1

Annual Report to the

Oak Ridge Community

FY 2009

Progress Cleanup

DOE/ORO/2313
2

This report was produced by 

Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC, 

DOE’s Environmental Management 

Contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation.

About the cover

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator operated for its last full fiscal year in FY 2009. At the end 

of the fiscal year, plans were under way to shut down the facility. It was scheduled to completely cease operation in 

FY 2010. For more information, see the article on page 32. 
1

Message from the Manager

DOE Oak Ridge Office

To the Oak Ridge Community: 

Many key developments in DOE’s cleanup of the Oak Ridge Reservation 

took place in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. The most notable was the additional $755 

million that the Oak Ridge Environmental Management Program received as a 

result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The increased funding 

allowed us to expedite many planned cleanup projects on the Reservation. You 

can find out more about these various projects as you review this publication.

In December 2008, we initiated demolition of the K-25 Building west 

wing at East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), with two-thirds of the wing 

demolished at the end of the fiscal year. Although bringing down such a massive 

gaseous diffusion facility posed many challenges, our focus was and continues 

to be on safely accomplishing this complex demolition project. 

Other facilities at ETTP were demolished during FY 2009, including the 

K-1035 former maintenance facility and three high-risk buildings in the Poplar 

Creek area. A large, contaminated pond near the K-1007 Building was drained 

and recontoured. The fish were removed from that pond as well as two others 

adjacent to Highway 58 in order to populate the ponds with more environmentally-friendly species.

FY 2009 marked the last full year of operation for the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator, a one-of-a-kind 

facility that has treated more than 34 million pounds of waste since it began operating in 1991. At the end of the fiscal 

year, the Incinerator was in the process of being shut down and will completely cease operations in FY 2010. 

We implemented a Radio Frequency Identification Device system that tracks waste shipments from ETTP to the 

Environmental Management Waste Management Facility via the eight-mile dedicated Haul Road. The system not 

only tracks each individual truck, but also identifies its contents. This system has lead to greatly increased efficiency 

in the disposal of ETTP waste.

Our Reindustrialization Program had many notable achievements in FY 2009. It transferred three buildings 

and two land parcels to the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee as it continued its effort to transform 

ETTP into a private sector industrial park. To date, 11 buildings and five land parcels at ETTP have been transferred 

to private companies. Construction has also begun on speculative buildings on two of the parcels.

The public is involved in all aspects of our cleanup work, and we appreciate the public input that is provided 

through our public meetings and comment periods. The Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, composed of citizen 

volunteers, is a key component of our public involvement process, and we welcome its advice and recommendations 

on our cleanup activities. 

I’ve just touched on a few of the accomplishments in FY 2009, but great progress has been made on numerous 

Reservation-wide projects. As we continue making progress on these existing cleanup projects, we are concurrently 

planning additional work through the Integrated Facility Disposition Program. This Program addresses facilities at 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex that are considered excess. Removing them 

will allow future growth for our current and future missions.

Our efforts are improving the environment while supporting programs across the Oak Ridge Reservation that 

provide beneficial employment to more than 13,000 people in East Tennessee. We are focused on safely performing 

our work and look forward to continuing this momentum in FY 2010 and beyond. 

Environmental Management

safety v performance v cleanup v closure

E

 M

1

Gerald Boyd
2

RmA

ROD

FFA

EMWMF

CERCLA 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. Longterm 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. 

Environmental Management Waste Management Facility: The Record of Decision for the Disposal of Oak Ridge 

Reservation Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 Waste, Oak Ridge, 

Tennessee was issued in 1999 to construct a dedicated disposal facility on the Reservation to receive low-level 

radioactive waste, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste, Toxic Substances Control Act waste, 

and mixed wastes generated from cleanup programs conducted under CERCLA. While the ROD did not establish a 

formal name for this facility, it has been designated as the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility.

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.

Commonly Used Terms
3

Introduction 4

East Tennessee Technology Park 7

K-25 Building Demolition Under Way 8 

Scrap Metal from K-1101, K-1201 Demolition Prep Project Recycled 10

K-1035 Demolished 11

ETTP Demolition Projects Continue 12

Contaminated Surface Water, Groundwater at ETTP Addressed 14

Soil Remediation Work Begins at K-770 Scrapyard, K-1070-B 16

Reindustrialization Program Transfers Buildings, Land Parcels 17

Oak Ridge National Laboratory 18

Tank W-1A Remediation Planned 19

Facility Being Prepared to Process Large U-233 Inventory at ORNL 20

Plans Under Way to Decommission Bethel Valley Non-Reactor Facilities 21 

Demolition Initiated at 3026C&D 22

Planning Under Way for Demolition of 2000 Complex Facilities 24

Preparations Under Way for Bethel Valley Burial Grounds Remediation 25

Monitoring Wells to Be Installed to Check for Off-Site Contamination 26 

Soils, Sediment to be Remediated 26

Y-12 National Security Complex 27

UEFPC Remediation Under Way 28 

Y-12 Salvage Yard Being Remediated 29

Time-Critical Removal Actions Planned 30 

Waste Management 31

TSCA Incinerator Treats More Than 1.8 Million Pounds of Waste 32 

Waste Disposal Operations Continue 33

Landfills Being Expanded 34 

RFIDs Improve Shipping Efficiency 35

Millions of Gallons of Wastewater Treated at Reservation Facilities 36

TRU Waste Treatment Continues 37

Witherspoon Project Completed 38 

IFDP Planning Continues 39 

 

Public Involvement 40

Public Comments Sought on Variety of Significant Issues 41 

ORSSAB Provides Input on Several Key Reservation Issues 42

DOE Information Center 46

Information Resources 47

Commonly Used Acronyms 48

Contents
4

Introduction

Environmental Management (EM) is the largest 

DOE program in Oak Ridge, with cleanup programs under way to correct the legacies remaining from several 

years of energy research and weapons production. 

Because of past practices, portions of land and facilities on the 33,750-acre Oak Ridge Reservation are contaminated with radioactive elements, mercury, asbestos, 

polychlorinated biphenyls, and industrial wastes. 

The Oak Ridge Reservation is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List and 

is being cleaned up under a Federal Facility Agreement 

with the Environmental Protection Agency and the State 

of Tennessee.

In 2009, the program focused on cleanup efforts at 

East Tennessee Technology Park. The most visible project 

was the ongoing demolition of the massive K-25 Building. Significant progress has been made in cleaning up 

large gaseous diffusion buildings, various facilities, and 

contaminated ponds and soils at this site. Cleanup efforts 

also continued at the other sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The current focus of the EM Program is completing 

the high-priority projects of demolishing the K-25 Building and preparing for cleanup activities at the Oak Ridge 

National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.

New Funding Results in Expanded Work Scope

Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has allowed more cleanup 

work to be performed on the Reservation and has created 

and retained jobs for the local area. 

4
5

DOE Oak Ridge received $1.36 billion under the Act, 

with a large portion of that amount—$755 million—going to 

EM projects.

At the end of FY 2009, the Act had created 633 jobs and 

saved 198 at DOE facilities in Oak Ridge.

Many of the projects in this publication have been funded 

by ARRA and are denoted with the ARRA logo.

About ARRA Funding

On Feb. 13, 2009, Congress passed ARRA and President 

Obama signed it into law four days later. A direct response to 

the economic crisis, ARRA has three immediate goals:

• create new jobs as well as save existing ones,

• spur economic activity and invest in long-term economic 

growth, and

• foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending.

ARRA is achieving those goals by:

• providing $288 billion in tax cuts and benefits for millions of working families and businesses; 

• increasing federal funds for education and health care as 

well as entitlement programs (such as extending unemployment benefits) by $224 billion; 

• making $275 billion available for federal contracts, grants, 

and loans; and 

• requiring recipients of ARRA funds to report quarterly 

on the amount of monies spent, the status of the project, the number of jobs created and/or saved, and other 

details so that the public can track where the total $787 

billion Recovery funds are going and how they are being 

spent.

You can track the status of all ARRA funding, including 

the DOE Oak Ridge projects, on the Web site www.recovery.

gov.

5
66
7

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 cleanup for ultimate conversion 

to 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.

7
8

K-25 Building Demolition Under Way

Full-scale demolition of the K-25 Building began in 

December 2008 as workers began demolishing the west 

wing.

The K-25 Building, built during the Manhattan 

Project, covers 1.64 million ft2 and contains more than 

3,000 stages of gaseous diffusion and associated auxiliary equipment. Each stage consists of a converter, two 

compressors, two compressor motors, and associated 

piping. The footprint of the K-25 Building, the largest 

facility at ETTP, occupies about 40 acres.

At the end of FY 2009, two-thirds of the west wing 

had been demolished. Approximately 5,500 loads of demolition debris, 1,300 compressors, and 700 converters 

were shipped to the Environmental Management Waste 

Management Facility (EMWMF) for disposal.

Workers had earlier removed the 143-000-ft3 bridge 

connecting the west wing to the north end of the building. The bridge housed pipes that transferred uranium 

as it was undergoing enrichment between building 

wings. 

Pre-demolition activities continued in the east 

wing, including the removal of 104 of the 343 high-risk 

equipment items. Workers also continued performing 

vent, purge, drain, and inspection activities; asbestos removal; and draining of lubrication oil and coolant from 

the process system in both the east and north wings.

Measures were previously taken to improve the 

safety of workers inside the facility, including the installation of nets and barriers to add protection from falling 

debris.

8
9

Demolition of the west 

wing is pictured above. 

Workers are shown in the 

photo to the left loading 

converters removed from 

the west wing onto a flatbed 

truck for disposal.
10

Buildings K-1101 and K-1201, two 

structures contained within the K-25 Building’s U-shaped footprint, were being prepared for demolition in FY 2009. 

K-1101 and K-1201 were support facilities for the K-25 Building when it was operational. Removing the metal is part of the 

process to prepare the buildings for demolition. 

The scrap metal was originally slated to 

be sent to a nearby landfill, but officials determined that it could be recycled, thereby 

saving landfill space.

More than eight million pounds of scrap 

metal resulting from this project is being recycled. 

Scrap metal from K-1101 

and K-1201, which are being 

prepared for demolition, is 

being recycled rather than 

shipped to a landfill.

Scrap Metal from K-1101, K-1201

Demolition Prep Project Recycled
11

Building K-1035, which was 

built in the 1940s to house the maintenance division and serve as an instrument shop, was demolished in 

FY 2009.

In later years, the building was 

used by private tenants under DOE’s 

Reindustrialization Program.

Debris from demolition of the 

48,000 ft2

 structure was disposed of 

at EMWMF.

K-1035

Demolished

Demolition debris from the K-1035 building was 

loaded onto trucks and shipped to EMWMF.

Workers completed demolition of the K-1035 Building, a former 

maintenance and instrument shop, in the summer of 2009.
12

FY 2009 brought more changes to the ETTP landscape as facilities were demolished. Most buildings 

at ETTP, except for property transfer candidates, are 

scheduled for demolition. 

The facilities that will remain will be transferred to private sector organizations under the 

Reindustrialization Program. 

Eleven facilities (which include some complexes of 

multiple small buildings) and five land parcels at the 

former gaseous diffusion plant have been transferred.

Building demolition has been or is being performed 

through several projects: 

• Buildings K-25 and K-27, 

• Group I Auxiliary Facilities, 

• Group II, Phase 1 Main Plant Facilities, 

• Group II, Phase 2 Buildings (K-1064 Peninsula), 

• Group II, Phase 3 Remaining Facilities, and

• Buildings K-29/K-31/K-33. 

Because these are Removal Actions, the CERCLA 

Zone 1 and Zone 2 Records of Decision (RODs) will 

determine the final remedy for the contaminated slabs, 

soils, and below-grade structures.

K-25/K-27 Buildings

As mentioned previously, the K-25 Building is 

undergoing demolition. Pre-demolition work was initiated in Building K-27. Work completed in the K-27 

Building during FY 2009 includes installation of 90% of 

Potential Reuse Equipment removal/

pre-demolition Demolished

East Tennessee

Technology Park

K-25

K-33

K-31

K-27 K-29

K-1401

Centrifuge 

Facilities

K-1420

K-1007

K-1330

K-1225

TSCA

Incinerator

K-1580

Po

plar Creek

Clinch

Riv

er

K-1652

K-1400

K-1036

Transferred

K-1064

Peninsula

K-1035

ETTP Demolition Projects Continue

Demolition

under way

K-1231, 

K-1233,

& K-413
13

construction power and removal of 80% of the combustibles from the vault and cell level.

Group I: Auxiliary Facilities

In FY 1997, DOE signed an Action Memorandum 

to demolish five ETTP auxiliary facilities. This project 

began in FY 1998 and was completed in FY 2006. In FY 

2006, the final Removal Action Report was prepared.

Group II, Phase 1: Main Plant Facilities

In FY 2000, DOE signed an Action Memorandum 

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, Phase 2: K-1064 Facilities

DOE signed an Action Memorandum in July 2002 

for the demolition of 18 facilities and the removal of 

scrap material located in the K-1064 peninsula area. In 

FY 2007, the work was completed, and the Removal Action Report was prepared.

Group II, Phase 3: Remaining Facilities

In September 2003, DOE signed an Action Memorandum to demolish the approximately 500 remaining 

facilities. In FY 2009, four predominantly uncontaminated facilities and 11 low-risk/low-complexity facilities 

K-27 Building

were demolished. In the Poplar Creek area, three high 

risk buildings were demolished in FY 2009: K-1231, 

K-1233, and K-413.

K-29/K-31/K-33 Buildings

DOE signed an Action Memorandum 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, and the Removal Action Report was prepared 

in FY 2006. Building K-29 was later demolished after 

DOE determined that the facility was not suitable for 

reindustrialization.

K-413 before, during, 

and after demolition
14

Demolition of , a gaseous diffusion process support building

Remediation activities to reduce ETTP groundwater and surface water contamination were initiated 

in FY 2009. These efforts included fish removal from 

three contaminated holding ponds: one near Building K-1007 and two adjacent to Highway 58. Approximately 8.5 tons of fish were removed from the ponds. 

The fish removal was necessary because the species 

that were in the ponds would stir the contaminated 

sediment at the bottom. The largest pond was drained,

recontoured, and revegetated.

An Action Memorandum for the remediation of 

the holding ponds as well as K-720 Slough and K-770 

Embayment was approved in FY 2007. The Remedial 

Action Work Plan and the Sampling and Analysis Plan 

were completed in FY 2008. 

A time-critical Action Memorandum to address releases of hexavalent chromium to Mitchell Branch was 

approved in FY 2008. Chromium releases into Mitchell 

Branch were causing exceedances of the ambient water quality criteria. In response to this release, DOE 

completed a time-critical removal action to extract the 

contaminated groundwater. Since completion of this 

removal action in 2008, the concentration of chromium 

in Mitchell Branch has been reduced to ambient water 

quality criteria. 

DOE proposed a non-time-critical Removal Action 

in FY 2009 for a long-term solution to the release of 

hexavalent chromium. An Engineering Evaluation/

Cost Analysis was drafted. This document and the 

Action Memorandum will be prepared in FY 2010.

Contaminated Surface Water,

Groundwater at ETTP Addressed

Workers are revegetating an area near an ETTP holding pond that was recontoured in FY 2009.
15

A two-phase groundwater treatability study at 

ETTP began in FY 2009 to support selection of a sitewide groundwater remedy. The purpose of the study 

was to determine the feasibility of in situ treatment 

technologies to restore the groundwater. Two in situ 

technologies have been identified as possibilities, and 

one or both may be suitable: thermal conductive heating and biological treatment. 

The purpose of the first phase of the study was 

to characterize and delineate suspected areas of solvent contamination. Seven boreholes were installed to 

depths of 110 to 160 feet below ground surface. Sampling of selected intervals in the boreholes will be initiated in FY 2010. Once data are collected, a workshop to 

select a treatment technology for Phase 2 of the study 

will be conducted in late-winter or early spring of 2010. 

Workers examine core samples 

taken as part of the groundwater 

treatability study.

A drill rig is being set up 

to take core samples.
16

Excavation of contaminated soil 

was initiated in two areas of ETTP: 

the K-770 Scrapyard and the K1070-B Burial Ground. 

K-770 is located in an area called 

Zone 1, which is the 1,400-acre area 

surrounding ETTP outside the main 

plant perimeter. Scrap was previously removed from the site under a different remediation effort. K-1070-B 

is located in Zone 2, which is the 

main plant area (approximately 800 

acres).

The soil at ETTP is to be remediated to a level that protects a future 

industrial work force and the underlying groundwater. Records of Decision (RODs) are in place that address 

soil, slabs, subsurface structures, and 

burial grounds for both zones.

Soil Remediation Work Begin at 

K-770 Scrapyard, K-1070-B 

The Zone 1 ROD was signed 

in November 2002, and the Zone 2 

ROD was signed in April 2005. 

In Zone 1, soil characterization 

continued in FY 2009 to determine 

whether additional remediation is 

needed. In Zone 2, characterization 

continued in the main portion of 

ETTP.

Excavation of 

contaminated soil at the 

K-770 area

K-770 Scrapyard before 

scrap removal completion
17

DOE Oak Ridge Office’s 

Reindustrialization Program 

transferred the Phase I Electrical Distribution System and 

Phase I Plant Roadway System 

to the City of Oak Ridge in FY 

2009. The Phase I portion of the 

electrical system included all 

direct off-site main plant power 

lines. The Phase I portion of the 

plant roadway system included 

the main plant entry and arterial 

roadways. 

DOE also transferred Buildings K-1000, K-1501 H&L, and 

K-1008-F, as well as Land Parcels ED-4 and ED-5 West to the 

Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee (CROET). CROET completely renovated the structure and grounds of the 2,500-ft2 K-1000 

Building to serve as the main park welcome center. Building K-1501H&L is a 3,000-ft2

 structure used as the main 

maintenance structure by the private sector site roads and ground maintenance contractor. The 6,300-ft2 K-1008-F 

Building is currently leased to a private sector company for use as its corporate area headquarters. 

ED-4 is comprised of two land parcels that total approximately 14 acres and is located adjacent to Highway 58. 

This parcel of land is being slated for new development. 

Land Parcel ED-5 West, in the front quadrant of ETTP, is approximately 28 acres and has also been slated for new 

development. CROET has begun construction on two new speculative buildings on that parcel.

In addition to transfers, DOE also removed and recycled approximately 3,000 ft2

 of former security fence, shrinking the plant security area to better facilitate reindustrialization efforts. 

These transfers are part of DOE’s plan to transform ETTP into a private sector business/industrial park. Additional buildings at ETTP and several land areas are in various stages of the transfer process.

Reindustrialization Program

Transfers Buildings, Land Parcels

Artist’s 

rendering of 

a speculative 

building being 

constructed on 

Parcel ED-5 at 

ETTP

Building K-1000 has been renovated and is now ETTP’s welcome center.
18

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has become one of

the world’s most modern campuses for scientific discovery 

in materials and chemical sciences, nuclear science, energy 

research, and super-computing. However, among all this modern 

infrastructure are large contaminated areas that resulted from 

years of former operation and waste storage. The Environmental 

Management Program has divided ORNL into two major cleanup 

areas: Bethel Valley and Melton Valley. The Bethel Valley area 

includes the principal research facilities, and the Melton Valley 

Area was used for reactors and waste management.

18
19

An area of groundwater contamination resulting 

from Tank W-1A, called the 

Core Hole 8 plume, was the 

focus of early actions taken 

by DOE at ORNL. 

The plume, located in 

the central portion of the 

ORNL main plant area, emanates from contaminated 

soil surrounding Tank W-1A 

in the North Tank Farm and 

migrates westward to a nearby 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.

Remediating Tank W-1A 

has been on hold pending 

funding, but in FY 2009 it 

was identified as a project that 

would receive ARRA funds. 

Planned remediation includes excavating, packaging, and transporting waste for disposal; removing, sizereducing, containerizing, and transporting the concrete 

pad and tank supports and tank shell to the Nevada Test 

Site; and performing soil sampling and characterization 

along a Tank W-1A feed pipeline to delineate the extent, 

Tank W-1A Remediation Planned

Soil sampling at Tank W-1A has helped characterize the contaminants

type, and concentration of contamination for excavation. 

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

The engineering and planning will take place in 

early 2010. The field

work is expected to

begin in early 2011.

Tank W-1A is located in the 

central portion of ORNL and is 

surrounded by contaminated soil.
20

Oak Ridge has a significant inventory of Uranium-233 

(U-233) currently stored in Building 3019 at ORNL. 

U-233 is a special nuclear material that requires strict 

safeguards and security controls to protect against access. 

The U-233 Material Downblending and Disposition 

Project was initiated to address safeguards and security 

requirements, eliminate safety and nuclear criticality 

concerns, and ship the material to an approved receiver 

site. Treating the U-233 inventory as expeditiously as possible will reduce the substantial annual costs associated 

with safeguards and security requirements, eliminate the 

risk of a nuclear criticality event, and avoid the need for 

future facility upgrades to Building 3019 to ensure safe 

storage of the inventory.

The U-233 downblending and disposition process is a 

remote-handled operation due to the highly radioactive 

nature of the U-233 material. Therefore, the downblending process will be conducted in Building 3019 inside 

a manipulator-equipped hot cell, and the drying and 

packaging process will be conducted in a heavily shielded, 

remotely-operated system in the Building 3019 annex adjacent to Building 3019. Modifications to Building 3019 

to allow processing of the U-233 is in the design phase, 

which is 60 percent complete. 

The U-233 Project has experienced some design 

and operational changes since FY 2008. Due to structural concerns with Building 3019, the project intends 

to construct an annex facility exterior and adjacent to 

Building 3019 to house the drying and packaging operations. After researching historical documentation, 

project personnel determined that the U-233 inventory 

does not contain transuranic elements to the extent that 

would require the downblended material to require disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. 

The downblended inventory will be disposed of at the 

Nevada Test Site as remote-handled low-level waste. 

In addition, as a result of concerns regarding the integrity of the 3020 emissions stack, which would handle 

emissions from the project, the U-233 Project will demolish the existing stack under a time-critical removal 

action and construct a replacement stack to support 

processing operations. Two auxiliary structures will also 

be removed under this action. The removal of the two 

structures will allow for the addition of the annex.

Facility Being Prepared to Process

Large U-233 Inventory at ORNL

3019 Complex
21

Plans Under Way to Decommission

Bethel Valley Non-Reactor Facilities

In FY 2009, DOE prepared a Remedial Design Report/Remedial Action Work Plan (RDR/RAWP) for 

Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) of non‐reactor facilities and legacy material removal in the 

Bethel Valley Watershed at ORNL. The RDR/RAWP addresses D&D of approximately 180 facilities including: 

• near‐term projects funded by ARRA that are planned for completion in 2011, and 

• other (non‐ARRA funded) facility D&D and legacy material removal scope 

planned for implementation during a 20+ year period. 

Non‐reactor facility D&D and legacy material removal activities will protect human health and the environment, as specified in the ROD for Interim 

Actions in Bethel Valley. The activities will also support the planned modernization of ORNL. Remediation of building slabs and soils, D&D of reactor 

facilities, and other remedial actions identified in the ROD will be addressed 

in separate CERCLA documents. 

Key work components described in the RDR/RAWP are site preparation, removal of legacy material, building D&D to slab or grade level, waste management, 

site restoration, and demobilization. The RDR/RAWP identifies the various controls that will be implemented 

to protect construction workers, site workers, the public, and the environment. It describes the general methods 

of accomplishment that will be used to perform the work. 

Procurement activities for ARRA projects were in progress at the end of FY 2009. Regulator comments were 

being incorporated to finalize the RDR/RAWP. 

Bethel Valley non-reactor facilities are highlighted in yellow, the majority which are located in ORNL’s Central 

Campus, located between the modernized East and West campuses.
22

Demolition was initiated on one of the highest hazard excess facilities at ORNL: the 3026C&D Radioisotope Development Laboratory. This building—one of 

the original Manhattan Project facilities—has a footprint of approximately 20,000 ft2

 and contains several 

hot cells and associated pipes and ducts that are highly 

contaminated.

The wooden structure in which the hot cells are located has deteriorated significantly over the years due 

to age and roof leaks. A roof failure in 2007 damaged 

the fire suppression sprinkler system, requiring it to be 

deactivated. This deactivation presented potential fire 

hazards to nearby facilities and the potential for contaminant release if a fire occurred in the facility. DOE 

determined that the resulting risks warranted implementing a time-critical Removal Action to remove the 

3026C&D wooden structure. 

A high-priority, accelerated project plan was developed by UT-Battelle and approved by DOE to prepare 

for demolition of the wooden structure. The Waste Handling Plan and associated Sampling and Analysis Plan/

Quality Assurance Project Plan was prepared, reviewed, 

and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency 

Demolition Initiated at 3026C&D

and the Tennessee Department of Environment and 

Conservation. The facility structural condition was assessed, and shoring was installed to ensure safe access 

for workers to most areas of the facility. The facility was 

surveyed to establish baseline hazardous material conditions so that appropriate worker protection measures 

could be identified and implemented. Samples and analytical data were developed, 

and a waste profile was 

prepared and approved 

for disposal of the majority of demolition 

debris at EMWMF as 

well as disposal of selected items off-site. 

Associated cell piping and ductwork were 

treated with stabilizing agents 

to minimize the potential for release of contaminants 

during the demolition process. The facility was disconnected from utility systems (water, steam, air, and ventilation).

3026 facility
23

A subcontract was established with Clauss Construction, LLC, a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned 

Business, to demolish the wooden structure. The activities required to prepare for final demolition of the 

wooden superstructure were initiated and are now approximately 75% complete, including removal of asbestoscontaining materials (floor tile, transite, thermal insulation); removal of hazardous materials, such as lead 

shielding, light bulbs, mercury switches, and oils; and 

removal of hot cell piping and ductwork. At the end of 

FY 2009, final preparations were in progress to begin 

shipping and disposing of asbestos-containing debris at 

EMWMF. 

Demolition of the 3026 wooden structure is expected to be completed in early FY 2010. A follow on project is planned to be initiated later in FY 2010 to demolish the remaining 3026 hot cell structures. 

Inside the 3026 

laboratory

3026 facility
24

Planning was under way in FY 2009 for the demolition of the 2000 Complex at ORNL. The 2000 Complex 

is located in the northwest corner of the central campus 

area and includes eight facilities and structures totaling 

approximately 60,000 ft2

.

The eight facilities are Buildings 2000, 2001, and 

2024, and the ancillary support facilities 2019, 2034, 

2087, 2088, and 2092. The facilities are in severe disrepair and have been vacant for approximately six years. 

These facilities were used to support the ORNL research 

projects in the late 1940s. 

A high-priority, accelerated project plan was developed by UT-Battelle and submitted and approved by 

DOE. The demolition will be conducted in two phases 

with the first phase (2000 Complex East) consisting of 

six buildings (2001, 2019, 2024, 2087, 2088 and 2092) 

and the second phase (2000 Complex West) consisting 

of the 2000 and 2034 buildings. 

Planning Under Way for Demolition

Of 2000 Complex Facilities

The project waste will primarily be disposed of at 

on-site facilities, including EMWMF and Y-12 Landfills. 

The Waste Handling Plan and associated Sampling and 

Analysis Plan/Quality Assurance Project Plan are in development, with approval anticipated in early FY 2010.

A subcontract was established with Safety and Ecology Corporation for the demolition of the 2000 Complex East buildings, and the contractor is expected to 

mobilize in early FY 2010. 

Demolition of the 2000 

Complex East buildings 

is expected to be completed by the spring 

of 2010. Demolition 

of the 2000 Complex 

West facilities is expected to be completed 

in the late fall of 2010. 

The 2000 

Complex 

facilities are 

no longer used 

and will be 

demolished
25

In 2009, DOE prepared a Remedial 

Design Report/Remedial Action Work Plan 

(RDR/RAWP) that presents the design for 

hydrologic isolation of buried waste at the 

Bethel Valley Burial Grounds at ORNL. 

The RDR/RAWP addresses remediation 

of two former waste sites that are sources 

of contaminant release: Solid Waste Storage 

Area (SWSA) 1 in Central Bethel Valley 

and SWSA 3 in West Bethel Valley. 

The RDR/RAWP also addresses contaminated areas in the vicinity of the two 

SWSAs. The Bethel Valley Burial Grounds 

remediation project is planned to be performed with ARRA funding and be completed in 2011. 

 Strontium‐90 and other radionuclides 

are contaminants of concern at SWSAs 1 

and 3. The Bethel Valley Burial Grounds 

remediation will hydrologically isolate these SWSAs 

and remove and dispose of associated “hot spot” 

soil contamination.

Hydrologic isolation consists of placing separate 

multi‐layer caps over the two waste areas to prevent 

exposure to waste contaminants and minimize generation of contaminated groundwater from buried 

waste. An upgradient trench at SWSA 3 will divert 

clean water away from waste to enhance hydrologic 

isolation effectiveness. 

A low‐permeability cap will be placed at SWSA 

1. Additionally, soil covers to prevent direct exposure will be installed and maintained at the Former 

Waste Pile Area and the Nonradioactive Wastewater Treatment Plant Debris Pile near SWSA 1, and 

the Contractor’s Landfill near 

SWSA 3. 

 A contract for 

Bethel Valley Burial 

Grounds remediation 

has been awarded. 

Resolution of regulator comments to finalize the RDR/RAWP 

is in progress.

Preparations Under Way for Bethel 

Valley Burial Grounds Remediation

SWSA 1

SWSA 3

Hydrologic Isolation: An Effective Means of Remediation

The Bethel Valley Burial Grounds will not be the first Reservation 

waste site to be remediated through hydrologic isolation. The process was used on solid waste storage areas in Melton Valley and have 

proven to be effective since installation was completed in 2006.
26

DOE plans to install monitoring wells opposite the Oak Ridge Reservation side of the 

Clinch River to monitor for potential ORNL site-related contaminants.

The Melton Valley Off-Site Monitoring Well project will use a small business 

drilling firm to drill and install 16 monitoring wells at four different off-site locations. Following well installation, each well will be monitored to determine 

groundwater flow potential under the Clinch River, along with sampling to 

evaluate groundwater chemistry. These monitoring wells will yield data that can 

reduce uncertainty about the feasibility of ORNL groundwater contamination 

migrating beyond the Clinch River. Accurate data will allow DOE to provide reliable information to the public concerning groundwater conditions beyond the Oak 

Ridge Reservation. Installation of these wells is an expansion of the current well network 

at ORNL.

Major accomplishments in FY 2009 include the development of a monitoring plan, procurement of a drilling 

subcontractor, acquisition of two of the four property access agreements, surveying of the available properties, development of work control documents, development of site plans, and construction of access roads.

Monitoring Wells to Be Installed

To Check for Off-Site Contamination

Access roads 

are being built

to facilitate the 

installation 

of off-site 

monitoring 

wells.

The ORNL Soils and Sediment Project will complete 

removal of contaminated soils and sediments to protect 

workers and groundwater as specified in the Bethel Valley Interim Record of Decision. 

The Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) for the 

project provides the approach that will be followed to 

characterize soils and sediments to ensure that the soil 

cleanup requirements for Bethel Valley are met. The initial draft of the RAWP was submitted to the regulators 

in 2008 and a revised draft submitted in 2009. Officials 

are working to resolve regulator comments and finalize 

the RAWP by early FY 2010. The next step in the process 

is to implement the RAWP strategy by conducting a series of workshops to identify sampling needs in specific 

portions of Bethel Valley. 

The initial workshop, which focused on the northwest corner of the ORNL main campus, has been completed and agreement has been reached on detailed sampling requirements. 

Field sampling activities for this area are planned to 

be started in FY 2010. Additional workshops on the remaining areas will also be conducted in FY 2010.

Soils, Sediment to be Remediated
27

Y-12 National Security Complex

The Y-12 National Security Complex is a premier 

manufacturing facility dedicated to making our nation and 

the world a safer place. The Y-12 Complex helps ensure a 

safe and reliable U.S. nuclear weapons deterrent. The site 

also retrieves and stores nuclear materials, fuels the nation’s 

naval reactors, and performs complementary work for other 

government and private-sector entities. 

27
28

 Remediation of the Upper East Fork Poplar Creek (UEFPC) Watershed is being conducted in stages under Records of Decision using a phased approach. Phase 1 addresses 

remediation of mercury-contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater discharges 

that contribute contamination to surface water. 

The initial project of the Phase 1 ROD, construction of the Big Springs Water 

Treatment System, was completed in 2006. The system has been fully operational 

since September 2006, removing mercury from local spring and sump waters that 

discharge to UEFPC.

With ARRA funding, cleanup and repair of storm sewers in the West End 

Mercury Area (historic mercury use area) was initiated in FY 2009. The initial phase, 

videotaping the storm sewer system, has been completed and the videotape has been 

evaluated. 

An Engineering Study Report that documents the results has been completed and submitted to the regulatory 

agencies for their comment. Future phases of this action will include the removal of contaminated sediments from 

the storm sewers and relining or replacement of leaking sewer sections. This action is part of three actions identified 

in the Phase 1 ROD to limit mercury migration by hydraulically isolating the West End Mercury Area. A Characterization Plan for the 81-10 Area, the site of a historic mercury recovery process, has been prepared and submitted to 

the regulatory agencies for comment.

 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. The Phase 2 ROD was approved by all FFA parties in April 2006. 

The initial project of the Phase 2 ROD is remediation of the Y-12 Old Salvage Yard. The Y-12 Old Salvage Yard 

Project started in 2009 using ARRA funding (see article on next page). In addition, a Remedial Action Work Plan for 

remediation of all contaminated soils at the Y-12 Complex has been submitted to the regulatory agencies for comment and approval.

 

UEFPC Remediation Under Way

A video assessment of 

the West End Mercury 

Area storm sewer system 

provides important data 

on the condition of the 

sewer lines.
29

Y-12 Salvage 

Yard Being

Remediated

Cleanup of the 7-acre Y-12 Complex Old Salvage Yard was initiated in May 2009. The salvage yard is located 

both within and outside the high security area of the Y-12 National Security Complex. ARRA funds are being used 

to clean up the site. 

The scrap at the salvage yard is generally contaminated with depleted uranium. Before 

1995, the site received scrap into open piles. Since 1995, and prior to shutdown, procedures required that all scrap metal be placed inside containers. On October 12, 1999, 

the salvage yard ceased operations. 

Sanitary waste is being sent to the Y-12 Landfill. When cleanup operations 

began, the yard contained more than 31,000 yd3 of scrap metal. A total of 133 B-25 

boxes of radioactive waste that had been previously containerized was sent to the 

Nevada Test Site. A Waste Handling Plan is being prepared for submission to the 

regulators to allow disposal of radioactive waste from the salvage yard at EMWMF. 

Complete disposition of all material is expected by June 2011.

Y-12 Salvage 

Yard
30

ARRA funding was received in FY 2009 to expedite 

removal of legacy wastes and building demolition at the 

Y-12 National Security Complex. Two CERCLA TimeCritical Removal Actions were initiated to remove 

legacy wastes from the Alpha 5 and Beta 4 buildings 

and to demolish some 

of the Biology Complex 

Buildings. 

A Waste Handling Plan 

has been prepared for submission to the regulators to allow disposition of Alpha 5 

wastes at EMWMF. Selected wastes are being packaged 

for shipment to the Nevada Test Site, while wastes meeting the Y-12 Landfill waste acceptance criteria are being 

disposed at that facility. 

Completion of legacy material disposition from these 

facilities is anticipated by September 2011. Deactivation 

of the Biology Complex Facilities (Buildings 9769, 9211, 

9220, 9224, and 9735) has been initiated. Demolition of 

these facilities is expected by September 2011.

Time-Critical Removal

Actions Planned

Beta 4 legacy waste materials

Alpha 5 legacy waste materials
28 31

Waste Management and Off-Site

Wastes on the Oak Ridge Reservation are being disposed 

in a variety of ways. Much of the waste is going into the 

on-site Environmental Management Waste Management 

Facility. Wastewater is treated in the Central Neutralization 

Facility at ETTP, and radioactive PCBs and other hazardous 

wastes are incinerated in ETTP’s Toxic Substances Control 

Act Incinerator.

31
32

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator, located at ETTP, treated 1.822 million pounds of 

waste in FY 2009 (1.680 million pounds of liquid waste 

and 142,129 pounds of solid waste). 

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

treatment unit. It has played a key role in treatment of 

radioactive PCB and hazardous wastes (mixed wastes) 

from the Oak Ridge Reservation, as well as other facilities across the DOE complex, thus facilitating compliance with regulatory and site closure milestones. The 

facility, located on the eastern edge of the ETTP site, has 

TSCA Incinerator Treats More

Than 1.8 Million Pounds of Waste

TSCA Incinerator

operated since 1991 and has treated more than 34 million pounds of waste since inception.

DOE is planning to shut down the TSCA Incinerator 

in early FY 2010 after incinerating the remaining liquid 

waste inventory and material generated during the liquid closure activities. Closure activities at the Incinerator 

will continue into FY 2010 to remove residual waste such 

as sludge, ash, and scrubber packing material. 

After FY 2009, DOE will demolish this facility under 

the CERCLA Removal Action for the remaining facilities at ETTP.
33

The Environmental Management Waste Management 

Facility (EMWMF), located in 

east Bear Creek Valley near the 

Y-12 Complex, was selected as 

the remedy for disposal of waste 

resulting from CERCLA cleanup 

actions on the Oak Ridge Reservation. This remedy called for 

the detailed design, construction, operation, and closure of a 

1.7 million yd3

 disposal facility. 

The facility currently consists of four disposal cells with 

a fifth cell under construction at 

the end of FY September 2009 

(see article on next page). 

EMWMF is an engineered 

landfill that accepts low-level radioactive and hazardous wastes 

that meet specific waste acceptance criteria developed in accordance with agreements 

with state and federal regulators. Waste types that qualify for disposal include soil, dried sludge and sediment, 

solidified wastes, stabilized waste, building debris, scrap 

equipment, and secondary waste such as personal protective equipment.

During FY 2009, EMWMF operations collected, 

analyzed, and dispositioned approximately 3.4 million gallons of leachate at the ORNL Liquids and Gases 

Treatment Facility. An additional 8.9 million gallons 

of contact water was collected and analyzed. After determining that it met the release criteria, the water was 

released to the sediment basin. Operating practices also 

effectively controlled site erosion and sediments.

EMWMF received approximately 14,700 truckloads of waste accounting for approximately 173,600 

tons during FY 2009. Projects that have disposed of 

waste at EMWMF during the fiscal year include the following:

• David Witherspoon, Inc. 1630 Site Remedial Action 

Project;

• K-25/K-27 Project, including hazardous materials abatement, excess materials removal, and K-25 

Building (west wing) demolition debris and equipment; and

• ETTP Decontamination and Decommissioning 

Project, including K-1401, K-1066-G Scrapyard, K1070-B Burial Ground, and K-1035 demolition debris.

Concurrent with the activities at EMWMF, DOE 

also operates solid waste disposal facilities called the 

Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills (ORRL), which are located near the Y-12 Complex. 

The ORRL are engineered facilities permitted by the 

State Division of Solid Waste for the disposal of sanitary, 

industrial, construction, and demolition waste that meet 

the waste acceptance criteria for each landfill. In FY 

2009, more than 145,000 yd3

 of industrial, construction/

demolition, classified, and spoil material waste were disposed. 

Operation of the ORRL generated more than 1.6 

million gallons of leachate that was collected, monitored, and discharged to the Oak Ridge sewer system. 

EMWMF and ORRL are serving the disposal needs 

of the Oak Ridge Reservation cleanup program as well as 

the active missions of ORNL and the Y-12 Complex.

Cell construction at EMWMF
34

EMWMF and Landfill V of ORRL are being expanded with funding from ARRA.

At EMWMF, the amount of capacity remaining in 

Cells 2 3, and 4 continues to diminish. 

To ensure the continuity of disposal capacity for 

ORR cleanup waste, Cell 5 was redesigned to enable a 

sixth cell to be added if appropriate regulatory approvals 

are secured. Construction of Cell 5 began in May 2009. 

By the end of FY 2009, all of the geologic buffer had 

been placed and the berms had been constructed, making Cell 5 ready to receive the clay necessary to build the 

low permeability liner. 

Cell 5 construction will continue through the winter 

and spring to enable the facility to be ready to receive 

waste in August 2010. Cell 5 will bring the total facility 

capacity to just under 1,700,000 yd3

.

An Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) to 

EMWMF’s Record of Decision was drafted for Cell 6. 

The ESD details necessary changes to the Record of Decision. The 

design for Cell 6 was 

started in anticipation 

of a favorable decision on 

the ESD and to position the 

project to start construction in the 

Spring 2010 if funding can be obtained. The capacity of 

EMWMF will increase to 2,200,000 yd3

 with the addition of Cell 6. 

The ORRL Landfill V is used for disposal of sanitary, 

industrial, construction, and demolition waste. Expansion of the landfill, located near the Y-12 Complex, will 

increase capacity by 385,000 yd3

 to provide more capacity for the increased cleanup work on the Reservation. 

The expansion also includes upgrading and refurbishing 

support facilities.

Landfills Being Expanded

Liner being placed in Cell 5 at EMWMF
35

Cells 1-4

Cell 5

Cell 6

Environmental Management Waste Management Facility

Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFIDs) are being

used for waste shipments to 

EMWMF to eliminate paperwork 

and decrease shipment cycle time.

With the RFID, a truck identification number and tare weight 

are programmed on an RFID tag 

on the truck. The data on the tag is 

read by RFID towers.

This system provides real-time 

data tracking, eliminates errors associated with manual data entry, 

provides important information to 

study and improve cycle times, and 

improves physical security control 

of materials being transported 

over the haul road.

RFIDs Improve Shipping Efficiency

The RFID tower (yellow device) reads the shipping information on trucks. 
36

The Central Neutralization Facility located at ETTP 

treated 13.7 million gallons of wastewater in FY 2009. 

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 offsite. 

With the shutdown of the TSCA Incinerator, the 

Central Neutralization Facility will be operated at a 

reduced capacity on day shift only instead of the current 24/7 operation. The main waste stream will be the 

hexavalent chromium-contaminated groundwater collected from Mitchell Branch. The facility will also continue to treat wastewaters generated at the TSCA Incinerator until the facility shutdown is accomplished.

At ORNL, approximately 130 million gallons of 

wastewater were treated and released at the Process 

Waste Treatment Complex. In addition, the liquid lowlevel waste evaporator at ORNL treated 130,700 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 2009.

The National Nuclear Security Administration 

(NNSA) at the Y-12 Complex treated 135.5 million gallons of contaminated ground/sump water at the Groundwater Treatment Facility, the Central Mercury Treatment 

System, Big Springs Water Treatment System, and the 

East End Volatile Organic Compounds Treatment System. The Big Springs Water Treatment System treated 

115.3 million gallons of mercury-contaminated groundwater and realized an annual savings of $10,000 by optimizing the treatment system to reduce filter change-out 

and disposal. 

The East End Volatile Organic Compound Treatment System treated 15.1 million gallons of contaminated groundwater. The West End Treatment Facility and 

the Central Pollution Control Facility at the Y-12 Complex processed 847,000 gallons of wastewater primarily 

in support of NNSA operational activities. 

The Central Pollution Control Facility also downblended more than 30,000 gallons of enriched wastewaters using legacy and newly generated uranium oxides 

from on-site storage. 

Millions of Gallons of Wastewater 

Treated at Reservation Facilities 

Central Neutralization Facility
37

Transuranic radioactive waste, or TRU, is one of 

several types of waste handled on the Oak Ridge Reservation. Transuranic waste contains man-made elements 

heavier than uranium, such as plutonium, hence the 

name “trans” or “beyond” uranium. 

TRU waste material is generally associated with 

the human manipulation of fissionable material dating 

back to the Manhattan Project and primarily consists of 

clothing, tools, rags, residues, soil, and debris.

The TRU Waste Processing Center’s function is to 

characterize and package TRU waste for transportation 

and disposition at DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant 

(WIPP) in New Mexico, which provides permanent isolation and disposal in underground salt caverns. 

Any mixed low-level waste or low-level waste processed from the TRU waste inventory is prepared for 

compliant disposal at the Nevada Test Site.

 Currently, two waste streams, CH-TRU solids and 

RH-TRU solids, are being processed at the TWPC. 

ARRA funding was provided to the TWPC to accelerate 

the project scope. This increase in funding allowed for 

early startup of a second shift at the site, resulting in an 

TRU Waste Treatment Continues

increase in CH-TRU and RH-TRU production that will 

be realized during the next few years.

During FY 2009, the TWPC processed 15.7 m3 of 

the RH-TRU waste, reaching a total of 20.7 m3 of processed waste. The TWPC also met another milestone 

by completing the first shipment of processed RH-TRU 

waste to WIPP in February 2009. 

The TWPC shipped 

a total of 3.8 m3 of RHTRU waste to WIPP in 

FY 2009. It also completed significant RH 

hot cell processing improvements.

During FY 2009, the 

Central Characterization 

Project, working with the assistance of TWPC personnel, continued the development of documentation required for certification of 

TRU waste for shipment to WIPP. 

Processing of the final waste stream, RH sludge, is 

scheduled to begin in 2013. 

Transuranic Waste Facility
38

From the early 1950s until 1984, DOE and its predecessors sold scrap radioactive and hazardous materials from its Oak Ridge operations to local permitted 

dealers in Oak Ridge and Knoxville, Tenn. One of those 

scrap dealers was David Witherspoon Inc. (DWI), which 

owned and operated two facilities in South Knoxville. 

The two sites are known as the DWI 901 and 1630 

sites. The DWI 901 site cleanup and restoration was 

completed in November 2006, and then the focus shifted to cleanup of the DWI 1630 site. That site consisted 

of contaminated soil, scrap, and an on-site landfill. The 

cleanup work involved removing the contaminated material outside of the landfill and recovering/contouring 

the landfill cap.

By the end of the first quarter of FY 2009, all contaminated soil and debris outside of the on-site landfill had 

been excavated, processed, and transported to EMWMF. 

The quantity of waste transported to the Oak Ridge facility was approximately 140,000 yd3

. This amount equates 

to 9,400 truck loads and was 40,000 yd3 greater than anticipated primarily due to deep disposal immediately adjacent to, but outside of, the landfill limits. The additional 

40,000 yd3 of waste required specific sorting and segregation to meet the disposal requirements of EMWMF. 

Another 800 yd3 of contaminated soil required onsite treatment to meet the requirements of EMWMF. 

Despite the additional waste and additional treatment 

requirement, the DWI 1630 project was completed six 

months ahead of schedule and approximately $4M under the budgeted cost.

Final backfill and site restoration was completed 

in February 2009. An estimated 110,000 yd3

 of backfill 

was required to restore the site with proper contours to 

promote appropriate drainage. Of the 110,000 yd3 of fill, 

25,000 yd3 were used to recontour an existing landfill cap 

on site.

Witherspoon Project Completed

After 

remediation

One of the 

Witherspoon sites 

before remediation
39

The Integrated Facility Disposition Program (IFDP) 

is a cooperative effort among DOE organizations to 

eliminate the high-risk legacies of the Manhattan Project and Cold War, complete the environmental cleanup 

mission, and enable ongoing modernization of ORNL 

and the Y-12 Complex. IFDP planning continued in FY 

2009. 

EM is the DOE lead for IFDP. The Office of Science 

(SC), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), and the National 

Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) support the 

IFDP and continue to work collaboratively with EM to 

plan the project. 

Part of the IFDP scope is already in the existing EM 

Baseline, and the remainder is newly identified work, 

including the deactivation and decommissioning of additional excess facilities that will be transferred from SC, 

NE, and NNSA. IFDP scope includes: 

• decontamination and decommissioning of excess facilities; 

IFDP Planning Continues • treatment and disposition of legacy materials/waste, 

including remote-handled and transuranic materials/waste;

• soil and groundwater remedial actions;

• reconfiguration of waste management facilities and 

utilities at ORNL and Y-12;

• surveillance and maintenance of excess facilities; 

and

• waste treatment and disposal operations. 

The IFDP CD-1 package, Alternative Selection and 

Cost Range, was submitted to DOE Headquarters for 

review in June 2008 and was approved by the Assistant 

Secretary for EM on November 17, 2008. 

The approved cost range for the Program is $9.4 billion to $14.5 billion. The schedule range for completion 

of the work is FY 2036-2039. The Oak Ridge Office now 

moves toward assembling the CD-2 data package, which 

consists of a life cycle baseline that will be submitted to 

DOE Headquarters for approval.

IFDP will assist 

the Y-12 Complex 

and ORNL with 

reconfiguration of 

waste management 

facilities and utilities.
40

Public Involvement

The public is involved in all cleanup decisions made by 

DOE. To keep the public informed, DOE provides information to the public through a variety of outlets, including fact sheets, public notices in newspapers, meetings, the 

monthly Public Involvement News newsletter, and other 

publications.

40
41

Comments were solicited on a variety of significant cleanup/remediation documents and plans in FY 2009. 

Issues to which the public provided input include the following:

• Draft Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, which provides an 

analysis of the potential environmental consequences of the reasonable alternatives to support expansion of 

domestic and international nuclear energy production;

• Proposed approval of the radioactive, remote-handled transuranic waste characterization program implemented 

by the Central Characterization Project in Oak Ridge;

• Revision of DOE’s Freedom of Information Act regulations, which streamlines DOE’s procedures for determining 

the releasability of information and updates the requirement for reproduction of the documents;

• Proposal for major modifications to the Federal Facility Agreement that would add new Integrated Facility 

Disposition Program work scope and extend the EM cleanup completion time frame;

• Parcel ED-8 Covenant Deferral Request, which addresses the transfer of approximately 91 acres located in the 

southern portion of ETTP to Heritage Center LLC;

• Tennessee Air Pollution Control Regulations permit request for Building 3019 at ORNL;

• National Resource Damage Assessment Evaluation of Contaminant-Related Losses in Watts Bar Reservoir and 

Gains from the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement;

• K-792 Switchyard Covenant Deferral Request, which addresses the transfer of the switchyard to Heritage Center 

LLC;

• Request for Proposal to sell approximately 15,300 tons of radiologically contaminated nickel scrap recovered 

from enrichment operations in Oak Ridge and Paducah, Kentucky; and

• Environmental Impact Statement for the long-term management and storage of elemental mercury, which will 

evaluate alternatives for a storage facility.

To keep the public informed about comment periods and other matters related to cleanup activities on the Oak 

Ridge Reservation, DOE publishes a monthly newsletter called Public Involvement News. DOE also keeps the public 

informed by publishing notices in local newspapers and conducting public meetings.

Public Comments Sought on

Variety of Significant Issues
42

ORSSAB Provides Input on

Several Key Reservation Issues

The Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board 

(ORSSAB) is an independent, volunteer, federally appointed citizens’ advisory panel charged with providing 

DOE Oak Ridge with advice and recommendations on 

its environmental cleanup operations on the Oak Ridge 

Reservation. It has been actively involved in that role 

since the board’s inception in 1995. 

ORSSAB continued its mission with a number of 

activities during FY 2009. 

Support for IFDP and ARRA

ORSSAB was actively involved in two major programs that had significant impact on the Oak Ridge EM 

program and will continue to have ramifications for 

years to come: the Integrated Facility Disposition Program (IFDP) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

In October 2008, the board passed a recommendation supporting the DOE-Oak Ridge Critical Decision 1 

document proposing the implementation of IFDP. The 

plan is designed to add more than 200 additional facilities at the Y-12 National Security Complex and ORNL 

to the existing Oak Ridge EM baseline and extend EM’s 

mission to clean up the Reservation as far out as 2039.

In late 2008, DOE Oak Ridge received approval to 

baseline IFDP. With that approval, the Federal Facility 

Agreement (FFA), which guides the process for cleaning up the Reservation, required modification since it 

would have to incorporate the additional cleanup scope 

into the agreement. 

A major modification to the FFA requires a public 

meeting to explain the changes to the agreement and allow for comment on those changes. In February 2009, 

ORSSAB cohosted the FFA public meeting with DOE 

Oak Ridge to explain how the FFA would be modified to 

include additional work to complete cleanup of the Oak 

Ridge Reservation. Following the meeting, attended by 

about 25 people, the board sent a letter to DOE again 

supporting IFDP and the modification of the FFA. 

During this same time, information was coming 

out of Washington about the proposed stimulus package to aid the American economy. By early 2009, details 

of ARRA were becoming clear. Through presentations 

at the ORSSAB meetings in March, April, and May, the 

public was able to receive detailed 

briefings on how ARRA funding 

would augment the Oak Ridge 

EM budgets for FYs 2009–2011. 

ORSSAB will continue to monitor ARRA progress and keep the 

public involved through regular 

updates at its board and committee 

meetings.

Oral History

ORSSAB continued its involvement in Oak Ridge oral histories this year and celebrated the development of a sister organization 

to the one the board helped create 

in 2007.

Networking Oak Ridge Oral 

History (NOROH) is a four-agency 

Federal program task team formed 

to support the Center for Oak 

Ridge Oral History (COROH), 

In February 2009, ORSSAB cohosted with DOE-ORO a public meeting on 

proposed modifications to the Oak Ridge Federal Facility Agreement. Dave 

Adler, DOE FFA Project Manager, explains the proposed changes to the document.
43

which ORSSAB took the lead role 

in forming two years ago. The purpose of COROH is to consolidate 

existing publicly available oral histories concerning the Reservation 

and to collect additional ones. 

ORSSAB turned over day-today management of COROH to the 

Oak Ridge Public Library, but the 

library relies on the input from an 

Oral History Steering Committee, 

which includes an ORSSAB representative. At the end of FY 2009, the 

library was making space available 

to catalogue existing oral histories 

and was in the process of hiring 

personnel dedicated to the effort. 

A short video was also being produced to explain the importance of 

capturing the personal histories of 

the people who lived and worked 

in Oak Ridge during the days of the 

Manhattan Project, the Cold War, 

and the recent past.

The creation of COROH prompted DOE-Oak Ridge 

to establish NOROH in October 2008. NOROH’s role 

is to identify and make available staffing and resources 

necessary to work in partnership with COROH. This 

team will ensure that Federal and contractor technical/

scientific oral histories will be captured and made available to COROH for public access when possible or kept 

and maintained when currently classified information is 

recorded. 

NOROH will develop an implementation plan to 

support the goal of interviewing current and former 

DOE staff who were involved in key programs throughout the history of the site. A list of key programs to be 

supported will be prioritized and approved by the program managers for the DOE Office of Science, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Office of 

Scientific and Technical Information, and EM. 

Community Outreach

ORSSAB posted a record year in FY 2009 in its mission to inform and involve the public in the Oak Ridge 

EM program. Through its monthly board meetings, 

which are open to the public and broadcast on local 

cable channels, the board strives to provide meaningful opportunities for dialogue between the surrounding 

communities and EM.

Key accomplishments include setting a new record 

for presentations to local media, civic organizations, 

schools, and elected officials (22 events) and a new record for news releases (15). The board also instituted 

a program this year to provide local newspapers with 

quarterly guest editorials. Interaction with local media 

representatives was a cornerstone of the board’s outreach program this year, with meetings with reporters 

and editors from six area newspapers to discuss how the 

board can work more effectively with news organizations to get the word out about ORSSAB and the DOE 

EM program. 

This year the board also began development of 

new interactive displays for the ORSSAB exhibit at the 

American Museum of Science and Energy. The exhibit 

uses touch-screen kiosks, displays, and posters to tell 

the story of the Oak Ridge cleanup program.

Throughout the year, the board kept up an aggressive public outreach effort that included participation 

in the Earth Day and Secret City festivals, an ongoing 

program of advertisements, cable television broadcasts, 

and publication of the quarterly Advocate newsletter. 

Educational Initiatives

Since 1999, when ORSSAB seated its first high 

school student on the board to represent the concerns 

ORSSAB members Betty Jones and Ron Murphree staff the ORSSAB exhibit 

at the 2009 Secret City Festival. ORSSAB set a record in FY 2009 for the 

number of outreach activities to the public.
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and opinions of area youth, the board has kept up a vigorous educational outreach program to help make sure 

that the future generations who will be the living with 

the cleanup decisions being made today are aware and 

involved in stewardship of environmental contamination that will remain on the Reservation.

In FY 2009, the board continued its efforts by working on improvements to the Stewardship Education 

Resource Kit it developed and launched in 2005. Two 

area students were seated again this year, and presentations about the EM program were made to their high 

school environmental classes. In addition, a special presentation was developed for area schools that presents 

students with five real-life cleanup scenarios and then 

challenges them to come up with solutions to those 

problems based on their evaluation of the various criteria, such as cost, risk, and technical obstacles. A program was also instituted this year to sponsor a tour of 

the Reservation for Oak Ridge High School students.

Historic Preservation

The question of how to best preserve the historical significance of the K-25 Building at ETTP provided 

ORSSAB with an active role to play again this year. 

In its February 2009 “Recommendation on Alternatives to Memorialize the K-25 Building at ETTP,” 

ORSSAB weighed in on the K-25 building historic preservation debate by recommending that DOE build an 

unmanned interpretive center at the site. 

ORSSAB sponsored a tour of the Oak Ridge Reservation for a group of 

science students from Oak Ridge High School. The students receive a briefing 

before touring the Environmental Sciences Division Laboratory at ORNL.

The board also recommended that Manhattan Project exhibits at the American Museum of Science and 

Energy be expanded with an interpretive center making 

use of existing staff, space, infrastructure, and artifacts 

to explain K-25’s role more fully in the Manhattan Project and the Cold War.

ORSSAB’s proposal would offer significant savings 

to other ideas generated for K-25 preservation, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. 

The recommendations were a follow-up to recommendations made last year when consideration was 

given to reclaiming part of the K-25 Building’s entire 

North Tower. Although DOE has not made a formal announcement, the agency acknowledges that the tower 

is not salvageable because of its deteriorated state. Cost 

and safety factors would be prohibitive in converting 

the North Tower into an interpretive center or museum.

In March 2009, ORSSAB followed up with its “Recommendation on the National Historic Preservation 

Act Implementation at DOE-Oak Ridge,” in which it 

recommended that DOE initiate consultation meetings 

with stakeholders to allow early public input into the 

planning for IFDP. 

DOE agreed, and in May ORSSAB participated in 

the two-day meeting of the consulting parties to the 

2005 Memorandum of Agreement for Historic Preservation of the K-25 Building. As recommended, the 

second day of the meeting was dedicated to discussing 

facilities at ORNL and Y-12 Complex that have been 

identified as having historical significance and are to be 

preserved during the cleanup of the 

respective sites.

All this activity follows ORSSAB 

historic preservation efforts in 2008 

when the board posted recommendations on “Lessons Learned from 

Efforts to Preserve the North Tower 

of the K-25 Building for Historic 

Purposes (July 2008),” and “Historic 

Preservation of K-25 Building at 

ETTP (March 2008).” These recommendations were preceded by a public meeting cosponsored by ORSSAB 

in February 2008, at which roughly 

150 interested citizens were able to 

express their views to DOE on K-25 

preservation.
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Members of ORSSAB and liaisons from DOE, EPA, and Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment 

gather each year for the ORSSAB annual retreat to review accomplishments for the current fiscal year and plan 

activities for the coming year. In August 2009, the board met at the RT Lodge in Maryville, Tenn.

ORSSAB releases its Advocate newsletter four times 

a year. The newsletter is distributed to area residents, 

public officials, and DOE and contractor employees.
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DOE Information Center

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. A web site is 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.

FY 2009 Stats

Average number of visitors per month 205

Number of public meetings held 118

Total citizen inquiries 1,599

Total Number of Documents at Center 44,539

Phone: 865-241-4780

475 Oak Ridge Turnpike

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

www.oakridge.doe.gov/info_cntr

The staff of the DOE Information Center supports 

public involvement activities for the Oak Ridge 

Reservation.
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DOE Information Center

475 Oak Ridge Turnpike

Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830

Phone: (865) 241-4780

Fax: (865) 574-3521

E-mail: DOEIC@oro.doe.gov

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) 241-4583, (865) 241-4584

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

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/

and Conservation

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

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act www.recovery.gov 

 www.energy.gov/recovery

Information Resources
48

ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

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

CH Contact-handled

COROH Center for Oak Ridge Oral History

CROET Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee

D&D Decontamination and decommissioning

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 Differences

ETTP East Tennessee Technology Park

FY Fiscal year

IFDP Integrated Facility Disposition Program

NE DOE Office of Nuclear Energy

NNSA National Nuclear Security Administration

NOROH Networking Oak Ridge Oral History

ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory

ORRL Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills

ORSSAB Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board

PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RDR/RAWP Remedial Design Report/Remedial Action Work Plan

RFID Radio Frequency Identification Device

RH Remote-handled

ROD Record of Decision

SC DOE Office of Science

SWSA Solid Waste Storage Area

TDEC Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

TRU Transuranic

TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act

TWPC Transuranic Waste Processing Center

UEFPC Upper East Fork Poplar Creek

WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico

Commonly Used Acronyms
49

For more information, please contact the DOE Public Affairs Office

at (865) 576-0885 or 1-800-382-6938. 
50

A publication of the U.S. Department of Energy

For more information, contact the DOE Public Affairs Office at (865) 576-0885. A publication of the U.S. Department of Energy