MAINE YANKEE CHRONOLOGY

OVERVIEW

The Maine Yankee facility was built over a period of time starting in 1968 through 1972. Maine Yankee is a former nuclear power electrical generating plant that ceased generating electricity after twenty-five years in August 1997. Between September 1997 through June 2005, the plant was decommissioned and dismantled. A few structures remain on site, including the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation and an electrical switchyard. The Department of Environmental Protection’s jurisdiction is limited to oversight of the non-radiological, chemical constituents. Oversight of radiological concerns is provided by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Maine Department of Human Services. The Maine Yankee site was investigated for the presence of petroleum and hazardous wastes using the corrective action process prescribed by the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and State of Maine Hazardous Waste Management Rules 06-096. Maine Yankee has performed site investigations, remedial actions and determined the extent of residual contamination remaining on site. Multiple investigations and removal actions were completed and corrective measures were designed to remove and control the migration of petroleum and hazardous wastes that had been discharged on site. A restrictive covenant is required to be placed on a portion of the site identified as Bailey Point and a thirty year groundwater monitoring program is in place to monitor groundwater quality and flow direction at the site.

January 1966 Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company is incorporated.
Maine Yankee property eventually totaled approximately 820 acres.

1968 through 1972 Construction of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Plant occurs.

December 18, 1996 Last day of plant operation.

August 7, 1997 Permanent cessation of plant operation

October 1997 through June 2005 Maine Yankee plant dismantled.

November 1998 The 1992 initial RCRA Facility Assessment amended. Assessments are used to identify areas of interest where oil and hazardous materials are managed, used or stored.

May 1999 Submits permit application to Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) for Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) construction.

April 26, 2000 State of Maine Law signed mandating an unrestricted release criteria for radionuclides of 10 mrem/yr for all pathways and 4 mrem/yr for groundwater. In addition, required DEP to oversee and complete a cumulative risk assessment.

June 12, 2000 Open House with all regulatory agencies including US Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission present to meet with local residents.

July 2000 BEP approves construction of the ISFSI.

February 2001 RCRA Closure plan submitted for approval for Interim TSD license. Closure plans describe how hazardous wastes will be removed and the storage area will be cleaned.

May 2001 Proposed work plan for RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) receives approval. Plan describes how the site will be investigated for presence of contaminants. Property divided into six distinct study areas.

May 23, 2001 Public Meeting in Wiscasset to present work plan for RCRA RFI.

Fall 2001 RCRA facility investigation work plan is implemented including installation of 63 monitoring wells and sampled. Collection of soil, concrete, sediment, biota, surface water and ground water samples from areas believed to have highest potential for contamination.

Fall 2002 Phase 1A & 1B Sampling programs for soil and groundwater completed.

February 28, 2003 License Termination Plan for Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co. approved by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

March 2004 Backlands RFI completed. Backlands includes 670 of total 820 acres north of Old Ferry Road and west of the Bailey Point.

March 30, 2004 Public meeting to present Backlands RFI to public. Comment period closed April 5, 2004.

August 5, 2004 Backlands area north of Old Ferry Road parcel transferred to Wiscasset for potential redevelopment. 470 acres eventually transferred to Town of Wiscasset, then sold to Point East and transferred to Ferry Road Development Co, LLC. An additional 200 acres were transferred to Chewonki Foundation in a separate transaction including 12 acres on Eaton Farm property including the Relic Dump #2 with an associated Environmental Covenant.

September 2004 Investigation, remediation and closure of Backlands completed.

September 17, 2004 Demolition of containment shell occurs.

November 9, 2004 Public meeting to present Bailey Point RFI to town officials at the Wiscasset Town Office. Bailey Point is approximately 150 acres. Comment period closed on November 15, 2004.

April 6, 2005 Public meeting held to present draft Corrective Measures Study findings. Comment period closed on April 21, 2005.

June 29, 2005 Corrective Measures Study finalized. The Corrective Measures Study evaluated remedial alternatives for the site.

September 30, 2005 Operating license reduced to ISFSI.

November 2005 Discussions begin on Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Planning (NRDAR).

December 2006 Draft restoration plan and settlement agreement available for public comment.

March 2007 Cumulative Risk Assessment finalized. Analysis of combined risk from oil, solvent and radiological contamination remaining on Bailey Point property performed.

November 2007 Compliance Order by Consent entered with Maine Yankee to ensure long term ground water monitoring and environmental covenant requirements will be met.

July 2008 Natural Resources Damages Restoration Plan and Settlement Agreement finalized.

2023 Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) expected to remain on site until at least 2023.

Remediation & Waste Management

MAINE YANKEE CHRONOLOGY