The US Department of Energy Albuquerque Operations Office (DOE-AL) initiated the Comprehensive Environmental Assessment and Response Program (CEARP) to identify, evaluate, and conduct remedial actions at hazardous waste disposal and contamination sites on the eight nuclear weapons development and production installations under its jurisdiction. The CEARP is being implemented in five phases (Phase 1 - Installation Assessment, Phase 2 - Confirmation, Phase 3 - Technological Assessment, Phase 4 - Remedial Action, and Phase 5 - Compliance and Verification). During Phase 1, regulatory compliance was evaluated and disposal/contamination sites were identified. Phase 2 provides the field data for site characterization, risk assessment, determination of need for corrective action, and evaluation of possible remedial actions at hazardous waste sites. Phase 2 is being conducted in two stages (monitoring plan development/reconnaissance sampling and site characterization/remedial investigation). Problem sites across the DOE-AL complex were prioritized for site characterization and CEARP Phase 2 activities have been initiated.

The US Department of Energy's (USDOE) Albuquerque Operations Office installations are being evaluated under its Comprehensive Environmental Assessment and Response program (CEARP). The installations consist of eight weapons development and production facilities, which are located across the United States. The evaluation covers the major environmental regulations, with emphasis on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The CEARP is intended to help fulfill USDOE obligations for federal facilities under the US Environmental Protection Agency (CERCLA Program and constitutes the same basic approach as contained in USEPA guidance to federal facilities. The Program is a phased program to identify, assess, and correct existing and potential environmental concerns relative to these regulations. The five phases are Phase I - Installation Assessment, Phase II - Confirmation, Phase III - Technological Assessment, Phase IV - Remedial Action, and Phase V - Compliance and Verification. Phase I activities and reports should be completed during 1986. The Phase II generic sampling plans, data management plans, health and safety plans, and quality assurance/quality control plans will be prepared during 1986. Significant characterization of CERCLA sites will be initiated during 1987.