A public meeting to discuss the final phase of the capping of the Maxey Flats Disposal site in Fleming County will be held Tuesday (Feb. 3).
Kentucky Energy and Environmental Cabinet Internal Policy Analyst Virginia Lewis said the meeting will be held from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Kentucky National Guard Armory Readiness Center at 4911 Kentucky 801 North in Morehead.
During the meeting, the public will have the opportunity to learn about the Maxey Flats project and question officials with the KEEC.
The Maxey Flats Nuclear Disposal site accepted radioactive waste from 1963 until 1977. The EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 1986 because of contaminated soil, surface water and ground water resulting from facility operations.
According to Gov. Steve Beshear, Maxey Flats is the largest Superfund site in Kentucky.
The cleanup of the site took place in steps, according to Environmental Technologist 3 Tom Stewart.
First, there were studies to determine the best options for the facility. In 1988, EPA emergency response officials solidified 286,000 gallons of radioactive contaminated trench water.
In March 1991, the response team disposed of the solidified water in an underground trench and installed 30 acres of a temporary above-ground impermeable sheet to prevent infiltration of rain.
Between 1992 and 1995, there were lengthy negotiations about who should incur the costs of the cleanups. It was finally decided there would be a list compiled of those who dumped at the site. A demaximus list, which consisted of 50 companies and people, included those who dumped massive amounts at the site and the deminimus list, of more than 300, included those who had dumped at some point or another.
In September 1998, Phase I officially began. During this phase, a concrete bunker was constructed to dispose of the solidified waste. Approximately 900,000 gallons of contaminated water was processed in this phase.
Following completion of Phase I, construction of an interim cap began. The cap was put in place to prevent water infiltration. A groundwater channel to redirect water away from the waste was also put in place.
According to Stewart, the cap is strong enough to hold vehicles regularly.
In 2003, a certificate from the EPA officially ended the remedial phase and the project was considered to be in the Interim Maintenance Phase.
During this phase, the project would undergo initial cap maintenance, trench management, instillation of a new flow barrier for the water, if needed, and site maintenance and monitoring.
In 2007, a five-year review from the EPA shows the site to be "functioning as intended." And earlier this year, it was declared that the flow barrier would not need replacing.
In 2009, the Kentucky Division of Waste Management, at the recommendation of the EPA, initiated a feasibility study to evaluate natural stabilization progress, estimated costs, and define management requirements. The study concluded that natural stabilization had occurred.
In April 2013, the Kentucky General Assembly approved over $35 million to cover the funding of a permanent cap.
In September 2013, the Division of Waste Management officially requested to move from IMP to the final closure period.
Construction of the final cap is planned for later this year and is expected to be completed by 2016, Beshear said in 2013.
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