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PADUCAH, KY - A team of Department of Energy (DOE) investigators has completed the initial data collection phase of its comprehensive investigation of environment, safety and health concerns at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Responding to concerns raised about worker safety and environmental contamination at Paducah, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson announced immediate actions including the full investigation.

"Our team has gathered a tremendous amount of information during their onsite investigation at Paducah," said David Stadler, Senior Manager of the DOE Investigation Team. "This information will help us determine what actually occurred and what must be done to protect workers, the public and the environment. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to resolve the public and workers’ concerns."

DOE’s two-phase onsite investigation is focusing first on issues and concerns from the past 10 years. The second phase, also underway, involves the examination of the longer-term legacy environment, safety and health issues prior to 1990. These legacy issues are also being evaluated in ongoing reviews of plant records to ascertain use of recycled feed material and worker radiation exposures.

The 14-person team of investigators arrived at the Paducah site on August 17 to examine information on health and safety programs. Team members have reviewed documents, conducted numerous interviews with officials and workers, inspected the site and collected extensive environmental samples.

The environmental sampling has involved the collection of samples from both onsite and offsite groundwater, surface water, and soil and sediment. Samples have also been collected from buildings onsite. The samples will be analyzed by an independent laboratory to determine the full range of chemicals and radionuclides released into the environment as a result of site operations.

The efforts of the oversight investigation team are being closely coordinated with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Team members have also been in contact with area stakeholders and the Paducah Site Specific Advisory Board.

Following an assessment of the data collected, the team will return to Paducah later this month to validate the accuracy of their findings. It is expected that the phase one report will be submitted to Secretary Richardson by early October.

- DOE -

R-99-232