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ORAU Supporting Oak Ridge Reservation Integrated Facility Disposition Project
ORAU's Independent Environmental Assessment and Verification programs has begun work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex to support the Integrated Facility Disposition Project. The project, which is being managed by the U.S. Department of Energy-Oak Ridge Office, will dramatically reduce the number of high-risk facilities located throughout the Oak Ridge Reservation.
Disposing of old and contaminated buildings, and remediating soil and groundwater across the Oak Ridge Reservation has long been a priority for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-Oak Ridge Office (ORO). Though much of the work—locally referred to as the Integrated Facility Disposition Project (IFDP)—wasn't expected to begin for another three to four years according to ORO Manager Gerald Boyd, the acquisition of $755 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for the ORO Environmental Management Program has served to jumpstart preliminary remediation activities that will involve ORAU's Independent Environmental Assessment and Verification programs.
In support of the project, ORAU is preparing to lead characterization surveys at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and independent verification activities at ORNL, East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) and the Y-12 National Security Complex. ORAU's $2.9 million scope of work will involve support to DOE in the accelerated cleanup and disposition of deteriorated facilities that will also pave the way for greater footprint (or site) reduction across the reservation.
ORAU's role at ORNL will involve performing waste characterizations and developing waste handling plans and profiles at 34 facilities—most of which were used for offices, storage and research. ORAU survey staff are currently conducting “walk-downs” in preparation for sampling work that is expected to begin this month, as well as completing literature reviews to determine which chemicals or radioactive isotopes were used in the facilities targeted for disposal.
Once characterization surveys begin at ORNL, additional ORAU staff will commence support to DOE by reviewing waste management plans and profiles, as well as performing independent verification of cleanup activities at Y-12. High-risk legacy facilities Alpha-5 and Beta-4, which housed calutrons—or mass spectrometers—used for uranium enrichment, are two of the more notable structures scheduled for remediation. ORAU will also provide technical reviews of waste disposal plans and independent verification services to help prepare gaseous diffusion building K-27 for demolition at ETTP.
“Across the reservation, one of the primary benefits to IFDP is supporting ongoing modernization by eliminating risks involved with legacy buildings,” explained Sarah Roberts, associate director of ORAU's Independent Environmental Assessment and Verification programs.
The additional work has also meant a greater need for experienced staff. According to Roberts, one of the positive effects IFDP is already having on the area is the creation of new jobs—especially at ORAU. “Over the past three months, we've added five new staff members to support the IFDP project, as well as other environmental cleanup and verification commitments to DOE and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” she said.
Though ORAU's role is focused on the short-term disposal of high-risk facilities, the overall Oak Ridge IFDP project is expected span up to 29 years and will likely involve hundreds of facilities built during the Manhattan Project and the Cold War eras. ORAU's involvement is expected to conclude by 2011.