Corps to host Shallow Land Disposal Area Virtual Public Information Session

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District
Published Nov. 23, 2021
Pittsburgh and Buffalo districts’ staff will present an update to the public on the project’s status, results of the annual environmental monitoring, upcoming site activities and other topics of public interest for the Shallow Land Disposal Area site, Dec. 9. The information session will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Pittsburgh and Buffalo districts’ staff will present an update to the public on the project’s status, results of the annual environmental monitoring, upcoming site activities and other topics of public interest for the Shallow Land Disposal Area site, Dec. 9. The information session will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

WHO: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh and Buffalo districts

WHAT: Pittsburgh and Buffalo districts’ staff will present an update to the public on the project’s status, results of the annual environmental monitoring, upcoming site activities and other topics of public interest for the Shallow Land Disposal Area site. The information session will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Participants will be able to ask questions before the meeting by emailing their questions to CELRP-PA@usace.army.mil or through the question submission form at https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Planning-Programs-Project-Management/Key-Projects/Shallow-Land-Disposal-Area/Public-Meeting-Question-Submission/. Questions sent via email or the question submission form must be submitted before 3 p.m. on Dec. 9.

Participants will be able to submit questions during the meeting through the WebEx chat.      

WHERE: Login instructions for the 2021 virtual public meeting can be found here: https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Portals/72/Invitation%20and%20Instructions%20SLDA%209Dec2021%20Virtual%20Public%20Information%20Session.pptx

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 9, 7 – 8:15 p.m.

WHY: The Pittsburgh District is hosting this information session to continue its efforts to ensure transparency regarding the Corps of Engineers’ progress on remediation of the SLDA.

 

Background

The SLDA site, encompassing 44 acres of privately owned land, is located approximately 23 miles east-northeast of Pittsburgh in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. It is on the right bank of the Kiskimere River, a tributary of the Allegheny River, near the communities of Apollo and Vandergrift. Radioactive waste disposal operations were conducted between 1960 and 1970 at the site.

As part of work done under Atomic Energy Commission contracts, low-level radioactive materials were produced, primarily for fuel for nuclear-powered submarines and power plants. NUMEC, Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation conducted disposal operations in the early 1960s. ARCO purchased stock in NUMEC in 1967. In 1971, ARCO sold the stock of NUMEC to Babcock & Wilcox, which has changed to BWX Technologies. BWX Technologies is the current owner of the SLDA site.

Disposal regulations were rescinded in 1981 and a 2002 law directed the site be added to the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. The FUSRAP program was initiated to identify, investigate, and clean up or control sites throughout the United States contaminated because of the nation’s atomic weapons and energy programs.

For more information, visit the Corps of Engineers’ SDLA website: https://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Planning-Programs-Project-Management/Key-Projects/Shallow-Land-Disposal-Area/. Hardcopy documents related to the site are available online and at the Apollo Memorial Library, 219 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Apollo, PA 15613-1397. Due to their size, the documents are available on disc upon request.

For additional information, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 412-395-7500 or email CELRP-PA@usace.army.mil.


Contact
Carol Vernon
412-395-7500
412-713-4626 (cell)
CELRP-PA@usace.army.mil
412-395-7503 (fax)
1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Release no. 21-022