (Ellen Smith).  Ellen reported that the committee had completed their work and the report was presented to the School Board.

 

J.          Unfinished Business

 

K.         New Business

 

Mike reported that he had obtained a rough estimate from the Rogers Group regarding Ernie’s Creek of $500,000 for a culvert and $1 million for a bridge.  He will continue to research possible sources of revenue, including EPA grant opportunities.

 

Mike also reported that he had received a call from a citizen with questions regarding the posibility of contaminants in the material removed in dredging on Melton Lake and used in soccer field construction.  Mike had followed up with her by verifying that the dredge material would not be used as topsoil.  Amy agreed to follow up to confirm that the material moved to the soccer field was screened before placement.

 

L.         Adjournment

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,                                                  

 

                       

                                                                        _________________________________

                                                                                    Amy S. Fitzgerald

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Last updated May 17, 2004