1 - paducah environmental information center

Annual Site Environmental Report for 1999
Environmental Com:plliance
Abstract
The policy 'of DOE and its contractors and subcontractors at the Paducah Site is to conduct operations
safely and minimize the impact of operations on the environment. Protection of the public, environment, and
employees is considered a responsibility of paramount importance. The Paducah Site maintains an
environmenta.' compliance program aimed at meeting all applicable requirements and minimizing impacts;
Introduction
Local, state, and federal agencies, including
DOE? are responsible for enforcing environmental
regulations at the Paducah Site. Principal
regulating agencies are the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Region IV and the
Kentucky Department for Environmental
Protection (KDEP). These agencies issue
permits, review compliance reports, participate
in joint monitoring programs, inspect facilities
and operations, and oversee compliance with
applicable laws and regulations.
The EPA develops, promulgates, and
enforces environmental protection regul~ti~ns
and ,technology.,;based standards as. directed' by
, statutespassed'by the 'U.S. Congress. In some
instances, the. E~A has delegated regulatory
authority to' KDEP when the Kentucky program
mee~ or .exceeds EPA requirements. Where
regulatory authority is not delegated, EPA
Region IV is responsible for reviewing and
evaluating· compliance with EPA regulations as
they pertain to the Paducah Site. Table 2.1
provides a summary of the Paducah Site
environmental permits maintained by' DOE in
1999.
The following is a list of the major
environmental laws and requirements applicable
to the Paducah Site. Each is discussed in this
Section.
• Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA);
• Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA);
• Federal Facilities Compliance (FPC)
Act;
• Toxlcity Characteristic Leaching
Procedure (TCLP) Federal Facilities
Compliance Agreement (FFCA);
• National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA);
Environmental Compliance
2-1