Ohio EPA Flags Flaws in Piketon Nuclear Cleanup Plans

PIKETON, OH - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised fresh concerns about the Department of Energy’s (DOE) handling of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant cleanup in Piketon, Ohio. This came the same day the Ohio EPA sent a letter accusing the federal agency of providing false and misleading information about contamination risks.

In two newly released letters, the Ohio EPA critiques both the DOE’s Sediment Removal Maintenance Action Plan and its 2023 On-Site Waste Disposal Facility (OSWDF) Annual Project Status Report, citing critical flaws in their methods and potential risks to public health and the environment.

Sediment Cleanup: Cumulative Risks Ignored

The Ohio EPA’s review of the sediment removal plan, submitted by the DOE in October 2024, flagged two major issues:

      1. Cumulative Exposure Overlooked: The EPA criticized the DOE for assessing contaminants individually instead of considering their combined impact on the environment and public health. This oversight, the agency warned, could lead to an incomplete understanding of risks.

      2. Inadequate Screening for Soil Safety: The EPA expressed concern over the DOE’s plan to place excavated sediment onto nearby soil, warning that sediment contamination levels were not sufficiently compared to soil safety standards. Without more rigorous evaluation, hazardous substances could be improperly relocated.

Waste Disposal Report: Inaccuracies and Mismanagement

The Ohio EPA’s review of the DOE’s OSWDF report, submitted in November 2024, identified additional deficiencies:

   •     Dilution of Contaminants: The EPA questioned whether surface water infiltration in the waste cell is diluting contaminants, potentially leading to inaccurate readings of contamination levels.

   •     Mislabeled Waste: Some waste categorized as “Parcel 4 Soil” was found to be debris instead, suggesting poor documentation practices that could affect the cleanup’s effectiveness.

   •     Reporting Errors: The DOE misreported the units of measurement for certain contaminants, such as calcium and potassium, raising concerns about data reliability.

Pattern of Misrepresentation?

These criticisms come at the same time as a letter in which the Ohio EPA accused the DOE of misleading the public about contamination risks on Parcel 4 at the Piketon site. As previously reported by Ohio Atomic Press, that letter alleged the DOE provided false information regarding land contamination.

The EPA’s continued scrutiny underscores a troubling pattern of what some local advocates see as inadequate transparency and oversight in the cleanup of one of the nation’s most contaminated nuclear sites.

Historical Context and Local Concerns

The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which once enriched uranium for Cold War-era nuclear programs, ceased operations decades ago but left a toxic legacy of radioactive and chemical contamination. Residents in Piketon and surrounding communities have long expressed concerns about the health risks, including cancer clusters and environmental degradation.

These new findings have reignited calls for accountability and greater oversight, with many in the community questioning whether the DOE is truly prioritizing public safety.

What’s Next?

The Ohio EPA has requested further clarification from the DOE on both the sediment removal and waste disposal plans, calling for more robust evaluation methods and corrections to inaccurate data.

As local watchdogs and environmental groups closely monitor the DOE’s next moves, this latest chapter in the Piketon cleanup saga raises broader questions about the federal government’s commitment to addressing the lingering dangers of its nuclear legacy.

For more updates on this developing story, follow Ohio Atomic Press.