DENVER - The Environmental Assessment and Public Input process has ended and the plan to remove five dams at the site of the former weapons plant known as Rocky Flats has been put on hold by the Department of Energy, until all parties can agree on what's next for water leaving the Flats.
"We spent more than $7 billion constructing a remedy for the site assuming the dams are not needed," said Scott Surovchak, Project Manager. "Because several cities still have concerns about water quality safety, we have postponed putting the dam busting plan in place."
The factory was torn down and cleaned up in 2005. Much of the 6,200-acre site was given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in July of 2007. About 1,300 acres, where the munitions plant was located, are still being maintained by DOE. During the original process, more than 800 buildings were cleaned up and removed. Also taken off-site was more than half a million cubic meters of low-level, radioactive waste. What is up for further discussion is the plan to cut holes in the five dams that hold water in a series of ponds.
While the cities are concerned, the DOE isn't, Surovchak saying, "We are confident that the water we trap in our ponds is safe, in fact it is safer than the local standards for drinking water in most front range cities."
Still the folks at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center say they find it hard to trust anything the DOE has to say about Rocky Flats. "The Feds have very little credibility due to all of the untruths that have surrounded activities at the facility over the years. What we say is Rocky Flats be dammed!"
While DOE could issue its final report tomorrow, the Feds are trying to allay any fears of those down stream, by talking things out with all parties.
For more information on the dam-busting process visit www.rmpjc.org or contact:
Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management
Ray Plieness: (970) 248-6091
Scott Surovchak: (720) 377-9682
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Martha Rudolph: (303) 692-2012
Carl Spreng: (303) 692-3358
US Environmental Protection Agency
Vera Moritz: (303) 312-6981
"We spent more than $7 billion constructing a remedy for the site assuming the dams are not needed," said Scott Surovchak, Project Manager. "Because several cities still have concerns about water quality safety, we have postponed putting the dam busting plan in place."
The factory was torn down and cleaned up in 2005. Much of the 6,200-acre site was given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in July of 2007. About 1,300 acres, where the munitions plant was located, are still being maintained by DOE. During the original process, more than 800 buildings were cleaned up and removed. Also taken off-site was more than half a million cubic meters of low-level, radioactive waste. What is up for further discussion is the plan to cut holes in the five dams that hold water in a series of ponds.
While the cities are concerned, the DOE isn't, Surovchak saying, "We are confident that the water we trap in our ponds is safe, in fact it is safer than the local standards for drinking water in most front range cities."
Still the folks at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center say they find it hard to trust anything the DOE has to say about Rocky Flats. "The Feds have very little credibility due to all of the untruths that have surrounded activities at the facility over the years. What we say is Rocky Flats be dammed!"
While DOE could issue its final report tomorrow, the Feds are trying to allay any fears of those down stream, by talking things out with all parties.
For more information on the dam-busting process visit www.rmpjc.org or contact:
Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management
Ray Plieness: (970) 248-6091
Scott Surovchak: (720) 377-9682
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Martha Rudolph: (303) 692-2012
Carl Spreng: (303) 692-3358
US Environmental Protection Agency
Vera Moritz: (303) 312-6981
