The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Remediation of Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (EIS). Completion of the Final EIS is a major milestone in DOE’s mission to clean up the former Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) site at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL).

The Final EIS, which analyzes the potential environmental and community impacts of remediation alternatives for soil, buildings and groundwater, follows the January 2017 release of the Draft EIS. DOE analyzed, considered, and incorporated about 2,200 comments submitted on the Draft EIS. Substantive comments submitted by stakeholders played an important role in the development of the Final EIS.

The Final EIS outlines DOE’s preferred remediation alternatives for Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone, which balance the diverse community and agency input received throughout the EIS process. The preferred cleanup alternatives are based on years of scientific study and analysis, are consistent with the site’s end use as open space, and ensure that Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone will remain safe for nearby communities by protecting human health and the environment. The preferred alternatives are:

• For soils remediation, the Conservation of Natural Resources Alternative, Open Space Scenario. This alternative is consistent with the risk assessment approach typically used at other DOE sites, other California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)-regulated sites, and EPA Superfund sites and accounts for the specific future land use of the site.
• For building demolition, the Building Removal Alternative.
• For groundwater remediation, a combination of the Treatment Alternative and the Monitored Natural Attenuation Alternative.

The next step is for DOE to issue one or more Records of Decision (RODs).  On September 23, 2019, DOE published a ROD to demolish the remaining structures it owns in Area IV and dispose of the debris offsite.  Additional remediation activities will be addressed in subsequent ROD(s).

Download the Final EIS Access the summary, full EIS, or references