ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD

SEPTEMBER 2004

Regular Meeting

Municipal Building, Training Room

September 2, 2004 - 7:30 p.m.

MINUTES

 

Members Present:         Chuck Agle

                                    Shelaine Curd-Hetrick

                                    Ann Huston

                                    Laurel Ensign-Simmons

                                    Tyler Johnson

                                    Aaron Peacock

                                    Al Skyberg

                                    Ellen Smith

Members Absent:         Jimmy Groton (excused)

                                    John Huotari

                                    Mike Maston

                                    Tammy Phillips

City Staff:                     None present

Guests/Visitors: Mark Belvin (DOE)

 

A.        Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. when a full quorum was reached.  All voting was accomplished prior to 9:00 p.m. when the meeting quorum was lost.

1.         Introduction of EQAB members and recognition of visitors

2.         Recognition of Recording Secretary: Tyler Johnson volunteered

3.         Amendments to the Agenda:  Items I.1.a, I.1.b, and I.4.c were considered prior to Al Skyberg’s departure.

4.         Announcements: Several meetings and events added to the Noteworthy Public Meetings section of the agenda

B.         Approval of Minutes from August 5, 2004, enclosed; and March 4, 2004 and June 3, 2004 (available at meeting)

Tyler Johnson made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from August 5, 2004, and Aaron Peacock seconded the motion.  Following discussion of some minor changes, the motion passed, with Tyler Johnson abstaining from the vote.

The minutes from March 4, 2004, and June 3, 2004 were unavailable and will be considered at the next EQAB meeting.

C.        Presentations: There were no presentations scheduled.  Toxco will probably have a presentation for the next EQAB meeting.

D.        High School Representatives (Ann Huston, Laurel Ensign-Simmons)

1.      Ground breaking for the new high school will most likely occur next spring.

2.      The Environmental Club is starting next week – maybe with a new sponsor.  Dr. Ganguly has three Advanced Placement Environmental Science classes and one Genetics class (she still will offer extra credit for students that participate in activities sponsored by EQAB).

3.      America Recycles’ Day activities are being planned.  John Huotari has been attending Anderson County Solid Waste meetings and should have up-to-date information.

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

1.      Remediation plan for Zone 2, East Tennessee Technology Park

Ellen Smith reported on the public meeting held on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 that she and Tyler Johnson attended.  The public’s perception is that the intent should be to turn the site into a useable industrial park.  But, it is not clear that implementing the Preferred Alternative recommended in the Proposed Plan (see Communication Item F.4 below) will achieve the desired outcome.

Amy Fitzgerald provided copies of comments to be considered at the September 7, 2004 Oak Ridge City Council meeting.  Tyler Johnson made a motion to endorse Amy’s comments as submitted, with Al Skyberg seconding.  The motion passed unanimously.

2.      A public meeting was held last week concerning the Environmental Assessment for U-233 Disposition (see Communication Item F.5 below).  Isotek is the contractor undertaking the project, which would process the isotope inventory and place Building 3019 in a safe shutdown mode.

F.         Communications

1.      Notice of Intent to Reissue a Hazardous Waste Post-Closure Permit; STL Knoxville; July 21, 2004

2.      Public Notice for the Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC Petition to Obtain a Waiver to Grant an Extension of Time to Perform the Comprehensive Performance Test Required by 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart EEE for the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator (TSCA) Located at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

3.      Notice of Public Hearing; Intent to Reissue a Hazardous Waste Corrective Action Permit; August 6, 2004

4.      Proposed Plan for Contaminated Soil, Buried Waste, and Subsurface Structures in Zone 2, East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, Tennessee (DOE/OR/01-2110&D3, July 2004) – Available for review at EQAB meeting

5.      EA for the U-233 Disposition, Medical Isotope Production, and Building 3019 Complex Shutdown at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; August 2004 -Available for review at EQAB meeting

G.        Staff Report: No staff report except as noted above.

H.        Planning Commission (Chuck Agle)

1.      Aaron Peacock reported that the Planning Commission is ready to proceed with amendments to existing Greenbelt ordinances.  Chuck Agle concurred and suggested that EQAB be ready to provide input at the Planning Commission Policy Workshop on Thursday, September 9, 2004.  Chuck, Shelaine, Aaron, Ellen and Jimmy Groton are planning to meet on the afternoon of Monday, September 6, 2004, to discuss in more detail.

2.      Chuck also reported that sidewalk ordinances are another area of interest for EQAB; in particular, in lieu of sidewalk fees.  Two examples of sidewalk and/or greenway issues were discussed: 1) request to waive sidewalk requirement for Jackson Crossing and 2) rerouting the Emory Valley Greenway. Chuck is interested in Greenways Oak Ridge input on details of walking path requirements. Ellen suggested that Chuck speak with Kahla Gentry about the matter, as she is City liaison to GWOR and is the person that GWOR members look to for planning-related questions.

3.      Ellen Smith presented a copy of a 1994 EQAB study concerning a road connecting Gum Hollow Road through the Pin Hook Branch crossing.  The developers of Country Club Estates are again proposing a similar road.  Chuck will ensure that the Planning Commission receives copies of the 1994 report for the Policy Workshop.

I.          Committee Reports

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

a.   Local Oversight Committee (LOC; Ellen Smith, Chair)

Ellen reported that the joint LOC – LOC CAP meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2004, at the K-25 cafeteria.  There will be a presentation on air quality and ozone issues.

b.   LOC CAP (Al Skyberg)

Al reported that the BNFL super-compactor is being dismantled and will be scrapped.

c.   Stewardship Team (Tyler Johnson): Next meeting at the DOE Information Center on Tuesday, September 21, 2004.

d.   CROET (Jimmy Groton): No report.

e.   Stormwater Management: No report.

f.    Health Effects activities: Next meeting at the Oak Ridge Mall, Alpine Room on September 14, 2004.

g.   Other: None.

2.   Resource Conservation and Management (Chair)

a.   Anderson County Solid Waste activities (John Huotari): see discussion concerning America Recycles’ Day in item D.3.

b.   Tree-planting follow-up: Tyler Johnson reported that the trees appear to be doing OK.  Ellen indicated that this has been a very good year for new trees to prosper because of the abundance of rain.

c.   Other: None

3.   Urban Design (Tyler Johnson, Chair)

Two candidates for 2004 Environmental Quality Awards were identified: 1) Chinn properties at the new Social Security Building on the east end of the Turnpike and 2) ORAU expanded auditorium facilities.

4.   Greenbelts & Open Space (Jimmy Groton, Chair)

a.   Greenways Oak Ridge: see discussion concerning Greenways at item H.2 above.

b.   Greenbelt ordinance(s): see discussion concerning Greenbelt ordinances at item H.1 above.

c.   Secret City Hiking Days

Al Skyberg made a motion for EQAB to become one of the sponsoring groups for the October 16th and 17th hikes.  Aaron Peacock seconded the motion which carried unanimously.

d.   Other: None.

5.   Special Projects

Beaver Dam near Big Turtle Park: no discussion at this meeting.

J.          Unfinished Business: None.

K.        New Business: None.

L.         Adjournment by unanimous consent at 10:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

                                                           

Tyler Johnson, Recording Secretary

Noteworthy Public Meetings and Events

Tuesday, August 31, 2004 – DOE/SSAB Public Meeting on Accident Investigations for May 8 and May 14, 2004, Accidents. 6 pm, American Museum of Science and Energy

Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17, 2004 (tentative) – Secret City Hiking Days

Wednesday, September 8, 2004 – ORRSSAB public meeting concerning the intention to build a road connecting ETTP and the EM Waste Disposal Cell in Bear Creek Valley

Tuesday, September 14, 2004 – LOC & LOC CAP Joint Meeting, 6:00 p.m. at the K-25 cafeteria, Air Quality and Ozone Issues

Tuesday, September 14, 2004 – Health Effects Committee Meeting , 12:00 – 5:45 p.m., Oak Ridge Mall Alpine Room

Tuesday, September 21, 2004 – Long-term Stewardship Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m. at the DOE Information Center

Sunday, September 26, 2004 – Public hike on Solway Bend, Larry Pounds will lead

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Last updated October 18, 2004