An overview of the major progress in the environmental restoration program at the Savannah River site

The SRS vision of demonstrating major environmental remediation progress is being achieved to a high degree. In FY91 four large RCRA waste sites have received state (SCDHEC) certification of successful closure. These sites include the M, F and H area seepage basins (8 total), and the Mixed Waste Management Facility (MWMF). Combined, they encompass about 85 acres of remediation work, and originally the basins represented a capacity for treatment of over 85 million gallons of effluent annually from various separation and fuel manufacturing processes. We believe that the MWMF is the largest closure of its kind (i.e. mixed solid waste) accomplished in the DOE complex, and perhaps in the world. The F and H seepage basins may similarly be the largest closures of their type achieved to date. Also particularly noteworthy is that these projects, which had various challenging aspects, were completed in a relatively short time, on schedule and with certain cost savings. A Total Quality approach which is described has been integral to our progress. Other significant closures, such as the acid/caustic basins (four) and the metallurgical laboratory basin, have also been initiated. In total, 23 additional investigation plans have been submitted to the regulators for approval, and another 29 are currently in preparation. Again, we are committed to environmental remediation progress, and continue to pursue progressive initiatives to further demonstrate waste site closure accomplishments