PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
 

EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL EXPOSURES TO CONTAMINATED OFF-SITE GROUNDWATER FROM THE OAK RIDGE RESERVATION (USDOE)
OAK RIDGE, ANDERSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

EPA FACILITY ID: TN1890090003

July 2006

Prepared by:

Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS

I. SUMMARY

I.A. Scope of this Public Health Assessment
I.B. ATSDR's Evaluation of Exposure to Contaminated Off-Site Groundwater

II. BACKGROUND

II.A. Site Description
II.B. Site Geology/Hydrogeology
II.C. Off-Site Groundwater Data
II.D. East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) Watershed
Operational History
Geology/Hydrogeology
Contamination at ETTP
Off-Site Groundwater Monitoring Data
ATSDR Conclusion for the ETTP Watershed
II.E. Bethel Valley Watershed and Melton Valley Watersheds
Operational History
Geology/Hydrogeology
Contamination in Bethel Valley and Melton Valley
Off-Site Groundwater Monitoring Data
ATSDR Conclusion for Bethel Valley and Melton Valley Watersheds
II.F. Bear Creek and Upper East Fork Poplar Creek Watersheds
Operational History
Geology/Hydrogeology
Contamination at Bear Creek Valley and UEFPC Watersheds
Off-Site Groundwater Monitoring Data
ATSDR's Conclusion for Bear Creek Valley and UEFPC Watersheds
II.G. Land Use and Natural Resources
II.H. Demographics

III. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND POTENTIAL EXPOSURE PATHWAYS

IV. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

V. HEALTH OUTCOME DATA EVALUATION

VI. COMMUNITY HEALTH CONCERNS

VII. CONCLUSIONS

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS

IX. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION PLAN

X. PREPARERS OF REPORT

XI. REFERENCES

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A. ATSDR Glossary of Environmental Health Terms
Appendix B. Site Geology and Hydrology
Appendix C. Public Comments

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Contaminants Detected Above Comparison Values in Seeps or Springs Near ETTP
Table 2: Contaminants Detected Above Comparison Values in Monitoring Wells in the Bethel Valley and Melton Valley Watersheds
Table 3: Substances Detected Above CVs in Seeps or Springs Near the Y-12 Complex
Table 4: Contaminants Detected in Monitoring Wells Near the Y-12 Complex
Table 5: Radionuclides Detected Above CVs in Monitoring Wells Near the Y-12 Complex
Table 6: Population of Surrounding Counties from 1940 to 2000
Table 7: JEM Groundwater Screening Model Variables for Vapor Intrusion of Carbon Tetrachloride1 into the Building that Overlays the Off-Site EEVOC Groundwater Plume
Table 8: Estimated Vapor Concentration of Carbon Tetrachloride in the Office Building that Overlays the Off-Site EEVOC Groundwater Plume
Table 9: Exposure Pathways
Table 10: Community Health Concerns from the Oak Ridge Reservation Community Health Concerns Database and ATSDR Responses
Table B-1: Hydrogeology of the Formations Underlying the Oak Ridge Reservation (USGS 2004)

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Location of the Oak Ridge Reservation
Figure 2: On-Site Groundwater Monitoring Locations at ETTP
Figure 3: Conceptual Model of Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport at ETTP
Figure 4: Off-Site Groundwater Sampling Locations Near ETTP
Figure 5: Major Remedial Activities in Bethel Valley
Figure 6: Conceptual Model of Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport in Bethel Valley
Figure 7: Surface Water and Shallow Groundwater Flow in Melton Valley
Figure 8: Off-Site Groundwater Sampling Locations Near ORNL
Figure 9: Cross-sectional Diagram of Pine Ridge and Chestnut Ridge in the Y-12 Vicinity
Figure 10: Bear Creek Valley Zones 1, 2, and 3
Figure 11: Conceptual Model of Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport at the Y-12 Complex
Figure 12: East End VOC Plume Conceptual Model
Figure 13: Estimated Extent of the EEVOC Plume in Union Valley
Figure 14: Off-Site Groundwater Sampling Locations Near the Y-12 Complex
Figure 15: Demographics Within 5 Miles of ORR
Figure 16: Demographics within 1 and 3 miles of the Y-12 Complex
Figure B-1: Geologic Map of the ORR and Groundwater Contaminant Plumes
Figure B-2: Gaining (Left) and Losing (Right) Streams and Associated Groundwater Flow Direction
Figure B-3: Groundwater System Involving the Hyporheic Zones (Alley et. al 2002)
Figure B-4: Groundwater Flow Times

ACRONYMS

ALARA	as low as reasonably achievable
ALI	annual limits on intake
ALS	amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AOEC	Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics
ATSDR	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Bq	becquerel
BSCP	Background Soil Characterization Project
CDC	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ce 144	cerium 144
CED	committed effective dose
CEDR	Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource
CERCLA	Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CFRF	consolidated fuel recycling facility
Ci	curie
cm	centimeter
Co 60	cobalt 60
COC	contaminant of concern
COPD	chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CRM	Clinch River mile
Cs 137	cesium 137
D&D	decontaminating and decommissioning
DCF	dose conversion factor
DDREF	dose and dose rate effectiveness factor
DOE	U.S. Department of Energy
EDE	effective dose equivalent
EE/CA	Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis
EEVOC	East End Volatile Organic Compound (plume)
EFPC	East Fork Poplar Creek
EMEG	Environmental media Evaluation Guides
EPA	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ERAMS	Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System
ETTP	East Tennessee Technology Park
FACA	Federal Advisory Committee Act
FAMU	Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University
FDA	Food and Drug Administration
FFA	Federal Facility Agreement
FFAB	Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
GAAT	gunite and associated tanks
GAO	General Accounting Office
Gy	gray
H3	tritium
HF	hydrofracture facility
HFIR	high flux isotope reactor
Hg	mercury
HRE	homogeneous reactor experiment
HRSA	Health Resources Services Administration
IAG	interagency agreement
ICRP	International Commission on Radiological Protection
IHP	intermediate holding pond
IROD	Interim Record of Decision
I 131	iodine 131
ISV	in situ vitrification
IWMF	interim waste management facility
JEM	Johnson-Ettinger Model
LEFPC	Lower East Fork Poplar Creek
LET	Linear Energy Transfer
LLLW	liquid low-level waste
LNT	linear no-threshold
LTHA	lifetime health advisory
LWBR	Lower Watts Bar Reservoir
MCL	maximum contaminant level
MCLG	maximum contaminant level goal
MEPAS	Multimedia Environmental Pollutant Assessment System
MeV	million electron volts
mg/kg	milligrams per kilogram
mg/L	milligrams per liter
mGy	milligray
mrem	millirem
µCi/mL	microcuries per milliliter
µg/L	micrograms per liter
µR/hr	microroentgen per hour
MRL	minimal risk level
MS	multiple sclerosis
MSRE	molten salt reactor experiment
mSv	millisievert
MVST	Melton Valley storage tanks
mya	million years ago
Nb 95	niobium 95
NCEH	National Center for Environmental Health
NCRP	National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements
NESHAP	National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
NHF	new hydrofracture facility
NIOSH	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NOAEL	no observed adverse effect level
NPDES	National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPL	National Priorities List
NRC	U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
OHF	Old Hydrofracture Facility
OREIS	Oak Ridge Environmental Information System
ORGDP	Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant
ORHASP	Oak Ridge Health Agreement Steering Panel
ORNL	Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORR	Oak Ridge Reservation
ORRHES	Oak Ridge Reservation Health Effects Subcommittee
OSWER	Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
OU	operable unit
P&A	plugging and abandonment
PAG	FDA protective action guide
PCB	polychlorinated biphenyl
pCi	picocurie
pCi/L	picocurie per liter
PCM	Poplar Creek mile
PDF	portable document format
PHAP	Public Health Action Plan
PHAWG	Public Health Assessment Work Group
ppb	parts per billion
ppm	parts per million
PWSB	process waste sludge basin
PWTP	Process Waste Treatment Plant
rad	radiation absorbed dose
RAR	Remedial Action Report
RBC	Risk Based Concentration
RCRA	Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RER	remediation effectiveness report
RfC	reference concentration
RfD	reference dose
RI/FS	Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
RMEG	Reference Dose Media Evaluation Guides
ROD	Record of Decision
Ru 106	ruthenium 106
SDWA	Safe Drinking Water Act
SDWIS	Safe Drinking Water Information System
SNF	spent nuclear fuel
SRS	sediment retention structure
Sr 90	strontium 90
Sv	sievert
SWSA	solid waste storage area
TDEC	Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
TDOH	Tennessee Department of Health
TRM	Tennessee River Mile
TRU	transuranic waste
TSCA	Toxic Substances Control Act
TSF	tower shielding facility
TVA	Tennessee Valley Authority
TWRA	Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
U 233	uranium 233
USACE	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
VOC	volatile organic compound
WAC	waste acceptance criteria
WAG	waste area grouping
WBRIWG	Watts Bar Reservoir Interagency Work Group
WIPP	waste isolation pilot plant
WOC	White Oak Creek
WOCE	White Oak Creek Embayment
WR	radiation weighting factor
WT	tissue weighting factor
Zr 95	zirconium 95

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