FAQ

1. IDENTIFY - Hazards to people and the environment include some
   chemicals and radiation if they are not handled in the right way. DOE
   identified the main sources of hazardous chemicals and radiation in
   the X-326 process building.
2. REMOVE- DOE removed and safely disposed many of these sources
   before demolition started. Removal of these chemical and radiation
   sources before demolition prevents them from being broken up and
   spreading through the air during demolition.
3.  CONTROL - DOE is using technologies, including a tacky fixative (like a sticky spray paint) and water sprays, on X-326 to keep dust from forming and spreading during demolition.  Dust can carry contamination through the air.  Preventing dust from forming traps contamination in the X-326 site.  DOE also uses mesh netting to capture larger, light weight items.  Another control is that DOE stops demolition work when there is a hard wind (steady above 15 miles per hour at about 32 feet off the ground).  All of these controls keep contamination in the X-326 site so it can be safely managed as debris and disposed. Trucks used to take the debris to the On Site Waste Disposal Facility have a tarp and sealed end gates to keep contamination from spreading.

4. MONITOR- As an additional safeguard, DOE actively monitors air in and
around the X-326 project site for both chemical and radiation contamination.
Some monitors collect real time data and have warning systems in place if air
contamination is above an action level.

View Air Monitoring Map

New air monitors and alarms have been put in place on-site and off-site to detect air contamination (both chemical and radiation) during cleanup of the X-326 building. View Air Monitoring Map Some of the monitors collect real time data and have alarms to provide warning if action levels are detected. Other monitors collect air samples on a daily or weekly basis for laboratory analyses. 

DOE has used a scientific model to place the air monitors in the best locations to pick up any air contamination from X-326 cleanup. View Air Monitoring Map Real time monitoring will be done throughout the day to ensure work is not causing air contamination above action or protective limits. 

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) also operate 23 air monitors as part of their independent sampling role.

Air monitoring data will be made available to the public in weekly and quarterly reports on-line and in print. The Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will post data on a monthly or quarterly basis on their websites. A joint posting of monitoring data from Ohio EPA, ODH and DOE will also take place quarterly on DOE’s PEGASIS system. Each year, the data will be published in the Annual Site Environmental Report. Real-time monitors will alert if radiation or chemical levels reach a certain action level. If that level means that the public nearby the site should be notified, the site will work with the Pike County Sheriff to use emergency communications methods (pole-mounted sirens, local media, one-call to neighbors, etc.) for neighbors within the established Emergency Planning Zone (within 2.7 miles of the site).

action levels have been set by DOE as a way to trigger action well before coming close to the protective limit.

If air contamination goes above any action level, cleanup work will be slowed down or suspended by the Demolition Project Manager. DOE and the contractor will always have the authority to stop work. Every worker has authority to stop work for safety issues. action levels are discussed in the Section F.3.3.6 of the attached X-326 Air Monitoring Plan.

DOE has a plan to notify contacts if air contamination is higher than certain action levels. Depending on the action level, DOE would notify local emergency management agencies, Ohio EPA, ODH, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. If the action level means that the public nearby the site should be notified, the site will work with the Pike County Sheriff to use emergency communications methods (pole-mounted sirens, local media, one-call to neighbors, etc.) for neighbors within the established Emergency Planning Zone (within 2.7 miles of the site).

The air monitors are currently operational. The air monitors surrounding the X-326  building include near- and farther out locations. This network allows detection of air contamination early  and near X-326 so  actions can  be taken in time, if needed, to correct any sources of higher air contamination  Specific details of the near-field  air monitoring system for X-326  are included in the attached X-326  Process Building Above-Grade Demolition  Air Monitoring Plan (X-326 Air Monitoring Plan).

Monitoring locations have been determined  based on meteorological data, a scientific air model, and joint Ohio EPA and DOE observations at  the site. Samples are collected by DOE, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency  [Ohio EPA] and Ohio Department of Health  [ODH]. The samples are collected at different times based on the available monitoring  instruments and regulatory guidance. These  sampling approaches are further explained in  the following bullets: 

• Continuous: Continuous sampling and real time read outs 
• Weekly continuous: Continuous sampling  with the filter collected/replaced once per  week and combining 4 weekly filters into  one monthly sample for analysis 
• Daily: Sampling daily during active work  hours (continuous for 8 to 10 hours with one  daily sample) 
• 1:6 day 24-hr: One 24-hour sample is taken  every 6 days
• 1:6 day 10-hr: One 10-hour  sample is taken every 6 days 
• Weekly 24-hr: One 24-hour sample is taken  every week 
• Monthly 24-hr: One 24-hour sample is taken  every month 

In summary, a network of air monitors are in  place and currently operating.

Occasional small spikes in monitoring data are not a danger as the established protective levels provide a significant safety margin.  All data are reviewed constantly by the Environmental Protection organization to see if any spikes can be explained and appropriate actions are taken to prevent reoccurrences.  All monitoring data is presented and discussed at scheduled project team meetings as well to ensure field projects are aware of any monitoring data spikes or trends and understand the potential causes and necessary actions to further minimize impacts.