Duratek Pays $300K for Radioactive Release
By The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
Jan. 3–A $300,000 settlement against Oak Ridge contractor Duratek Federal Services was announced today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Knoxville.
Duratek was charged with discharging radioactive material on Sept. 24, 2002, from a contact water pond at a disposal facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The company — which has since merged with Envirocare and BNG America to form EnergySolutions — provided management and operation services, nuclear waste processing, transportation and disposal services, and engineering and consulting services to the Department of Energy.
The violation resulted from the release of 350,000 to 400,000 gallons of water containing radionuclides into Bear Creek, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney, which stated that no permanent damage or health consequences resulted.
The release also said the company took immediate steps to insure compliance with state and federal regulations.
Duratek Federal Services pleaded guilty Dec. 20.
The company agreed to pay:
–$240,000 to the Radiation Reclamation Trust Fund/Perpetual Care Trust Fund earmarked for cleanup and expenditures for the ATG Facility on Bear Creek Road in Anderson County. Duratek may dedicate additional resources to address the radioactive contamination at the ATG facility;
–$20,000 to TVA’s Police Criminal Investigative Division for training, equipment and support.
–$20,000 to the Southern Environmental Enforcement Network Inc. for training local, state and federal regulators and law enforcement agents and officers.
–$5,000 each to the Economic Crimes Fund for the 7th Judicial District through the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office and the 9th District’s fund, through the Roane County District Attorney’s Office.
–$10,000 in a federal fine.
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DRTK,