Senator Casey Successfully Secured Investigation Into Site’s Management
With Community Awaiting Findings, Casey Requests Update, Timely Findings
Washington DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has written the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Inspector General (NRC IG) inquiring about the status of an ongoing investigation into an abandoned nuclear site in Armstrong County. Last year, Senator Casey successfully secured an investigation of the site’s management and continues to push for answers on behalf of the community. In his letter to the IG, Casey called for the results to be published in a timely fashion.
“Residents of Armstrong County and Southwestern Pennsylvania have a reasonable expectation that the results of this investigation be produced in a timely manner,” Senator Casey said. “Today I’m asking the IG for an update on where the investigation stands so the community can get answers to critical questions.”
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter can be seen below:
The Honorable Hubert T. Bell
Inspector General
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
11555 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Dear Inspector General Bell:
I write to inquire about the status of the ongoing investigation of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Inspector General (NRCIG) regarding the Shallow Land Disposal Area (SLDA) nuclear waste disposal site in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. As you know, in June 2012, I formally requested the NRCIG to investigate the NRC’s multi-agency coordination efforts, with specific attention to engagement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The purpose of this letter is to request an update on the status of this investigation.
As you are aware, the NRC previously oversaw decommissioning of the site, and is on record proposing to allow the licensee to implement a plan to decommission the site with modified stabilization of the waste trenches in place. This position was a concern to my constituents, as it would have placed permanent restrictions on the use of the site, made it unavailable to the community for development, and created hazards if institutional controls of the site were lost. Under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP), USACE was subsequently placed in charge of the site clean-up.
It is of critical importance that the public receive the results of this study in a timely fashion in order for stakeholders to fully understand the NRC’s past role with the site and ensure appropriate next steps are taken moving forward. My office has been engaged with all of the federal agencies involved with the cleanup efforts and will continue to advocate for the community’s best interests. Furthermore, it is imperative that the cleanup of the site meet the highest standard for protecting human health and the environment. I appreciate your attention to my concerns on this very serious matter.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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