1

Annual

Report

to the

Oak Ridge 

Community

Annual

Report

to the

Oak Ridge 

Community

Cleanup

Progress

Cleanup

Progress

FY 2006 FY 2006

DOE/OR-2223
2
1

Message from the Manager,

DOE Oak Ridge Office

Message from the Manager,

DOE Oak Ridge Office

 Fiscal Year 2006 was another year of great progress in the 

Oak Ridge Environmental Management Program. This program 

continues to support the success of Department of Energy 

programs in Science, National Security, and Nuclear Energy on 

the Oak Ridge Reservation by safely cleaning up contaminated 

land and facilities. I want to recognize the Environmental 

Management federal and contractor staff for their work this year 

under the day-to-day leadership of Stephen McCracken.

 We are seeing positive changes at Oak Ridge National 

Laboratory. As old, outdated buildings are being torn down, new 

cutting-edge buildings are being constructed that will help our 

Science mission to continue as one of the best in the country. 

This year we completed construction on two new facilities 

– the Spallation Neutron Source and the Center for Nanophase 

Materials Sciences.

 At East Tennessee Technology Park, the reuse of old buildings 

enables new life at the facility and creates new jobs through our 

Reindustrialization Program. And at the Y-12 National Security 

Complex, modernization initiatives are helping to better continue 

the mission of the plant. 

 By cleaning up land or tearing down old buildings constructed during World War II and later years, 

we are making parts of the Reservation usable again. This is something that I am excited to see as we 

continue through the early 21st century. This enables East Tennessee to play a critical role in supporting 

Energy Department mission needs.

 Specific accomplishments included the demolition of the K-29 Building, the first gaseous diffusion 

building to be demolished in the United States. Another project that has been important to both DOE 

and the surrounding community is the completion of the Haul Road from ETTP to the Environmental 

Management Waste Management Facility. By using this road, we keep many of our trucks off roadways 

used by the general public. 

 Other projects include the completion of field work in Melton Valley, shipment of more than 

6,000 Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride cylinders offsite, and completion of field work at the David 

Witherspoon Inc. 901 Site in South Knoxville, which you can read about in this Cleanup Progress. 

 One item that I also want to mention is that our citizen group, the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory 

Board, received a prestigious award this year from the Environmental Protection Agency. They received 

the Citizens Excellence in Community Involvement Award, which is a national honor that is given once 

a year. This group has provided us with knowledgeable and useful advice and recommendations in our 

cleanup mission. 

 With all of this important work being performed, we first and foremost emphasize safety and expect 

our employees to complete their tasks in a safe manner. I appreciate your interest in our program and 

look forward to continuing this important work in the months ahead. 

Gerald Boyd
2

Definitions

CERCLA: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 established 

prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites, provided for liability of 

persons responsible for hazardous waste releases at these sites, and established a trust fund to provide cleanup 

when no responsible party could be identified. The law authorizes two kinds of response actions: short-term removals, where actions may be taken to address releases or threatened releases requiring prompt response, and 

long-term remedial actions, which permanently and significantly reduce the dangers associated with releases 

or threats of releases. Long-term actions can be conducted at sites on the Environmental Protection Agency’s 

(EPA’s) National Priorities List, a listing of the nation’s most hazardous waste sites. The Oak Ridge Reservation 

was added to that list in 1989. 

East Tennessee Technology Park: The former K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

Explanation of Significant Differences: An Explanation of Significant Differences documents necessary changes to an existing Record of Decision.

Federal Facility Agreement: Cleanup activities are performed in accordance with state and federal laws, 

and CERCLA requires an interagency agreement to facilitate the interaction between state and federal entities 

(for the DOE Oak Ridge Office, that would be DOE, EPA, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and 

Conservation). The Federal Facility Agreement for Oak Ridge was initiated in January 1992 to satisfy the interagency agreement requirement.

Record of Decision: Under the CERCLA process, a Record of Decision formally documents the selection 

of a preferred cleanup method at Superfund sites after a series of steps, including a Remedial Investigation/

Feasibility Study. After a preferred cleanup alternative is selected, it is presented to the public for comment in 

a Proposed Plan. EPA, the state, and the lead agency then select a remedy and document it in the Record of 

Decision.

Removal Actions: Some cleanup activities on the Oak Ridge Reservation are conducted as Removal Actions under CERCLA. These actions provide an important method for moving sites more quickly through the 

CERCLA process. When a site presents a relatively time-sensitive, non-complex problem that can and should 

be addressed, a Removal Action would be warranted.

Definitions
3

Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................4

ETTP ..................................................................................................................5

K-29 Building Demolished ............................................................................................. 6 

ETTP Landscape Continues to Change ........................................................................... 8

Building Transfers Continue Under the Reindustrialization Program ..........................12

ETTP Soil Remediation Planned ...................................................................................13

Thousands of Tons of Scrap Metal Removed .................................................................13

UF6 Cylinders Shipped Off Site ......................................................................................14

Plan Submitted for Groundwater Remediation ............................................................14 

Melton Valley ................................................................................................ 15

Melton Valley Cleanup Project Completed ....................................................................16 

Hydrologic Isolation Will Protect the Environment ...................................................... 17

Small Facilities D&D Completed ...................................................................................18 

Retrieval of Buried TRU Waste Completed .................................................................. 20

Work Concludes on Trenches 5 and 7 ...........................................................................21

Remediation of T-1, T-2, and HFIR Tanks Completed ....................................................21 

Contaminated Soils and Sediments Removed .............................................................. 22

 

Balance of Reservation ...............................................................................24

Processing of Initial MSRE Flush Salt Tank Completed ............................................... 25 

Witherspoon 901 Site Cleanup Completed ................................................................... 26 

Bethel Valley Groundwater Engineering Study Fieldwork Completed ..........................27 

Upper East Fork Poplar Creek ROD Signed ...................................................................27

Core Hole 8 Action Will Remove TRU Waste ................................................................ 28

Waste Management .....................................................................................29

EMWMF, Other Landfills Receiving Tons of Waste ...................................................... 30

EMWMF Expansion Planned ........................................................................................31 

Haul Road Begins Operation ........................................................................................31

Millions of Gallons of Wastewater Treated in FY 2006 ................................................. 32 

TSCA Incinerator Hazardous Waste Treatment Continues .......................................... 33 

Waste Processing Facility Preparing for CH TRU Processing ....................................... 34 

Public Involvement ...................................................................................... 35

Public Involvement Plays Key Role in Cleanup Decisions ............................................. 35 

ORSSAB Posts Several Accomplishments ..................................................................... 36

DOE Information Center .............................................................................................. 39

Information Resources ..............................................................................40

Acronyms ....................................................................................................... 41

Contents
4

Introduction

Environmental Management is the 

largest DOE program in Oak Ridge, with 

cleanup programs under way to correct 

the legacies remaining from 50 years of 

energy research and weapons production. The program includes an aggressive effort to complete the majority of 

environmental cleanup by 2009, including the East Tennessee Technology Park 

(ETTP) site. Significant progress has 

already been made in cleaning up large 

gaseous diffusion plant buildings and 

other facilities at this site. Reservationwide, DOE has accelerated the completion of the Oak Ridge Environmental 

Management Program while significantly reducing costs.

Because of past practices, portions of land and facilities on 

the Oak Ridge Reservation are contaminated with radioactive elements, mercury, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, 

and industrial wastes. The Oak Ridge Reservation is on the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List 

and is being cleaned up under a Federal Facility Agreement 

with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State 

of Tennessee.

DOE Oak Ridge’s Accelerated Cleanup Program includes 

three major programs—Melton Valley, ETTP, and Balance 

of Reservation. The Melton Valley Project was completed 

in 2006, ETTP completion is expected in 2009, and the 

project closure date for Balance of Reservation activities 

is 2015. Within the Balance of Reservation Program, one 

major milestone was accomplished in 2005—the removal 

of low-level and mixed low-level legacy wastes from the 

Oak Ridge Reservation.

K-29 demolition

ETTP demolition debris disposal

Trench 7 at Melton Valley

Introduction
5

East Tennessee Technology Park

The former K-25 Site began operations during World War 

II as part of the Manhattan Project. Its original mission was 

to produce enriched uranium for use in atomic weapons. 

The plant was permanently shut down in 1987 and is 

undergoing transformation into a private-sector industrial 

park. Restoration of the environment, decontamination and 

decommissioning of facilities, and disposition of wastes are 

currently the major activities at the site.

East Tennessee Technology Park
6 ETTP

K-29 Building Demolished

 Workers have successfully demolished one of ETTP’s former 

gaseous diffusion facilities, the K-29 Building.

 The facility was part of a series of mammoth buildings to enrich uranium for weapons and fuel for nuclear power plants. The 

building went into operation in 1951 and was shut down in 1987. 

It was 524 feet by 560 feet and was composed of two floors of approximately 290,000 square feet each. This size equates to 6 1/2 

football fields under one roof. 

 Huge excavators were brought in by Bechtel Jacobs Company 

(BJC), DOE’s cleanup contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation, 

to rip through the concrete and steel structural elements that 

comprise the building’s walls and floors. The demolition was completed in July 2006, with all debris removed in August 2006.

 Uranium processing equipment and other materials had been 

removed previously under an Action Memorandum DOE signed 

in 1997 to decontaminate and remove equipment from the K-29, 

K-31, and K-33 gaseous diffusion buildings. The contractor, BNG 

America, completed that work in FY 2005. K-29 was then turned 

over to BJC, and DOE continues to try to find some future use for 

K-31 and K-33.

Before demolition
7 ETTP

K-29 site after demolition
8 ETTP

ETTP Landscape Continues

 to Change

All buildings at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) are scheduled for demolition as 

part of DOE’s accelerated cleanup plan except for 26 

facilities. These facilities are targeted for potential 

title transfer to private sector organizations under 

a reindustrialization program. As of the end of FY 

2006, six buildings had been transferred, and seven 

additional buildings are in various stages of the transfer process. Building demolition is being performed 

through several projects: (1) K-25/K-27 Buildings, (2) 

K-25 Auxiliary Facilities (Main Plant), (3) Group II, 

Phase II Buildings (K-1064 Peninsula), and (4) Remaining Facilities. 

 Because these are interim removal actions, the 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) Zone 1 

and Zone 2 decisions will determine the final remedy 

for the contaminated slabs, soils, and below-grade 

structures.

K-25/K-27 Buildings

 The three-story, U-shaped K-25 Building, built during the Manhattan Project, 

covers 1.64 million ft2 and contains 3,018 

stages of gaseous diffusion process equipment and associated auxiliary systems. 

Each stage consists of a converter, two 

compressors, two compressor motors, and 

associated piping. The K-27 Building covers 374,000 ft2

 and contains 540 stages of 

gaseous diffusion equipment and associated auxiliary equipment.

 An action memorandum (AM) for the 

demolition of the K-25 and K-27 Buildings 

was signed in February 2002. The AM stipulates that the buildings be demolished to 

slab and the associated waste disposed. The first phase of the demolition, hazardous materials removal, started 

in December 2001 and was completed in June 2005. Hazardous materials removal primarily included the removal of asbestos-containing building material, such as transite panels and insulation, from inside the K-25 and 

K-27 Buildings. During the three-and-a-half-year period, a total of 944 waste shipments containing approximately 621,000 ft3

 of waste were transported to the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility 

(EMWMF), a CERCLA waste facility located near the Y-12 National Security Complex.

 During FY 2006, a new plan for demolishing the K-25 and K-27 Buildings was developed that will better 

protect workers from deteriorated conditions in the buildings by reducing the number of workers and hours in 

the buildings. The new plan involves removing high-risk components, unbolting and removing motors and compressors, and then demolishing the building from the outside using heavy equipment. The DOE Headquarters 

Operational Readiness Review for the new plan was initiated in FY 2006.

 Also in FY 2006, process system stabilization by foaming was started, the removal and segmentation of highrisk components began, the removal of transite panels continued, and the shipment of converters off site for 

disposal continued.

K-27

K-25
ETTP 9

 The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) regarding historical preservation of the K-25 Building was 

ratified on March 28, 2005. This MOA allows the east 

and west wings of the U-shaped K-25 Building to be 

demolished, but retains the north wing for historic 

preservation purposes along with selective components and equipment set aside for use in historical displays. The MOA also allows the placement of concrete 

Converter removal and shipment from the K-25 Building

rubble within the vaults of the east and west wings. 

The vault walls of the east and west wings along the 

interior of the “U” will be preserved. Filling and grading of the vault areas will leave the upper portion of 

the wall available for use by others to portray the history of Oak Ridge (e.g., murals). The footprint of the 

K-25 Building will be preserved and nominated as an 

historic landmark.

Transite removal 

from the K-25 Building

Foam injection into K-25 piping

 to stabilize the contents
10 ETTP

Remaining Facilities

 In September 2003, DOE signed an AM to demolish the approximately 500 remaining facilities. In 2006, 

23 predominantly uncontaminated facilities, 21 low-risk/low-complexity facilities, and 10 facilities in a grouping called “Balance of Site - Laboratories Group” were demolished, transferred, or sold. The K-29 Building was 

demolished and disposal of all the generated waste completed. In preparation for FY 2007, characterization and 

utility deactivation continued for planned demolition work; demolition work was started in K-1401 and K-1420; 

and waste handling plans were approved for the Poplar Creek facilities and Building K-1037.

 The centrifuge project processed 128 out of 129 machines in Building K-1220 and shipped 60 to the Nevada 

Test Site and 12 to EMWMF for disposal. Additionally, 69,000 pounds of process equipment removed from the 

buildings were shipped to the Nevada Test Site for disposal.

ETTP Auxiliary Facilities

(Main Plant)

 In FY 2000, DOE signed an AM to demolish 

the ETTP main plant facilities. This project began 

in August 2000 and was completed in December 

2003. In FY 2004, the work was completed, and 

the Removal Action Report was prepared.

Group II Buildings, Phase II 

Buildings (K-1064 Peninsula)

 DOE signed an AM in July 2002 for the 

demolition of facilities and the removal of scrap 

material located in the K-1064 peninsula area. 

During FY 2004 and 2005, 17 of the 19 facilities 

were demolished. Demolition of the remaining 

facility and removal of the scrap were completed 

in FY 2006.

Demolition

 of Building

 K-1401 (right) 

began in August 

2006 and of 

K-1420 (below) 

in September 

2006
ETTP 11

ETTP demolition areas where buildings once stood (additional demolition

activities took place at other plant locations not pictured) 

K-1004L

K-1501 stack demolition
12

Building Transfers Continue Under

 the Reindustrialization Program 

 DOE’s Reindustrialization Program transferred two 

additional ETTP buildings to the Community Reuse 

Organization of East Tennessee (CROET) in FY 2006, 

bringing the total number of buildings transferred to 

six. The transfers are part of DOE’s effort to transform 

ETTP into a private sector industrial park.

 The buildings, K-1036 and K-1400, offer an additional total of approximately 93,000 square feet of 

available space for private sector use. The buildings 

were previously leased to CROET and are fully occupied by private sector companies.

 Building K-1036 (80,000 ft2) was constructed in 

1945 and served as the distribution center for the entire K-25 Site until it was leased to CROET in 1998. 

Building K-1036 now provides for corporate office and 

manufacturing occupancy for several CROET tenant 

business.

 Building K-1400 (13,000 ft2) was constructed in 

1954 and was used as an administrative office building. It was leased to CROET in 2001 and is being used 

as the local corporate headquarters for OMI as well as 

other private sector companies.

 Previous transfers to CROET include Buildings K1225, K-1330, K-1580, and K-1007.

 CROET is a not-for-profit corporation established 

to foster diversification of the regional economy by reutilizing DOE property for private sector investment 

and job creation. 

 Seven additional buildings at ETTP are in various 

stages of the transfer process.

Locations of ETTP buildings transferred to CROET

K-1225

K-1330

K-1580

K-1007

K-1400

K-1036 K-1036

K-1400

K-1225

K-1330

K-1580

K-1007

ETTP
ETTP 13

ETTP Soil Remediation Planned

 The soil at ETTP is to be remediated to a level that protects a future industrial work force and the underlying 

groundwater. Two RODs have been signed that address soil, slabs, subsurface structures, and burial grounds.

 The Zone 1 ROD was signed by DOE, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), 

and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in November 2002. Zone 1 is the 1,400-acre area surrounding 

ETTP outside the fence. The Zone 2 ROD was signed by DOE, TDEC, and EPA in April 2005. Zone 2 includes the 

area within the main fence of ETTP (approximately 800 acres). 

 Work associated with characterization of the K-1007 Powerhouse area, K-901 area, and Duct Island area in 

Zone 1 was completed in FY 2006, and the Phased Construction Completion Reports (PCCRs) were submitted 

to EPA and TDEC for approval. Seven areas requiring additional remediation were identified, and the completion of Blair Quarry was documented in these PCCRs. In Zone 2, the characterization of 6 of 44 Exposure Units 

was documented in a PCCR. This Report cleared 93 acres and identified two areas requiring remedial actions. 

Remediation in the Balance of Site–Laboratories area was initiated with the removal of slabs. 

All of the scrap was removed from the 

K-1064 Scrap Yard and 16,000 tons of 

scrap were removed from the K-770 Scrap 

Yard during FY 2006. The ETTP Scrap 

Removal Project has disposed of a total 

of almost 33,000 tons of scrap metal from 

the K-770 Scrap Yard, K-1131 Area, K-1064 

Scrap Yard, K-1300 Area, and K-1066-G 

Maintenance Yard at the Environmental 

Management Waste Management Facility. 

The project is scheduled for completion in 

FY 2007.

Workers 

load the last 

shipment of 

waste for 

disposal at 

the K-1064 

Scrap Yard. 

The scrapyard 

contained 

approximately 

3,300 tons of 

contaminated 

material.

Thousands of Tons of Scrap Metal Removed
14 ETTP

 In FY 2006, a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study and Proposed Plan were submitted to EPA 

and TDEC. The Remedial Investigation/Feasibility 

Study discusses the nature and extent of groundwater 

contamination and ecological concerns and evaluates 

alternatives for remediation. The Proposed Plan proposes the selected remedial alternative for remediation 

of groundwater, Mitchell Branch, and for the protection of ecology. This will be the basis for the final decision for ETTP. These documents are being reviewed by 

Plan Submitted for Groundwater Remediation

the EPA and TDEC, and a final Record of Decision is 

planned for FY 2007 following the public review period 

for the Proposed Plan.

 Remediation of the K-1007 Holding Ponds, K-901-

A Holding Pond, K-720 Slough, and K-770 Embayment is planned as a removal action. The Engineering 

Evaluation/Cost Analysis was prepared in FY 2006. A 

public meeting will be held, and the Action Memorandum will be prepared in FY 2007.

 Approximately 7,200 cylinders at ETTP have been shipped off-site for disposal, most of them going to the 

Portsmouth Site. Most of the disposed cylinders contained depleted uranium hexafluoride (UF6). Each steel 

cylinder could hold up to 10 to 14 tons of depleted UF6. They were stored in storage yards in aisles and stacked 

two high. A total of 363 of these 

cylinders were shipped in FY 

2006, bringing the total shipped 

to 7,043 at the end of FY 2006. 

This project was completed early 

in FY 2007.

 Natural UF6 was used as feed 

material during the gaseous diffusion process to enrich uranium at the former K-25 Site. The 

percentage of uranium-235 was 

increased from the original feed 

material in the process (i.e., enriched). The remaining material 

is depleted UF6. It is stored as 

a white, crystalline solid that is 

slightly less radioactive than natural uranium. 

 More than 1,200 empty and 

near-empty cylinders containing residual uranium compounds 

other than depleted UF6 were 

disposed at the Nevada Test Site, 

with that phase of the project being completed in FY 2003.

UF6 Cylinders Shipped Off Site

UF6 cylinder being loaded for transport
15

Melton Valley

More than 50 years of operation, production, and research 

activities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have 

produced a legacy of contaminated inactive facilities and waste 

disposal areas. Many of the wastes and facilities are located in 

Melton Valley, which occupies approximately 1,000 acres in 

the southern portion of ORNL. Wastes in Melton Valley reside 

at a variety of locations, including trenches, tanks, landfills, 

pipelines, surface structures, and impoundments.

Melton Valley
16

 Bechtel Jacobs Company has completed all the physical work on the second of three major milestones in its 

cleanup contract with DOE. 

 The Melton Valley Project wrapped up in September with completion of the 7841 Scrapyard project. That 

was the final field task in an overall cleanup project responsible for capping 145 acres of waste sites, demolishing 

and disposing of 6,000 ft2 of various buildings, and excavating 50,000 yd3 of soil. Other project achievements 

include:

• grouting and stabilizing 30,000 ft of pipelines

• performing in situ grouting of Trenches 5 and 7

• retrieving 204 casks, 8 boxes, and 1,500 ft3 of loose waste as part of the Transuranic (TRU) Waste Retrieval 

Project.

 The following articles detail the scope of work accomplished in Melton Valley.

Melton Valley Cleanup

 Project Completed

Melton Valley project sites (all work completed)

NHF

SWSA 5

SWSA 6

Pits 2,

3, & 4

Trench 6

Trench 7

Trench 5

7841

SWSA 4

HRE

HFIR

Pond

TRU

Trenches

Highway 95

Melton Valley
17

Liner being placed at SWSA 5 

(above), and SWSA 6 (below) 

after remediation (June 2006)

Melton Valley

 Work has been completed on a hydrologic isolation project 

to decrease the rainwater infiltration to waste associated with 

the Melton Valley burial grounds, pits, and trenches.

 Construction of 13 separate caps covering 145 acres in Solid 

Waste Storage Area (SWSA) 4, SWSA 5, SWSA 6, and Seepage 

Pits and Trenches was completed in FY 2006 with all of the caps 

completed and transferred to operations and maintenance of 

the caps. Collection and treatment of groundwater from Seepage Pits, Trench 7, SWSA 4, and SWSA 5 has been initiated and 

is now an ongoing process. 

 SWSAs 4, 5, and 6 were the principal waste burial sites in 

Melton Valley. Shallow land burial was used routinely at ORNL 

for disposal of solid low-level waste (LLW) from 1943 to 1986, 

when improved disposal technologies were implemented. Early 

burial procedures used unlined trenches and auger holes for 

containment, which were then covered by soil from the trench 

excavation or by a combination of concrete caps and soil. The 

concrete caps were used for disposal of high-activity wastes or wastes with transuranic elements. More 

than 850 trenches and 1,500 auger holes exist in the 

three main Melton Valley burial grounds.

 Four seepage pits (Pits 1, 2, 3, and 4) and three 

trenches (Trenches 5, 6, and 7) were used for the disposal of liquid LLW from 1951 to 1966. As intended, 

liquid LLW seeped into the surrounding clay soil. The 

seepage pits and trenches were 

excavated in clayey soils to take 

advantage of the clay’s low permeability and high sorption capacity for some radionuclides in 

the liquid LLW.

 The hydrologic isolation actions consisted of a combination 

of the following:

• multi-layer caps over the 

waste units to minimize rainfall infiltration and to lower 

the water table;

• stormflow diversion trenches located along the uphill 

edge of the waste units to 

intercept and divert shallow 

groundwater before it flows 

into the waste units; and 

Hydrologic Isolation

Will Protect Environment
18 Melton Valley

• groundwater collection trenches located along the downhill side of the waste units to collect groundwater 

contaminated by leachate before the groundwater discharges to nearby streams. (Contaminated groundwater collected by the drains will be treated before it is released.)

 The total capped area is about 145 acres. To facilitate cap installation, the project included a subproject to 

plug and abandon approximately 1,000 unnecessary, shallow non-hydrofracture wells; the development and 

closure of a 33-acre soil borrow area; relocation of Lagoon Road; construction of haul roads; demolition of any 

structures situated within the cap boundaries; and rerouting of several power lines.

 The remediation of several inactive facilities, 

buildings, and structures in Melton Valley were addressed under the Melton Valley Decontamination and 

Demolition (D&D) Project. The D&D project involved 

demolishing surface structures to slab or below grade; 

decontamination; removal and/or stabilizing subsurface structures in place; waste characterization, transportation and disposal; and site restoration. Stabilization of subsurface structures was preceded by removal 

or fixation of transferable contamination. 

 The buildings and structures addressed by the D&D 

Project included:

• New Hydrofracture Facility (NHF),

• Homogeneous Reactor Experiment (HRE) ancillary facilities,

• Shielded Transfer Tanks,

• Liquid LLW pumping stations,

• Equipment Storage Yard, 

• Miscellaneous storage buildings, 

and

• Hydrofracture Well Plugging and 

Abandonment (P&A).

New Hydrofracture Facility

The NHF was the last of two facilities 

built during the 1970s to perform hydrofracture operations in Melton Valley. 

The NHF operated from 1982 to 1984 

and was designed to facilitate the injection of wastes mixed with grout into a 

deep underground shale formation. The 

high-injection pressure fractured the 

subsurface shale and forced a waste/

grout mixture into the fractures, where 

it hardened into grout sheets.

 The majority of the NHF was demolished in previous years. The final three reinforced concrete rooms, 

or cells, of the main NHF structure were demolished to 

two feet below grade in FY 2006, along with all remaining slabs. The NHF site was restored by placing clean 

stone mix over the building footprint. The 100 ft x 80 

ft ventilated enclosure over the building footprint was 

left in place in support of future planned activities at 

the site.

HRE Ancillary Facilities

 The HRE ancillary facilities consisted of eleven 

separate structures, external of the main HRE reactor building, which provided support capabilities (e.g., 

waste management, storage, etc.) during reactor operation. The ancillary facilities include a liquid waste 

evaporator, charcoal absorber that cleaned up gaseous 

Small Facilities D&D Completed

NHF demolition
Melton Valley 19

effluents prior to discharge, decontamination pad and storage 

shed, office building, and miscellaneous structures. 

 D&D of three of the HRE ancillary facilities was completed 

in FY 2005. The remaining eight 

facilities at three different locations were demolished in FY 

2006. including the HRE Waste 

Evaporator, the most highly contaminated of the ancillary facilities. Each location was restored 

by placing clean stone mix over 

the building footprint. 

Shielded Transfer Tanks

 The shielded transfer tanks 

(STTs) are five shipping casks 

that were originally used during 

the 1950s and 1960s to transport 

high specific activity radionuclide solutions by rail from Hanford to ORNL for further processing. Following approval of the Melton Valley ROD and the Remedial Design Report/Remedial 

Action Work Plan (RDR/RAWP), waste characterization activities performed in preparation for emptying, 

grouting, and disposal of the STTs identified potential 

issues with the waste categorization. It was decided that 

a Waste Incidental to Reprocessing (WIR) determination was required by DOE Order 435.1 prior to disposal 

of the STTs. Due to the extended documentation and 

review period associated with the WIR process, DOE 

has proposed to remove the STTs from the scope of the 

ROD and address the disposal of the grouted tanks and 

contents under a National Environmental Policy Act 

process to be completed by September 30, 2008, following the completion of the WIR determination. EPA 

and TDEC have concurred with this proposal. 

Liquid LLW Pumping Stations

 Two separate liquid LLW pumping stations, Buildings 7567 and 7952, were constructed during the 1960s 

to support the collection and transfer of liquid LLW 

from the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) facility, Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, HRE, 

and the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE). 

D&D of Building 7567, including decontamination and 

stabilization of the below-grade pump vault, was completed in early FY 2006. 

Equipment Storage Yard

 The 7841 Equipment Storage Yard was a fenced facility with an area of less than 1 acre used to store a 

wide variety of surplus items. The inventory of items 

in the 7841 area included shielded carriers, drums, 

high integrity containers, shields, tanks, and nearly 

200 pieces of specialized equipment ranging from fuel 

casks and storage cabinets to tanker trailers.

 In FY 2006, each item was characterized, sizereduced, or otherwise prepared for disposal, and disposed. The storage yard was restored by placing clean 

stone mix over the original footprint. The ventilated 

enclosure used during characterization was left in place 

in support of future planned activities at the site. 

Miscellaneous Storage Buildings

 Two miscellaneous facilities, Buildings 7802F and 

7831A, had been used for the storage of well drilling 

cores and other sampling-related materials, and as a 

waste repack facility, respectively. Demolition of both 

of these facilities was completed in FY 2006. 

Hydrofracture Well P&A

 The previously grouted injection well at the New 

Hydrofracture Facility, HF-4, was cut off at 4 ft below 

grade and the wellhead was disposed in FY 2006. 

Shielded transfer tanks
20 Melton Valley

 Transuranic (TRU) wastes that 

have been stored in the 22-

Trench Area in SWSA 5 North 

were removed in 2006. A total 

of 204 concrete casks were retrieved, overpacked, and staged 

during FY 2006. 

 The six waste packages with 

the highest radiological inventory have been relocated to Building 7883. Retrieval and overpacking of all of the concrete 

casks, along with loose waste 

and other containers, was completed in FY 2006. 

 During the 1970s, packages 

of TRU waste were retrievably 

stored in unlined earth trenches 

in the 22-Trench Area. Radionuclides in the TRU waste containers represent some of the 

most toxic and longest-lived 

radioisotopes stored on the 

Oak Ridge Reservation. DOE 

signed a consent agreement with 

the State of Tennessee in September 2000 committing to retrieve 

the TRU waste from the 22-Trench 

Area. Surrounding soil exceeding remediation levels designated 

in the Melton Valley ROD, as well 

as debris waste associated with 

excavation, were disposed at the 

EMWMF or at another appropriate facility. After retrieval, the 

overpacked TRU waste packages 

were staged pending transport to 

the TRU Waste Processing Facility, where the wastes will be further 

characterized and repackaged for 

off-site disposal.

 A significant pyrophoric reaction occurred on August 8, 2005, as 

DOE’s contractors were attempting 

to retrieve the containers in Trench 

13. The containers in Trench 13 included carbon steel and stainless 

steel drums. Several of the drums 

were damaged and the carbon steel 

Retrieval of Buried TRU Waste Completed

TRU waste retrieval

drum had deteriorated, revealing 

inner contents of glass mason jars. 

Based on historical records, the jars 

contained metallic carbides of uranium and plutonium that are pyrophoric. 

 The excavation activity apparently broke a jar from a damaged or 

deteriorated drum, exposing some 

material to air. Methane is believed 

to have accumulated in the headspace of the jar and was ignited 

when the pyrophoric material reacted. 

 On July 28, 2006, DOE proposed to the regulators to maintain Trench 13 in interim in situ 

storage, pending further efforts to 

identify treatment and disposition 

pathways. DOE proposed that final disposition of the Trench 13 

pyrophoric material be addressed 

in the future, prior to September 

30, 2009. On August 11, 2006, 

TDEC acknowledged DOE’s effort 

to retrieve drums containing jars of 

pyrophoric metallic carbides of uranium and plutonium with methane, 

and agreed to the temporary storage approach as proposed by DOE.
Melton Valley 21

 In situ grouting (ISG) of Seepage Trenches 5 and 7, former waste 

disposal sites in Melton Valley, was 

completed in June 2006. ISG of the 

HRE Fuel Wells, adjacent to Trench 

5, was also completed. 

 In situ vitrification (ISV) had 

been the initial remedial action 

selected for these trenches in the 

Melton Valley ROD. However, during a 2003 field investigation and 

procurement for design and construction services, new information 

resulted from these activities and 

prompted a reassessment.

 The new information included 

the presence of standing water in 

the trenches and a higher-than-expected cost for ISV. After further 

evaluation, DOE proposed in a 

ROD amendment that ISG be substituted as the remedial action.

 ISG is a treatment process where 

materials, such as cement-based 

or chemical grouts, are injected at 

low pressures into the subsurface 

(or waste unit) to isolate the waste 

through reduction of the hydraulic 

conductivity. This remedy change 

proposed in the ROD amendment 

was approved in 2004. The trenches were treated by the permeation 

Work Concludes on Trenches 5 and 7 

Workers are driving sleeve pipes at Trench 7

grouting method, utilizing Portland 

cement-based grouts injected under low pressure into the crushed 

limestone trench material. 

 The soil adjacent to the trench 

walls was treated with a solution 

grout (e.g., polyacrylamide) to reduce migration of contaminants 

away from the trench by sealing off 

seepage pathways.

 ISG of the waste units was performed with a cement-based grout 

mix. Approximately 200 yd3 of 

grout was used at Trench 7 and approximately 346 yd3

 at Trench 5.

 This completed project is meeting all regulatory performance 

objectives. 

Remediation of T-1, T-2, 

 and HFIR Tanks Completed

 Three inactive underground liquid LLW storage tanks identified as Tanks T-1 and T-2, and the High 

Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) Tank contained liquids and a mixture consisting primarily of spent TRU 

ion-exchange resin and sludge. 

 In FY 2005, the liquid waste from the HFIR tank was transferred into the ORNL liquid LLW system 

for treatment. The HFIR Tank and remaining sludge was stabilized in place with grout. The waste in 

Tanks T-1 and T-2 was mixed with liquid using a pulse-jet system and the resulting slurry transferred 

to the active ORNL liquid LLW system. Approximately 3,000 gallons of sludge was transferred from the 

tanks and will undergo treatment at the TRU Waste Processing Facility prior to final disposal. The empty 

tanks were filled with grout and closed in place. Associated equipment was removed from the site and 

either transferred to other projects for reuse or disposed at the EMWMF along with the remaining secondary waste. 
22 Melton Valley

 The Melton Valley Closure Soils and 

Sediments Project completed its work in 

FY 2006. Among the accomplishments 

were: 

• Excavation of the HFIR Impoundments. These four unlined 

impoundments, located at the HFIR 

facility, received liquid process waste 

streams mostly from floor and laboratory drains, steam condensates, 

and pressure vessel cooling waters. 

Remediation of the surface impoundments has been completed and the 

site restored. Remediation consisted 

of removing standing water and excavating and disposing the contaminated sediment at the EMWMF.

 • Remediation of the HRE Cryogenic Pond. This pond received 

contaminated condensate from the 

HRE waste evaporator and from discarded shielding water. The pond was 

taken out of service and backfilled. 

This backfilled pond later served as 

a demonstration for cryogenic stabilization in which soil around the 

pond was frozen to form a barrier to 

groundwater for several years. The 

cryogenics system was shut down 

in February 2004 in preparation for 

system dismantling and pond excavation. Excavation of the pond, backfill, and cryogenics material has been 

completed.

• Remediation of the EPICOR-II 

Lysimeters. Five stainless steel lysimeters near SWSA 6 were used for 

a 10-year study of the in situ leaching 

properties of solidified waste forms from the cleanup of Three Mile Island. The solidified waste forms 

were removed in 1996 and transported to another 

DOE facility for processing and disposal. The lysimeters and remaining contaminated soil were 

removed and disposed at the EMWMF in 2006.

Contaminated Soils

and Sediments Removed

• Excavation of the Engineering Test Facility. 

Nine test trenches were excavated and filled with 

compactible LLW in a study of disposal techniques 

in the early 1980s. The trench wastes and associated contaminated soils were excavated and disposed 

at EMWMF.

HFIR impoundments during excavation

HFIR Impoundments after excavation
23

• Removal of contaminated soil. Six sites contaminated as a result of pipeline leaks or hydrofracture experiments were excavated. As a result 

of verification walkover surveys and sampling, 25 

additional contamination areas were identified and 

excavated. 

• Final Verification. The project includes a final 

verification activity designed to confirm that all of 

Melton Valley has been cleaned up sufficiently to 

meet the remediation levels. Walkover surveys and 

sampling have been conducted on more than 500 

acres of the watershed that lie outside the footprint 

of the hydrologic isolation caps. Data collected 

from the Final Verification activities are being used 

to confirm that the post-remediation conditions in 

Melton Valley are compatible with the anticipated 

future land uses for Melton Valley.

 The soil contamination sites were cleaned up to 

remediation levels designated in the Melton Valley 

ROD. These remediation levels are based on specific 

risk reduction and exposure limit goals derived 

from reasonably anticipated future land uses for 

Melton Valley. The designated land uses are a waste 

management area for the western two-thirds of the 

watershed addressed in the Melton Valley ROD and a 

controlled industrial area in the eastern third.

 Sediment and soils from the HFIR surface impoundments and HRE Cryogenic Pond were disposed 

in the EMWMF. Material excavated from the Melton 

Valley Pumping Station, Engineering Test Facility,

Lysimeters, and Facility 7848 was disposed at

EMWMF. Selected soils from the remaining sites—

generally containing only minor amounts of contamination—were used as contour fill beneath one of the 

hydrologic isolation caps.

Pipeline Grouting

 In addition to the remediation of contaminated 

soils, the Melton Valley Soils and Sediment Project 

completed stabilizing and isolating inactive liquid 

waste transfer pipelines throughout Melton Valley. 

The inactive waste pipeline system consists of a complex series of buried waste pipelines and appurtenances (e.g., vents, valve pits, pump vaults, etc.) historically used to transport liquid process waste and LLW 

between generator facilities in Melton Valley, storage 

and disposal sites in Melton Valley, and storage/treatment facilities in Bethel Valley. The selected remedy in 

the ROD for inactive process and liquid LLW transfer 

pipelines is isolation, removal, or stabilization. A total 

of 27,736 linear ft of pipeline was grouted, and another 

11,721 ft was isolated. In addition, more than 5,000 ft3 

of void space was grouted in the various valve boxes, 

manholes, and pump pits associated with the inactive 

pipeline system.

More than 

27,000 linear 

feet of pipeline 

have been 

grouted.

Melton Valley
24

Balance of Reservation

The remaining Reservation sites are categorized into one 

grouping known as the “Balance of Reservation Closure 

Project.” This project encompasses cleanup activities in 

Bethel Valley at ORNL, sites associated with the Y-12 National 

Security Complex, Bear Creek Valley sites, and remedial 

actions for the remainder of the Reservation. It also includes 

off-site projects: Atomic City Auto Parts in Oak Ridge, which 

has been completed, and two David Witherspoon Inc. sites 

in Knoxville. Only a few of the high-profile activities have 

been addressed recently as attention and funding have been 

directed to ETTP and Melton Valley.

Balance of Reservation
Balance of Reservation 25

 The Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) 

facility operated from 1965 to 1969 to test the 

molten salt concept. Unlike most current commercial reactors that have fuel confined to fuel 

rods, the MSRE was fueled by molten salt that 

flowed through the reactor chamber, where the 

nuclear chain reaction produced heat. 

 When the reactor was shut down, the molten salt was drained into two fuel salt storage 

tanks, where it solidified. A flush salt, similar in 

composition to the fuel salt but without the uranium, was re-circulated through the reactor and 

drained into a third storage tank and solidified. 

All three storage tanks are located in an underground, concrete-shielded drain tank cell adjacent to the reactor cell.

 In 1998, DOE signed a ROD for interim action to remove the fuel and flush salts to address 

the presence of fluorine and uranium fluoride 

gas. The selected remedy includes separation of 

the uranium from the fuel and flush salts, removal of 

the fuel and flush salts from the drain tanks, storage of 

the uranium material as a more stable form, stabilization/repackaging of the residual salt, and placement of 

the residual salt in interim storage until final disposition.

Processing of the initial flush salt tank at the MSRE 

was initiated in December 2004 and completed in June 

2005, with recovered uranium transported to an onsite storage facility. However, a salt plug blockage in 

a small pipe prevented removal of the flush salts from 

the flush salt tank. An alternate method of salt removal has been designed to allow flush salt removal after 

completion of the two fuel salt drain tanks. 

 Processing of Fuel Drain Tank 2 was initiated in 

December 2005. Operations were halted in May due to 

a fluorine release. Recovery activities are progressing 

to allow processing of this tank to be completed. Completing removal activities for Fuel Drain Tank 2, relocating equipment to process Fuel Drain Tank 1, and 

completing salt removal from the Fuel Flush Tanks are 

scheduled for completion in FY 2007.

 Following issuance of the MSRE ROD, DOE initiated planning for processing of the total U-233 inventory in storage in Building 3019 at ORNL. The U-233 

inventory includes UF6-laden sodium fluoride (NaF) 

traps from a previously completed MSRE removal action and will also include additional UF6

-laden NaF 

Processing of Initial 

 MSRE Flush Salt Tank Completed

Workers removing probe glove box from over the Fuel 

Flush Tank

traps from the current MSRE remedial action. DOE, 

with agreement of the regulators, placed the MSRE 

uranium conversion actions on hold pending completion of the planning for the processing of the total 3019 

U-233 inventory. Based on the status of this planning, 

DOE proposed to modify the MSRE ROD requirements 

from conversion of the separated U-233 to an oxide and 

storage to storage of the MSRE U-233 material at 3019. 

This change was documented with an Explanation of 

Significant Differences, and DOE issued the draft version of that document on June 27, 2006. 

About the U-233

Building 3019 Project

 The U-233 Building 3019 Project has been 

developed by DOE to resolve legacy safety and 

security issues associated with the inventory and 

its storage facility, including the safety issues that 

were identified by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in Recommendation 97-1, “Safe 

Storage of Uranium-233.” Blending down this 

material will support national non-proliferation 

goals by making the material unsuitable for use 

in weapons and reducing security costs at ORNL.
26 Balance of Reservation

Witherspoon 901 Site Cleanup Completed

 At the David Witherspoon Inc. (DWI) site, grass is now growing where contaminated buildings and piles of 

debris once were located. As of the end of FY 2006, all contaminated material at the site, located on Maryville 

Pike in Knoxville, Tenn., was excavated and disposed, and the site was 95% restored. A small area of the site, 

less than one acre, where the office trailers were located, remained to be backfilled and restored once sampling 

verification results were received from the laboratory.

 During FY 2006, 5,650 truckloads of soil were shipped to the EMWMF. More than 550,000 truck miles were 

logged without any incident. The DWI 901 Site has been backfilled with 50,000 yd3 of clean fill, contoured for 

proper drainage, and seeded to establish erosion control.

 The site is a former scrap metal and recycling facility that housed, among other things, waste from DOE 

operations. It was taken over by the Tennessee Division of Superfund in 1993.

Debris removal 

at the 

DWI 901 Site

Below: before 

and after

shots of the 

DWI 901 Site

Before After
Balance of Reservation 27

 The Bethel Valley ROD specified that a groundwater engineering study be conducted to satisfy data 

needs for the design of several remedial actions related to groundwater, including: (1) deep groundwater 

extraction at the Core Hole 8 Plume, (2) in situ biodegradation at the East Bethel Valley volatile organic 

compound (VOC) plume, (3) groundwater monitoring 

in West Bethel Valley, and (4) soil excavation at known 

leak sites to minimize impacts to groundwater.

 Planning for the groundwater engineering study 

was summarized in the Engineering Study Work Plan 

for Groundwater Actions in Bethel Valley, issued as a 

final document in 2003. 

 The work plan included an evaluation of existing, 

relevant data from previous characterization activities 

and defines the scope of work to be performed to design groundwater and soil remedial actions under the 

ROD. 

 In 2005, the Bethel Valley Groundwater Engineering Study completed the remaining components of the 

required fieldwork. This included an additional 48 soil 

push probes to make a total of 283 locations with approximately 450 soil samples collected and analyzed. 

Fifteen monitoring wells were installed and sampled. 

 The data from the soil samples, process lines, storm 

sewer lines, surface water, and monitoring wells were 

received and evaluated. The results were published 

in comprehensive Engineering Study Report and approved by the regulatory agencies in FY 2006. The data 

and recommendations have determined the necessary 

soil/groundwater-related remediation activities to be 

performed as part of the signed Bethel Valley ROD.

Bethel Valley Groundwater Engineering 

 Study Fieldwork Completed

Upper East 

Fork Poplar 

Creek ROD 

for Phase II 

Signed

 Remediation of the Upper East Fork Poplar Creek 

(UEFPC) Watershed is being conducted in stages 

using a phased approach. 

Phase 1 addresses interim 

actions for remediation 

of mercury-contaminated soil, sediment, and 

groundwater discharges 

that contribute contamination to surface water. The 

focus of the second phase 

is remediation of the balance of contaminated soil, scrap, and buried materials within the Y-12 Complex. Decisions regarding final land use and final goals for surface water, groundwater, and soils will be addressed in future 

decision documents.

 During FY 2006, the regulators provided comments on the draft ROD for Phase 2 interim remedial actions 

for accessible soil, buried waste, or subsurface structures that contribute significantly to contamination above 

acceptable risk levels in UEFPC. The Phase 2 ROD was finalized and approved by all parties in April 2006.

UEFPC watershed
28 Balance of Reservation

 An area of groundwater contamination, called the Core Hole 8 

plume, and its source were the focus of early actions taken by DOE 

at ORNL. The plume is located in 

the central portion of the ORNL 

main plant area. The plume emanates from contaminated soil surrounding Tank W-1A in the North 

Tank Farm and migrates westward 

to First Creek. The principal plume 

contaminants are strontium-90 

and uranium isotopes. Since late 

1994, DOE has been implementing 

various coordinated actions to minimize the release of contaminants, 

including

• intercepting, collecting, and 

treating approximately six million gallons per year of contaminated groundwater migrating 

toward First Creek; and

• removing a significant portion 

of the source (i.e., 90 percent 

of the contaminated soil surrounding Tank W-1A).

Core Hole 8 Action Will Remove TRU Waste

 The first action implemented 

by DOE was to install a groundwater interceptor on the western 

part of ORNL to reduce contaminant discharge to First Creek. The 

next action was the construction of 

a groundwater interceptor trench 

near the existing Core Hole 8 plume 

interceptor system. A third action 

was implementation of hydraulic 

controls on the plume by pumping groundwater from an existing 

monitoring well. The last action 

was in 2001 that addressed the contaminant source that contributed 

to the plume by removing a significant portion of the soil surrounding 

Tank W-1A. 

 This CERLCA Removal Action 

was performed under an AM. Approximately 900 yd3

 of the soil were 

removed. However, during excavation of soil adjacent to the tank, analytical results from grab samples 

of soil indicated that approximately 

100 yd3 of soil around and under 

the tank contained very high concentrations of TRU radionuclides. 

Since there is no disposal facility 

that could accept soil at these levels, 

these soils and the tank were left in 

place.

 In preparation for the upcoming Removal Action completion 

that will remove the remaining 

100 yd3 of soil, the project team 

obtained additional soil samples 

around the tank and submitted for 

detailed analysis. This characterization effort will determine how 

much of the soil meets the definition of TRU waste and provide radiological contaminant data. It will 

also provide characterization data 

on the soil that does not meet the 

definition of the TRU waste (lowlevel). Planning for the removal will 

be performed in FY 2007 with the 

removal action beginning early FY 

2008. The TRU soil will be containerized and stored until the waste 

disposal facility—the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant—is ready to receive. 

The low-level soil is expected to be 

disposed at EMWMF. 

Soil sampling 

activities at Core 

Hole 8, located in the 

central portion of 

the ORNL main plant 

area
29

Waste Management Waste Management
30 Waste Management

 The Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF), located in Bear Creek Valley, 

is used for disposal of waste resulting from CERCLA 

cleanup actions on the Oak Ridge Reservation. 

 The ROD for this facility was signed in November 

1999. The EMWMF is an engineered landfill that accepts low-level radioactive and hazardous wastes in 

accordance with specific Waste Acceptance Criteria 

under an agreement with state and federal regulators. 

The EMWMF accepted its first waste shipment in May 

2002.

 During FY 2006, EMWMF operations collected, 

analyzed, and dispositioned more than 1 million gallons of leachate and 189,000 gallons of contact water 

at the ORNL Liquids and Gases Treatment Facility. 

An additional 4.5 million gallons of contact water was 

collected and analyzed, and after determining that the 

volumes of contact water met the release criteria, this 

contact water was released to the sediment basin. The 

operations also effectively controlled site erosion and 

sediments.

 The EMWMF received 12,117 truckloads of waste 

accounting for 151,219 tons during FY 2006. Projects 

EMWMF, Other Landfills

 Receiving Tons of Waste

that have disposed of waste at the EMWMF include the 

following:

• David Witherspoon 901 Site Remedial Action Project;

• ETTP Scrap Removal Project; 

• ETTP Main Plant Facilities, including K-1064 Peninsula Facilities D&D;

• Melton Valley Soils and Sediments Project, Intermediate Holding Pond Project, Intermediate 

Holding Pond Remedial Action Project, and SIOU 

Remedial Action Project at ORNL; 

• K-25/K-27 D&D Project;

• MSRE D&D Project at ORNL;

• ORNL D&D Project;

• K-29/31/33 D&D Project;

• K-1420 D&D Project; and

• Centrifuge D&D Project.

 Concurrent with the activities at the EMWMF, DOE 

also operates solid waste disposal facilities located near 

the Y-12 Complex, called the Oak Ridge Reservation 

Sanitary Landfills. In FY 2006, more than 143,000 yd3

of industrial, construction/demolition, classified, and 

spoil material waste were disposed.

 To keep landfill capacity 

ahead of the demand for landfill 

airspace, construction of Area 

IV at Construction Demolition 

Landfill VII began in March 

2006. When approved by TDEC 

Division of Solid Waste in September, an additional 336,000 

yd3 of capacity was available to 

support the Accelerated Cleanup 

Program, as well as the other 

sanitary waste generators on the 

Oak Ridge Reservation. 

 The EMWMF and Oak Ridge 

Reservation Landfills are serving 

the disposal needs of the ORR 

cleanup program as well as the 

active missions of the Y-12 Complex and ORNL.

Workers spray water on a load of waste being placed in EMWMF to 

suppress dust.
Waste Management 31

EMWMF Expansion Planned

As waste disposal operations commenced in the newly constructed Cell 3 during FY 2006, the design/construction project’s focus shifted to the future and the final build-out of EMWMF. The design for Cell 5 was completed and sent to the regulators for approval. 

 This cell will add 500,000 yd3 of capacity to the previous 1,200,000 yd3 capacity to bring the total airspace at 

EMWMF to the ROD-approved limit of 1,700,000 yd3. The design incorporates the lessons learned from both of 

the previous design/construction efforts. Timing for the start of Cell 5 construction will depend on how quickly 

the existing capacity is consumed as the Accelerated Cleanup ramps up.

Cells 1 & 2

Cells 3 and 4

Planned

expansion

area

Total capacity 

with planned

expansion:

1,700,000 yd3

Haul Road

 Begins Operation

 The first quarter of FY 2006 was an 

extremely busy and critical time for the 

Haul Road project. As winter weather approached, construction of the final segments 

of the road started, as did construction of 

bridges over State Routes 58 and 95, and 

Bear Creek. Construction was completed 

early in the second quarter on January 17, 

2006, and the first waste shipments traveled the 8-mile road the next day. 

 For the balance of FY 2006, nearly 5,500 

loads of waste were shipped in straight body 

dump trucks, in side dump tractor-trailer 

tandems, in intermodal containers, and on 

flat bed trucks and trailers to EMWMF on 

the Haul Road instead of public roads.

The first shipments

of waste on the haul 

road began in 

January 2006.
32 Waste Management

 During FY 2006, the National Nuclear 

Security Administration Program at the Y-12 

Complex treated 20.8 million gallons of liquid 

waste at the Groundwater Treatment Facility, 

East End Mercury Treatment System, Central 

Mercury Treatment System, and East End VOC 

System. 

 The West End Treatment Facility and the 

Central Pollution Control Facility at the Y-12 

Complex processed about 0.8 million gallons 

of wastewater, primarily in support of National 

Nuclear Security Administration operational 

activities. This wastewater included hazardous 

materials such as PCBs, cyanide, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and uranium. The hazardous 

materials end up in the sludge that is generated 

from wastewater treatment. These sludges are 

disposed off-site. 

 The Big Spring Water Treatment System 

processed about 107.7 million gallons and about 

1 million gallons of methanol contaminated ground/sump water was put into inventory in the West End Tankage.

 At ETTP, the Central Neutralization Facility treated more than 18 million gallons of wastewater in FY 2006. 

The facility is ETTP’s primary wastewater treatment facility and processes both hazardous and nonhazardous 

waste streams arising from multiple waste treatment facilities and remediation projects. The facility removes 

heavy metals and suspended solids from the wastewater, adjusts pH, and discharges the treated effluent into the 

Clinch River. Sludge from the treatment facility is treated, packaged, and disposed off-site. Plans are currently 

under way to close this facility during FY 2007. 

 At ORNL, approximately 145 million gallons of wastewater were treated and released at the Process Waste 

Treatment Complex. In addition, the liquid LLW evaporator at ORNL treated 139,000 gallons of such waste. 

A total of 2.3 billion m3 of gaseous waste were treated at the ORNL 3039 Stack Facility. These waste treatment 

activities supported both EM and Office of Science mission activities in a safe and compliant manner during FY 

2006.

Central Neutralization Facility

Millions of Gallons of

 Wastewater Treated in FY 2006
Waste Management 33

 The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator, located at ETTP, treated 864,000 pounds of waste 

in FY 2006. The TSCA Incinerator successfully demonstrated compliance with the Maximum Achievable 

Control Technology standards for Hazardous Waste 

Combustors in FY 2005. In FY 2007, approximately 

1.5 million pounds of waste are planned for incineration.

TSCA Incinerator Hazardous

 Waste Treatment Continues

 The TSCA Incinerator is a one-of-a kind thermal 

treatment unit in the United States. It plays a key role 

in treatment of radioactive PCB and hazardous wastes 

(mixed wastes) from the ORR, as well as other facilities 

across the DOE complex, thus facilitating compliance 

with regulatory and site closure milestones. DOE will 

continue to operate the incinerator up to three years 

past FY 2006. 

TSCA Incinerator
34 Waste Management

 The mission of the Oak Ridge 

TRU Program is to provide cost-effective, safe, and environmentally 

compliant treatment and disposal 

of all TRU waste stored at ORNL.

 In 1998, DOE entered into a 

fixed-price privatization contract 

with Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation (FWENC) to construct, operate, decontaminate, and 

decommission a Waste Processing 

Facility (WPF). Construction of the 

facility was completed in FY 2004. 

 The facility was designed and 

constructed to treat and dispose 

900 m3 of remote-handled (RH) 

TRU sludge, 550 m3 of RH TRU/

alpha LLW solids, 1,600 m3 of RH 

LLW supernate, and 1,000 m3 of 

contact-handled (CH) TRU/alpha LLW solids currently stored 

in Melton Valley. The forecast for 

Waste Processing Facility

 Preparing for CH TRU Processing

waste quantities to be processed at 

the WPF has been updated to include the latest estimates: 2,000 

m3 of RH TRU sludge, 700 m3 of 

RH TRU solids, and 1,500 m3 of CH 

TRU solids.

 Supernate processing was completed in FY 2004. Since the start of 

FY 2005, FWENC has been preparing the facility, safety documentation, and procedures for CH TRU 

waste processing. Early in FY 2006 

FWENC contracted with EnergX 

LLC to operate and manage the 

project. CH TRU processing started 

December 2005. By September 30, 

2006, approximately 120 m3 had 

been processed. 

 On September 12, 2006, a new 

cost-plus-fixed-fee contract was 

signed. Due to many uncertainties 

about the waste characteristics and 

changing requirements, this type of 

contract is deemed more suitable. 

The new contract includes initiation 

of processing and packaging for the 

two remaining waste streams, RH 

solids/debris and RH TRU sludge, 

stored at ORNL, for transportation 

to and disposal at the Nevada Test 

Site or the Waste Isolation Pilot 

Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. 

 Acceptance of the two RH TRU 

waste streams at the WIPP up to 

now has been pending the outcome 

of permitting actions by DOE with 

the state of New Mexico. The revised permit approving RH TRU 

disposal at WIPP was signed by the 

state of New Mexico on October 16, 

2006.

 The WPF is now being called 

the TRU Waste Processing Center.

Drum load-out and size 

reduction operations at the 

TRU Waste Processing Facility
35

Public Involvement Public Involvement

Public Involvement Plays

 Key Role in Cleanup Decisions

 Most remediation projects on the Oak Ridge Reservation have moved from the decision-making phase to 

actual fieldwork. However, DOE is still seeking public involvement in many decisions affecting Reservation 

cleanup. Public input was sought in FY 2006 on a variety of initiatives, including the following:

• ETTP Parking Lot Expansion at Portal 5

• Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for the demolition and disposal of the Central Pollution Control Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex

• Covenant Deferral Request for the Transfer of Building K-1652 to the City of Oak Ridge

• Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for remediation of contaminated ponds at ETTP 

 Other Public Involvement initiatives included the monthly distribution of Public Involvement News, distribution of the FY 2005 version of Cleanup Progress, and updates of project fact sheet that are made available at 

the DOE Information Center and other venues.
36

 In FY 2006, the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory 

Board (ORSSAB) posted several accomplishments in 

its mission to provide informed advice and recommendations to DOE on its Oak Ridge EM program and to 

involve the public in environmental decision-making. 

ORSSAB Wins National EPA Award

 In June 2006 ORSSAB and its Stewardship Committee were presented with the Citizens Excellence in 

Community Involvement Award. The national honor 

is given annually by EPA to recognize an individual or 

community group for outstanding achievement in the 

field of environmental protection. The award was presented at EPA’s 2006 Community Involvement Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

 The award recognizes 

two major achievements by 

the ORSSAB Stewardship 

Committee between October 2004 and September 

2005. 

 The first achievement 

was development of the 

Stewardship Education Resource Kit, which was created to provide local educators with materials to teach 

students about environmental cleanup and long-term 

stewardship issues.

 The second achievement focuses on maintaining 

information about contaminated land. In 2004, the 

Stewardship Committee worked with Anderson County to test a system where plat maps of contaminated 

land would be placed in the county geographical information system. The test was successful, so in 2005 

the board recommended that DOE standardize its language for land with notices of contamination so they 

could be easily found by anyone doing land searches in 

the county land records. DOE adopted the recommendation and is standardizing its language when filing 

notices of contamination with Anderson County. The 

county also sends the same information to the City of 

Oak Ridge.

 Susan Bodine, assistant administrator for EPA, 

said this was a notable award from the agency. “We 

want to recognize citizens and the role they play in the 

Superfund cleanup process,” she said in a telephone 

call to the board during its June meeting. “I thank you 

for volunteering your time so your community is fully 

engaged in the Superfund cleanup process.”

 Congratulations for the award came from high 

within DOE Headquarters. “This is a major achievement on a national scale,” said Assistant Secretary for 

EM James Rispoli. “EPA’s recognition of ORSSAB’s 

work validates what we have known for years—the 

board and its committees are committed to much more 

than providing advice and recommendations on the EM 

program. ORSSAB is dedicated to educating and serving the public on the issues of environmental cleanup 

and waste disposition.”

 Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen sent his congratulations as well. “I realize such recognition has 

been earned by a great deal of hard work and dedication. I am certainly pleased to hear how the ORSSAB 

is providing resources that assist federal officials, local 

school systems, and others on the importance of toxic 

waste cleanup and maintenance.”

ORSSAB Posts Several 

 Accomplishments

ORSSAB is an 

independent, 

volunteer, 

federally 

appointed 

citizens’ panel 

formed in 1995.

Kerry Trammell, Heather Cothron, and EPA’s Suzanne Wells following presentation of the Citizen 

Excellence in Community Involvement Award at 

the EPA 2006 Community Involvement Conference 

in Milwaukee.

Public Involvement
37

Educators Learn About

Stewardship at ORSSAB

Two-Day Workshop

 In February 2006 ORSSAB 

sponsored a two-day workshop on 

how to use the board’s Stewardship 

Education Resource Kit in the classroom. The event was attended by 

twenty-four ecology and environmental science teachers representing public and private high schools 

in Knox and Anderson counties.

 The kit, which was completed in 

March 2005, contains lesson plans, 

videos, a fictional case study based 

on actual cleanup operations, an appendix of supporting materials, and 

a video CD on the background and 

use of the kit. 

 During the workshop, ORSSAB 

members and facilitators from the 

University of Tennessee explained 

how to use each lesson, showed 

videos included with the kit, and 

demonstrated the use of support 

materials and related Internet sites. 

The teachers participated in group 

activities and listened to a panel discussion on stewardship that included representatives from ORSSAB, 

DOE, and the state of Tennessee.

 “The DOE EM Program in Oak 

Ridge couldn’t be happier with the 

success of the kit and the teacher’s 

workshop,” said Pat Halsey, the 

board’s Federal Coordinator. “We 

totally support this concept and encourage its incorporation into the 

local school systems’ curricula.”

 The lessons in the kit are not just 

for teachers and students; they’re 

available to everyone. Individuals 

can access the kit materials on the 

ORSSAB web site (www.oakridge.

doe.gov/em/ssab/stewardship-kit/

kit.htm). Organizations that have an 

interest in stewardship and the environment may request a version of 

the kit. 

 More information about the 

kit and ORSSAB is available at the 

board’s web site at www.oakridge.

doe.gov/em/ssab or by calling (865) 

241-4583 or 241-4584.

ORSSAB EM Committee

Holds Public Meeting

on K-25/K-27 Demolition

 The former gaseous diffusion 

plants K-25 and K-27 at ETTP are 

undergoing decontamination and 

decommissioning in preparation 

for eventual demolition. But an 

accident that seriously injured a 

worker led DOE to reevaluate its 

method of accomplishment for taking the buildings down. 

 In July 2006 the board’s EM 

Committee used its meeting as a 

public forum for DOE and its prime 

contractor, Bechtel Jacobs Company, to explain the new method 

of accomplishment and how it will 

be safer for workers involved in the 

project. A large group of interested 

citizens attended the meeting and 

asked numerous questions. 

Eleven Recommendations 

Provided to DOE

 In FY 2006 the board generated 

several recommendations on cleanup-related issues, such as:

• the Integrated Facilities Disposition Project,

• long-term stewardship of contaminated sites, 

• the Natural Resources Damage 

Assessment process, and

• independent verification of 

cleanup activities at the East 

Tennessee Technology Park. 

 Complete text of all the board’s 

recommendations is available on 

online at www.oakridge.doe.gov/

em/ssab/recc.htm.

 ORSSAB also worked with the 

chairs of the other six SSABs that 

comprise the national EM SSAB 

to draft joint recommendations to 

Area high school teachers search the Internet for information related to stewardship of lands containing hazardous or radioactive 

wastes.

Public Involvement
38

DOE. This year the chairs developed recommendations on three important topics:

• Recommendation 1 was a follow-up to a recommendation made last year that DOE convene a 

national stakeholder workshop on waste disposition—the goal of which is to formulate solutions to 

overcome the barriers to disposition. 

• Recommendation 2 requested that EM ensure that 

the lessons learned from the site closure process at 

Fernald, Ohio, and Rocky Flats, Colorado, are considered and incorporated in policies that ultimately 

will guide closure at other EM sites.

• Recommendation 3 asked that the development of 

EM budgets include SSAB participation to assist in 

establishing priorities and requested budgets for 

environmental actions. 

FY 2006 ORSSAB members, liaisons, and student representatives. Seated, left to right: Sarah Lewis 

(Student Representative), Wade Johnson, Norman Mulvenon, Pat Halsey (Federal Coordinator), 

Ron Murphree, Sean Purdy (Student Representative). Second row, left to right: Sondra Sarten, 

Sandy Reagan, Gloria Mei, Donna Campbell, Heather Cothron, Lance Mezga, Martha Berry (EPA 

Region 4), Rhonda Bogard, Steve Stow. Third row, left to right: Darryl Bonner, Steve Dixon, Steve 

Douglas, Kevin Westervelt, Bob Olson, Dave Adler (DOE Liaison), John Owsley (TDEC Liaison), 

Ben Adams. Not pictured: Steve McCracken (Deputy Designated Federal Official), Tim Myrick.

Advisory Board Members

Public Involvement
39

 The DOE Information Center, located at 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tenn., is a 

one-stop information facility that maintains a collection of more than 40,000 documents 

involving environmental activities in Oak Ridge. The Center hosts various meetings, including 

the ORSSAB meetings, relevant to cleanup activities in Oak Ridge. Staff are available Monday 

through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to assist with your information needs. For FY 2006, the Center 

has received more than 3,078 visitors and responded to 2,717 requests for information. A web 

site is now available for users to search for information at the Center. Go to www.oakridge.doe.

gov and click on “Public Activities.” Select the “Online Catalog” to begin the search.

DOE Information Center

Phone: (865) 241-4780 Web: www.oakridge.doe.gov/info_cntr
40

DOE Information Center

475 Oak Ridge Turnpike

Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830

Phone: (865) 241-4780

Fax: (865) 574-3521

Hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday

DOE Public Affairs Office

(865) 576-0885

DOE-ORO Public Information Line

1-800-382-6938

Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board

(865) 576-1590

1-800-382-6938

Tennessee Department of Environment

and Conservation

(865) 481-0995

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region IV

1-800-241-1754

Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry

1-888-422-8737

Internet Sites

DOE Main Web Site www.energy.gov

DOE-ORO Home Page www.oakridge.doe.gov

DOE-ORO Environmental Management Program www.oakridge.doe.gov/external (Click on

 “Programs,” then select “Environmental 

 Management”)

Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board www.oakridge.doe.gov/em/ssab

Oak Ridge Accelerated Cleanup www.bechteljacobs.com/doeclean/

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry www.atsdr.cdc.gov

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/region4/

Tennessee Department of Environment www.state.tn.us/environment/doe

and Conservation

DOE Information Center www.oakridge.doe.gov/info_cntr

Information Resources
41

AM action memorandum

CDL Construction Demolition Landfill

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980

CH contact-handled

D&D decontamination and demolition

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

DWI David Witherspoon Inc.

EM Environmental Management

EMWMF Environmental Management Waste Management Facility

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ESD Explanation of Significant Difference

ETTP East Tennessee Technology Park

FWENC Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation

FY fiscal year

HFIR High Flux Isotope Reactor

HRE Homogenous Reactor Experiment

ISG in situ grouting

ISV in situ vitrification

LLW low-level waste

LLLW liquid low-level waste

MLLW mixed low-level waste

MOA Memorandum of Agreement

MSRE Molten Salt Reactor Experiment

NHF New Hydrofracture Facility

NTS Nevada Test Site

OHF Old Hydrofracture Facility

ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory

ORR Oak Ridge Reservation

ORSSA B Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board

P&A plugging and abandonment

PCB polychlorinated biphenyl

PCCR Phased Construction Completion Report

PP Proposed Plan

RAWP Remedial Action Work Plan

RDR Remedial Design Report

RH remote-handled

ROD Record of Decision

STTs shielded transfer tanks

SWSA Solid Waste Storage Area

TDEC Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

TRU transuranic

TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act

UEFPC Upper East Fork Poplar Creek

UF6 uranium hexafluoride

VOC volatile organic compound

WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

WIR waste incidental to reprocessing

Y-12 Complex Y-12 National Security Complex

Acronyms
42

A publication of the U.S. Department of Energy

For more information, contact the DOE Public Affairs Office at (865) 576-0885.