I received the following emailed notice from a local resident who is having trouble posting:

"The Oak Ridge Reservation Natural Resource Damage Assessment: Evaluation of Contaminant-Related Losses in Watts Bar Reservoir and Gains from the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement, Final Draft Report, dated March 25, 2009, has been released. From the Executive Summary, 'A comparison between the ecological and human use services lost due to . . . contamination and the corresponding services provided by the (Black Oak Ridge) easement indicates that the . . . services provided under the Easement are sufficient to compensate for damages . . .'"

"This seems to mean, the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement (BORCE) is deemed adequate recompense to Tennesseans for the toxic elements DOE and its predecessor agencies dumped in Watts Bar. This decision is the result of years of work by and among the Trustees to conduct a natural resource damage assessment, as prescribed in the CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act)."

"The Evaluation will be presented at a public meeting held at the DOE Information Center, 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 on Thursday, July 23, 2009. A presentation will be given at 7:00 p.m., followed by a question and answer period. A 60-day public comment period will be held through August 21, 2009. Written comments may be sent to TDEC, NRDA, Attn: Debbie Duren, 11th Floor L&C Tower, 401 Church St. Nashville, TN 37243. Comments may also be sent via fax at 615.532-0740 or e-mail Debbie @ tn.gov."