Science-based cleanup of Rocky Flats

The cleanup of plutonium contaminated materials at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapon Plant is discussed. Scientific understanding lays an important role in cleanup decisions and facilitating good project management. AME applied the soil erosion and sediment transport models to the hillslopes and channel systems at RFETS and compared the results with monitoring data to parameterize, initialize, and calibrate the models. The predicted soil erosion was combined with actinide soil-concentration data to generate a map of actinide mobility predicted or a specific storm event. Operators developed a storm water pollution prevention plan, designed to minimize the erosion, sedimentation, and runoff water across the site. As a result of cleanup activities and control measures, surface water and air monitoring stations at the site boundary have actually shown a decrease in actinide migration.