1

2011

Annual Report

to the Oak Ridge Community

DOE/ORO/2399

Progress

Cleanup
2

This report was produced by URS | CH2M Oak Ridge LLC, DOE’s 

Environmental Management contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation.

About the Cover

After recontouring and revegetation, the P1 

Pond at East Tennessee Technology Park 

is flourishing. The contaminated pond was 

drained, recontoured, and restocked with fish 

that would not disturb the pond sediment.
1

Message from the Acting Manager

Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office

To the Oak Ridge Community: 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 marked many accomplishments in Oak Ridge. 

Our Environmental Management (EM) program completed a majority of 

its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded projects, 

initiated new phases of baseline work, and selected a new prime contractor 

for environmental cleanup. Although we face budgetary challenges, we 

will continue finding creative and strategic ways to conduct vital cleanup 

activities.

Most notably in FY 2011, our EM program spent $330 million to 

complete 15 of 20 ARRA projects at the East Tennessee Technology Park 

(ETTP), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Y-12 National 

Security Complex. These projects were completed almost $100 million 

under budget, which allowed us to reinvest those savings in projects to 

remove contaminated soil from ORNL and the Y-12 Complex. 

At ORNL, workers removed the west portion of the 2000 complex and 

26 additional facilities within ORNL’s central campus. We placed a special 

emphasis on projects that addressed contaminated soil and groundwater, 

specifically at the Bethel Valley Burial Grounds and Tank W-1A. Workers 

implemented a larger network of detection wells near ORNL, furthering 

our ability to monitor groundwater migration patterns. At the Bethel 

Valley Burial Grounds, we removed contaminated soil, added multiple 

layers of protection, and diverted clean groundwater sources from buried 

waste. We are also very encouraged with the progress of our U-233 project, which is investigating options to dispose 

the material in Building 3019. 

At Y-12, we have removed 31,000 yd3

 of scrap metal from the Old Salvage Yard. We’ve demolished Building 9735, 

a former research laboratory, and disposed of legacy waste in the Alpha 5 and Beta 3 and 4 facilities.

We continue to enjoy great success at ETTP. On August 1, URS | CH2M Oak Ridge (UCOR) became the new 

primary environmental cleanup contractor for the Oak Ridge Reservation. We are very pleased with our relationship 

thus far and look forward to working with UCOR to conclude the site’s major cleanup activities. UCOR is demolishing 

K-25’s east wing, moving us closer to finishing Oak Ridge’s largest-ever cleanup project. The site has also removed 

one of its largest buildings—K-33. Demolition of the 1.4 million ft2 structure was completed five months ahead of 

schedule, and we are now removing the 32-acre slab. 

Our Reindustrialization Program continues its expansion. In August, we leased 282 acres to the Community 

Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, and efforts are under way to transfer an additional 233 acres for private 

investment and energy park initiatives by the end of 2012. 

Most importantly, we are proud of our strong relationship with all of our stakeholders and the community. 

The residents of Oak Ridge and the surrounding areas share our commitment to protect and restore the environment to support our stakeholders, communities, and our critical missions in Science, National Security, and 

Reindustrialization. We are extremely grateful for your involvement and feedback concerning our ongoing operations, and it is our hope that this continues as we strive to advance future missions in Oak Ridge. 

Environmental Management

safety v performance v cleanup v closure

E

 M

John Eschenberg
2

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

East Tennessee Technology Park...............................................................................................5

DOE Selects New Cleanup Contractor...............................................................................7 

K-25 East Wing Demolition Begins....................................................................................8

K-33 Building Demolished................................................................................................ 11

Efforts Taken to Reduce ETTP Surface Water, Groundwater Contamination........... 12

Parcel Transfers Highlight a Busy Year for the Reindustrialization Program............. 14

NPL Delineation Under Way ............................................................................................ 14

Oak Ridge National Laboratory....................................................................................................................... 15

Unneeded ORNL Facilities Demolished ......................................................................... 16

Hot Cells Being Prepared for D&D.................................................................................. 18

2000 Complex Demolition Completed............................................................................ 20 

Isotope Row Material Removal Begins............................................................................ 21

4500 Waste System to be Upgraded ................................................................................. 22

Tank W-1A to be Removed............................................................................................... 23

Bethel Valley Burial Ground Remediation Completed ................................................. 24

U-233 Disposition Plan Under Way ................................................................................ 25

Soils, Sediment to be Remediated .................................................................................... 26

Bethel Valley Groundwater Addressed............................................................................ 27

Monitoring Wells Will Help Identify Potential Contaminant Migration ................... 28

Y-12 National Security Complex ..................................................................................................................... 29

UEFPC Remediation Under Way..................................................................................... 30 

Scrap Removed from Old Salvage Yard ........................................................................... 30

ARRA Funds Assist with Waste Removal, Demolition Projects.................................. 32

Contents
3

 Waste Management................................................................................................................................................. 35

TSCA Incinerator Undergoes Closure............................................................................. 36 

Generated Wastes Disposed at Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills................................. 37

Waste Disposal Facilities Expanded ................................................................................. 38 

Future CERCLA Waste Disposal Alternatives Being Considered................................ 39

TWPC Treating Transuranic Waste ................................................................................. 40

Millions of Gallons of Wastewater Treated at Reservation Facilities .......................... 42

 

Public Involvement................................................................................................................................................... 43

Public Participation Helps Determine Reservation Cleanup Strategy......................... 44

ORSSAB Provides Community Input to DOE’s Cleanup Activities............................ 45

DOE Information Center................................................................................................... 49

Information Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 50

Internet Sites................................................................................................................................................................. 50

Commonly Used Acronyms................................................................................................................................ 51

Commonly Used Terms.......................................................................................................................................... 52
4

Introduction

The 33,750-acre DOE Oak Ridge Reservation has 

played key roles in our nation’s defense and energy research. However, past waste disposal practices and 

unintentional releases have left land and facilities contaminated. These contaminants include radioactive elements, mercury, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, 

and industrial wastes. 

The Environmental Management (EM) Program is 

responsible for cleaning up these sites, and numerous 

cleanup projects are under way at the Reservation’s 

three major facilities: East Tennessee Technology Park 

(ETTP), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and 

Y-12 National Security Complex.

The contaminated portions of the Reservation are 

on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National 

Priorities List, a list of hazardous waste sites across the 

nation that are to be cleaned up under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Efforts are under way to delineate the 

contaminated areas of the Oak Ridge National Priorities List Site, which DOE is cleaning up under a Federal 

Facility Agreement with the Environmental Protection 

Agency and the State of Tennessee.

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. DOE Oak Ridge 

received $1.36 billion under the Act, with a large portion 

of that amount—$755 million—going to EM projects. 

More than 30 cleanup projects across the Reservation 

have received ARRA funding. You can track the status of 

all ARRA funding, including the DOE Oak Ridge projects, on the Web at www.recovery.gov.

In FY 2011 (October 1, 2010, to September 30, 

2011), the EM Program had many major achievements. 

At ETTP, workers began demolishing the east wing of 

the massive K-25 Building and completed demolition of 

the K-33 Building.

DOE’s goal for ETTP is to transform the site into 

a private industrial park. Great strides were made in

FY 2011 to achieve that goal, including the transfer of 

several acres of land for industrial development. 

At ORNL, buildings that posed worker and environmental concerns were demolished, characterization 

efforts were initiated to identify soil and sediment contamination, waste storage area remediation efforts were 

under way or completed, and excavation of Tank W-1A, 

the principal source of groundwater contamination at 

ORNL, was initiated.

At Y-12, legacy waste removal and demolition of facilities were top priorities. Scrap removal was completed 

on the Old Salvage Yard, and soil characterization and 

excavation were performed. 

K-25 Building east wing debris being loaded for disposal

All projects in this 

publication using 

ARRA funding 

are denoted with 

this symbol. 
5

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 2,200-acre plant 

site 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 the major activities at the site.

5

East Tennessee Technology Park
6

ETTP Cleanup At a Glance*

Facilities demolished 246 

UF6

 cylinders removed 7,000 

Waste removed from site 1.6 million yd3

Area cleared for unrestricted use 1,400 acres

*Totals since cleanup operations began

6

=Demolished = Leased/transferred = Demolition ready = Being demolished

East Tennessee Technology Park
7

K-25 Project Manager Mark Ferri, right, discusses the K-25 Building east wing demolition with UCOR President 

and Project Manager Leo Sain and ESH&QA Manager Cheryl Cabbil.

DOE Selects New Cleanup Contractor

URS | CH2M Oak Ridge (UCOR) is DOE’s new 

cleanup contractor for East Tennessee Technology Park 

(ETTP) and other Oak Ridge Reservation sites. 

After a competitive bid process, DOE selected 

UCOR to replace Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC, which 

had been the cleanup contractor since 1998. UCOR took 

over that role on August 1, 2011. 

UCOR is a partnership between URS, a worldwide 

leader in engineering, construction, and project management, and CH2M HILL, the United States’ largest 

environmental company. The team also includes subcontractor Restoration Services, Inc., one of Oak Ridge’s 

most successful woman-owned businesses.

UCOR’s scope of work mainly involves completing cleanup of ETTP, including completion of the K-25 

Building demolition project, demolition of the K-27 

Building, and demolition of buildings in the Poplar 

Creek area. These efforts will facilitate DOE’s goal of 

converting ETTP, a former gaseous diffusion plant, into 

a private sector industrial complex. 

UCOR’s scope also includes managing DOE’s onsite disposal cell, the Environmental Management Waste 

Management Facility (EMWMF) and performing various other operations at ORNL and the Y-12 Complex.

“We’ve assembled a very talented team to safely 

perform the scope of work at this historic site and assist DOE as it prepares ETTP for the future,” said Leo 

Sain, UCOR President 

and Project Manager. 

“We’re building on 

the successes of our 

predecessor, using a 

combination of talented individuals brought from other successful projects 

and the skilled incumbent employees who were transitioned to our company.”

The environmental cleanup contract, which is valued at $2.2 billion, includes an initial 5-year term with a 

4-year option.
88

K-25 East Wing Demolition Begins

After successfully demolishing the K-25 Building’s 

west wing, workers are now bringing down the massive 

structure’s east wing. 

The former uranium enrichment facility was once 

the world’s largest building under one roof, covering 

more than 44 acres. This demolition project is one of 

DOE’s highest Environmental Management priorities 

and an integral part of completing cleanup of ETTP. 

Workers completely cut through the East Wing to 

separate a portion of the building contaminated with 

technetium-99 from the portion being demolished. 

Technetium-99 is a slow-decaying radioactive metal that 

poses an inhalation and release risk. The contaminated 

8

area, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of 

the facility, will be demolished once the technetium-99 

is addressed. 

Demolition of the east wing was initiated by Bechtel 

Jacobs Company LLC in July 2011 and taken over by 

UCOR on August 1, 2011. Demolition of the structure’s 

west wing, measuring 844,000 ft2

, concluded in January 

2010.

The K-25 Building was constructed in 1944 as part 

of the Manhattan Project. The structure enriched uranium for defense and commercial nuclear power until 

1985 and was permanently shut down in 1987. 
9

East wing before 

demolition 

began; the 

west wing was 

previously 

demolished.

As part of the K-25 

Building east wing 

demolition, a converter 

is being removed from 

the building and staged 

for shipment. 

Misters spray water 

over the demolition 

area to help prevent 

dust from flying up 

while the building is 

being demolished. 
1010 K-33 Building site after demolition
11

K-33 Building

Demolished

Building K-33, one of the major uranium enrichment facilities at ETTP, has been 

demolished.

The building was a partially decontaminated multi-story building that contained 

more than 1.4 million ft2 of concrete and 

steel and spanned 32 acres. Constructed in 

1954, the facility enriched uranium for defense and naval fleet purposes until 1985. 

As part of a Reindustrialization effort in 1997, most of the decontamination was performed. BNFL Inc. was 

awarded a fixed-price contract to decontaminate K-33, along with two other uranium enrichment buildings: K-29 

and K-31. The company dismantled, removed, and dispositioned more than 159,000 tons of material and equipment 

from the three buildings, which comprise more than 4.8 million ft2

 of floor space. 

All three buildings were originally to be cleaned up and converted to usable facilities for private industrial tenants. However, DOE later decided that K-29 and K-33 were not suitable for reindustrialization. K-29 was demolished by Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC in 2006. 

In 2010, DOE contracted with LATA/Sharp Remediation Services to demolish the 

K-33 Building. The building demolition was completed, and the last waste was disposed in September 2011. In FY 2012, the K-33 slab and contaminated sites will be 

excavated and disposed. The building was demolished with ARRA funding of $51 

million.

K-33’s demolition finished five months ahead of schedule, and debris removal was completed three months ahead of schedule. During the 9-month project, 

164,000 tons of steel and concrete, accounting for 13,000 shipments, were disposed at EMWMF. 

K-33 Building before demolition
12

Remediation activities to 

reduce ETTP groundwater 

and surface water contamination continued in FY 2011.

Releases to Mitchell 

Branch

Construction of the Chromium Water Treatment System was completed in FY 

2011, and operation is planned 

for early FY 2012. This system 

will provide a long-term solution for hexavalent chromium 

being released into Mitchell 

Branch. 

These releases affected 

the ambient water quality in 

the branch, potentially affecting the water quality in Poplar Creek. In response to this 

concern, DOE completed a 

time-critical Removal Action 

to extract the contaminated groundwater.

Since completion of this Removal Action, the 

concentration of chromium in Mitchell Branch has 

been reduced to ambient water quality. The treatment 

system will ensure the long-term treatment of this 

source remains in place.

Groundwater Treatability Study

To address groundwater contamination at ETTP, a 

groundwater treatability study was conducted to support selection of an acceptable, long-term treatment for 

groundwater. 

The purpose of the study was to characterize and 

delineate suspected areas of solvent contamination. A 

total of 14 boreholes have been installed to depths of 

110 to 160 feet below ground near the former K-1401 

Vapor Degreasing Area. Based on the results of a workshop conducted with the regulators, a design characterization plan was developed and approved by the 

regulators. The purpose of the design characterization 

is to determine whether a pilot scale treatability study 

will be necessary to assess the effectiveness of in situ 

thermal treatment after all contamination sources are 

addressed. 

Soil Remediation Completed

Remediation of contaminated soil in ETTP’s Zone 

1, amounting to 604 yd3, was completed in FY 2011, 

and the soil was shipped for disposal.

Zone 1 covers the 1,400-acre area surrounding 

ETTP outside the main plant perimeter.

The Zone 1 Interim ROD was signed in November 

2002. The Zone 2 ROD, covering 800 acres in the main 

plant area, was signed in April 2005. 

 The final focus of the Zone 1 soil remediation was 

completion of the K-770 Scrapyard and the duct bank. 

Soil hot spots along the duct bank contaminated with 

lead were excavated, and the duct bank manholes were 

grouted. 

These cleanup efforts are designed to remediate 

ETTP to a level that protects a future industrial work 

force and the underlying groundwater in Zones 1 and 2. 

Records of Decision (RODs), which detail the selected 

cleanup methods, are in place that address soil, slabs, 

Efforts Taken to Reduce ETTP Surface 

Water, Groundwater Contamination

Chromium Water Treatment System
13

Workers are drilling 

a well in ETTP Zone 

1 to characterize the 

groundwater.

subsurface structures, and burial grounds for both 

zones. 

Remediation of the K-1070-B Burial Ground in 

Zone 2 continued, and excavation of six trenches and 

two hotspot locations was completed. The excavation 

of the trenches and hotspots was performed to eliminate future sources and/or risks to surface water and 

groundwater. 

The material excavated from the trenches was 

placed in piles for subsequent sorting and segregating. 

Shipments to EMWMF of debris removed from the 

trenches began in August 2011. Some debris will require disposal at off-site disposal facilities, such as the 

Nevada National Security Site.

At the end of FY 2011, 4,226 yd3

 of soil and debris 

had been shipped to EMWMF for disposal. 

Work continued in FY 2011 to prepare a Zone 1 

Final ROD that will address finalizing the Zone 1 

remediation cleanup goals, groundwater, surface water, 

and ecological protection. In support of the Zone 1 Final ROD, several groundwater monitoring wells were 

installed, unneeded groundwater wells were plugged 

and abandoned, and soil representing an ecological risk 

was remediated.
14

The DOE Oak Ridge Reindustrialization Program 

continued the transformation of ETTP into a private 

sector business/industrial park in FY 2011.

With the transfer of Parcel ED-9 to the Community 

Reuse Organization of East Tennessee (CROET), an 

additional 13 acres at the front of ETTP were made 

available for private use. CROET sold one of its 

Speculative Buildings, and a new commercial enterprise 

is being established on previously transferred property 

near Highway 58. 

An additional 282 acres in the former Powerhouse 

Area along the Clinch River were made available via a 

lease to CROET for industrial development. 

Improvements to the ETTP site infrastructure continued with investments from DOE, CROET, the City of 

Oak Ridge, and Oak Ridge Utility District. Highlights 

for FY 2011 include the following:

•	 DOE completed necessary improvements to the 

ETTP electric distribution system. On April 30, 

2011, ETTP was connected to the City of Oak 

Ridge’s electric power service supplied from the 

city’s substation on Blair Road. With this major 

accomplishment, the direct power feed from TVA 

was removed.

•	 DOE purchased and installed new fire water pump 

houses for the K-1065 facilities and K-1600. The 

Parcel Transfers Highlight a Busy Year

For the Reindustrialization Program

pump houses are necessary to provide needed fire 

water pressure and volume for these facilities when 

the old ETTP Fire Water Distribution System pump 

house and fire water tanks are decommissioned in 

2012 or 2013. Both K-1065 and K-1600 are slated 

for re-use after cleanup is completed at ETTP.

•	 Oak Ridge Utility District expanded its natural gas 

service to the west side of the site.

•	 AT&T began plans to bring commercial telecommunications service to ETTP for the private businesses that are established there. 

Upgrading and transferring ETTP’s electrical 

distribution system to the City of Oak Ridge marked a 

major Reindustrialization accomplishment

As many as 21,000 acres of the Oak Ridge Reservation may no longer be included in the National Priorities List (NPL) boundary that determines what areas 

need to be cleaned and/or controlled.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) was 

contracted in 2008 by DOE to study approximately 

5,000 acres around ETTP to potentially delineate these 

areas from the NPL boundary. Their work included 

historic data reviews, site walkdowns, and sampling 

and analysis of surface water and groundwater.

ORAU was later contracted to complete verification 

activities for an additional 16,000 acres around ORNL 

and the Y-12 Complex believed to be uncontaminated. 

In 2011, ORAU completed the Environmental 

Baseline Survey Report for the parcels around ETTP, 

and the report was submitted for regulatory review. 

Surface water and soil sampling was completed in the 

parcels around ORNL and Y-12, including a focused 

survey related to a 1960s release of strontium titanate 

in Melton Valley. 

Groundwater sampling for the ORNL/Y-12 effort 

will be performed in FY 2012, and an Environmental 

Baseline Survey Report will be prepared for the 

ORNL and Y-12 parcels before the end of FY 2012. 

Completion of these activities will support the 

delineation of the NPL boundary.

NPL Delineation Under Way 
15

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

15

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is becoming 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 

past operations and waste disposal practices. The Environmental 

Management Program has divided ORNL into two major cleanup 

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

includes reactors and the principal research facilities, and Melton 

Valley includes reactors and waste management areas.
1816

Unneeded ORNL Facilities Demolished

Legacy material removal and demolition activities 

were in progress in FY 2011 at several ORNL facilities. 

These contaminated non-reactor facilities are no longer 

needed. 

As part of the 34 Buildings D&D Project, legacy 

material was removed from more than 32,000 ft2 of 

facility space, 26 buildings (a total of 84,015 ft2

) were 

demolished, and more than 24,720 ft3

 of demolition debris was disposed. The 26 buildings, located in the busy 

central campus portion of ORNL, were safely and successfully demolished without impacting adjacent laboratory facilities. One of the more challenging structures 

was the 2061 Smoke Stack, which stood 175 feet tall and 

was formerly used to power the ORNL coal plant in the 

World War II era. Demolition of the remaining 8 of the 

34 buildings is scheduled for completion in FY 2012. 

2061 Smoke Stack
17

The 175-ft tall 2061 Smoke 

Stack, pictured left, has 

been demolished. The photo 

above shows the building 

site after demolition and 

debris removal.
18

Hot Cells Being Prepared for D&D

Building 3026 C&D, one of the original buildings 

constructed in the 1940s to support the war effort, has 

been inactive since the 1990s. Entries into the highly 

contaminated hot cells have been minimal. 

Characterization and planning have been in progress in FY 2011 to appropriately evaluate the levels of 

contamination and develop the technical approach to 

prepare these facilities for demolition. A Waste Handling Plan for hot cell demolition and waste disposition 

was approved by EPA and the Tennessee Department of 

Environment and Conservation (TDEC) in FY 2011.

In 2010, a stabilization (polyurea) coating was applied to the surface of the remaining hot cell structures. 

Two of the six structures in 3026 C&D (3026C “Counting Room” and 3026C “Tritium Lab”) were decontaminated in FY 2011. This work included removal of internal equipment, the final step to make these structures 

ready for demolition. 

Decontamination of the four remaining structures 

is under way. In March 2011, higher levels of contamination than anticipated were found in 3026D while 

performing initial characterization. The project is reevaluating the technical approach for hot cell clean-out. 

Mock-ups were created for 3026D to simulate entering 

the facility through ports using a remote arm to collect 

samples.

A worker conducts the final status survey inside the 3026 counting room, 

which is now ready for demolition.
19

Building 3038, the Isotope Development Laboratory, is a 6,900-ft2

 nuclear facility located in the ORNL 

Central Campus area. 

Building 3038 was constructed in 1949 and housed 

the packaging, inspection, and shipping activities for 

radioisotopes. Radioactive materials are located in hot 

cells, glove boxes, and containers at the facility. A Waste 

Handling Plan for Building 3038 was submitted in FY 

2011.

In May 2011, the contractor took over operational 

responsibility for surveillance and maintenance activities for Building 3038. As of September 2011, the team 

had cleaned out approximately 750 ft2

 of floor space and 

packaged material for disposal in preparation for Building 3038 intrusive work. Work in FY 2011 also included constructing mock-up units, performing pre-work 

demonstrations, characterizing waste, and submitting a 

Waste Handling Plan for EPA and TDEC review.

The 3026 C&D hot 

cells are pictured 

right. Below, 

workers practice 

sample collection 

on the mock up of 

3026D to simulate 

entering the facility 

through ports using 

a remote arm.
20

The remaining two facilities associated with the 2000 

Complex at ORNL were demolished in FY 2011. The 

complex, located in the northwest corner of the ORNL 

central campus, included a total of eight facilities and 

structures totaling approximately 58,000 ft2

. 

The facilities were constructed in the late 1940s to 

support various ORNL research projects. They were in 

severe disrepair and had been vacant for approximately 

six years. DOE determined that the resulting risks warranted implementing a time-critical Removal Action. 

In FY 2010, demolition of the first phase (six buildings with a combined area of approximately 35,000 ft2

) 

was completed. Demolition of the second phase was 

completed in FY 2011 with the removal of Buildings 

2000 and 2034, a combined area of 23,200 ft2

. 

2000 Complex Demolition Completed

The specific hazards encountered in this facility complex included the extremely poor physical condition of 

the structures, constant flaking 

of PCB-containing paint, 

extensive quantities of 

friable and non-friable 

asbestos in restricted 

attic areas, and radiologically contaminated ductwork and fume 

hoods. Phase 2 demolition work in FY 2011 resulted in 180 shipments of 

building debris (more than 1900 yd3

 of waste) disposed at the EMWMF.

2000 Complex demolition
21

Work was initiated in FY 2011 on the removal of legacy materials from the Isotope Row area in the central 

portion of ORNL. 

Historically, Isotope Row facilities served as radioisotope production laboratories and support facilities. 

Workers inspect a shielded carrier used for disposal of Isotope Row legacy material.

21

Isotope Row Material Removal Begins

Work to characterize, inspect, package, and dispose of 

44 shielded carriers located outside of Building 3028 was 

completed in FY 2011. A contract is in place for planned 

work in FY 2012 to remove, package, and dispose lead 

shielding in Buildings 3030 and 3031.
22

Workers perform underground duct sampling as part of the 4500 

Gaseous Waste System Upgrades Project

Initial project planning and facility characterization 

was completed in FY 2011 for the 4500 Area Gaseous 

Waste System Upgrades Project. Design of the replacement localized ventilation systems was also accomplished.

The objective of the project is to deactivate one of the 

five Cell Ventilation System branches and remove several facilities from the central Hot Off-Gas system. The 

ventilation system branches and off-gas system are part 

4500 Waste System to be Upgraded

of the Central Gaseous Waste System at ORNL that vent 

through the 3039 Central Stack. 

The project will provide localized ventilation systems 

to the 4501, 4505, 4500N and 4507 facilities, stabilize 

the hot cells in 4507, clean out filter pits 3106 and 4556, 

and stabilize hundreds of feet of underground ductwork. 

Fabrication and installation of the replacement ventilation systems and stabilization of the 4507 hot cells will 

begin in FY 2012. 
23

UCOR, DOE’s cleanup contractor for 

Oak Ridge, began excavation in September 

2011 to remove Tank W-1A at ORNL. The 

project completed operational readiness 

reviews prior to excavation of the contaminated area. The fieldwork is expected to be 

completed in Spring 2012. 

A plume of contamination emanates 

from soil surrounding the tank, which is 

located in the central portion of ORNL, 

and migrates southward to the Corehole 8 

groundwater plume and then 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 to the environment from Tank W-1A and 

the pipeline feeding it. 

The remediation process includes excavating, packaging, and transporting contaminated soil for disposal, 

as well as removing, size-reducing, containerizing, and 

transporting the concrete pad and tank supports and 

tank shell to the Nevada National Security Site. AddiTank W-1A to

Be Removed 

tional soil sampling and characterization, completed in 

2010, was performed along a Tank W-1A feed pipeline 

to delineate the extent, type, and concentration of contamination north of the Tank W-1A site. 

Based on the analytical data from the soil sampling, 

additional soil along the pipelines will require removal. 

A Remedial Action Work Plan to address the additional 

soil removal will be submitted to the regulators in 2012.

Workers practice tank 

removal inside the Tank 

W-1A enclosure. 

Contaminated soil from Tank W-1A excavation is being shipped 

to the Nevada National Security Site for disposition.
24

Bethel Valley Burial Ground 

Remediation Completed

Workers have completed the Bethel Valley Burial 

Grounds Remediation Project, which included capping 

of two solid waste storage areas (SWSAs): SWSA 1 

in Central Bethel Valley and SWSA 3 in West Bethel 

Valley. Remediation of contaminated soil hot spots and 

five landfills near the two SWSAs were also part of the 

project. 

Capping of SWSA 1 was completed in 2010, and the 

SWSA 3 cap was completed in August 2011. Two areas 

of soil contamination and the former Closed Scrap Metal Area were also covered by the SWSA 3 cap. A gravel 

road that crosses the capped area was rebuilt on top of 

the cap. Both caps are constructed of several layers of 

impermeable cap material placed to prevent migration 

of contaminants. This process is called hydrologic isolation, which also involves 

various other methods to 

keep water from infiltrating 

the buried waste. The SWSA 3 

cap included two upgradient French drains and surface 

water ditches that will divert shallow groundwater and 

rain water away from the capped area, further enhancing 

the hydrologic isolation of the waste.

SWSAs 1 and 3 and the associated remediated areas 

will be inspected periodically and maintained to ensure 

that they remain in good condition, and that damage, if 

any, is quickly repaired. Groundwater and surface water 

sampling and analyses will be performed and reported 

annually in the Remediation Effectiveness Report.

Workers install a French drain at SWSA 

3 to divert shallow groundwater and rain 

water away from the capped areas.
25

U-233 Disposition Plan Under Way

Oak Ridge has a significant inventory of Uranium-233 (U-233) stored in Building 3019A at ORNL. In 

FY 2011, the U-233 Project completed the final design 

for Building 3019 modifications necessary to support the 

dissolution and downblending of the U-233 inventory.

U-233 is a special nuclear material that requires 

strict safeguards and security controls to protect against 

access. 

 The U-233 Project was initiated to address safeguards 

and security requirements, eliminate safety and nuclear 

criticality concerns, and ship the material to an approved 

disposal 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 3019A to 

ensure safe storage of the inventory.

DOE commissioned a review of alternatives for dispositioning the U-233 inventory. Phase I of the Alternatives Analysis, which screened and identified potential 

alternatives, was completed in January 2011. The Deputy 

Secretary of Energy endorsed the review recommendations in April 2011, and the team began planning a 

two-part direct disposition campaign. This campaign 

involved identifying inventory for other programmatic 

uses and potentially disposing of an inventory associated 

with a uranium solidification project. 

Phase II of the Alternatives Analysis will provide a 

more detailed evaluation of processing options for the 

inventory unable to be directly dispositioned.

 

Building 3019
26

At the end of FY 2011, the Bethel Valley Soils and 

Sediment Project was preparing to begin removal of selected slabs and begin remediation of contaminated soils 

at ORNL. 

The Bethel Valley Soils and Sediment Project is 

tasked with removing contaminated soils and sediments 

at ORNL to protect workers and groundwater in the 

area. 

The Remedial Action Work Plan for the project provides the approach that will be followed to characterize and evaluate soils and sediments, ensuring that the 

soil cleanup requirements for Bethel Valley are met. The 

Work Plan was submitted to the regulators in 2008 and 

was approved in early FY 2010. The cleanup strategy includes a series of workshops to identify sampling needs 

in specific portions of Bethel 

Valley. More than 20 workshops have been conducted, and field sampling 

activities, which focused on the northwest 

corner of the ORNL 

main campus, has been 

completed with sampling 

results received. This effort 

has resulted in more than 487 

acres being identified as requiring no action.

 Additional workshops and field characterization activities on the remaining areas will be continued in FY 

2012.

Soils, Sediment to be Remediated

Workers sample the 2000 area slab, one of the selected areas where slab removal will be conducted as part of the 

Bethel Valley Soils and Sediment Project.
27

Several activities were initiated in FY 2011 to address 

Bethel Valley groundwater, including the following:

7000 Area Groundwater Treatability Study 

The 7000 Area covers the maintenance facilities on 

the east end of ORNL. A treatability study was initiated 

in 2010 to determine the feasibility of using bacteria to 

eliminate TCE in groundwater. In late December 2010 

and early January 2011, a dilute solution of emulsified 

vegetable oil was injected into the TCE plume through 

four existing groundwater monitoring wells. 

The purpose of the injection is to provide a source of 

carbon to stimulate existing TCE-degrading microbes 

in the groundwater system. The injection will aid in 

destructing the TCE and its daughter products. Postinjection monitoring is being conducted to measure the 

effectiveness of the pilot test injections. The monitoring 

results have shown that the TCE is decreasing.

Corehole 8 Intercept Extraction System

 Surface water monitoring in First Creek indicates the 

Strontium-90 in groundwater is bypassing the Corehole 

8 intercept extraction system and surfacing at First Creek 

on the west side of ORNL. 

A groundwater engineering 

study concluded that the 

Corehole 8 plume, which 

is the source of Strontium-90 in groundwater, is moving along the 

bedrock deeper than 

the current interceptor extraction system 

components. The source of 

the Corehole 8 plume is Tank 

W-1A (see article on p. 23). The solution is to install 

deeper extraction wells to intercept the groundwater before it reaches First Creek. 

Bethel Valley Groundwater Addressed

Corehole 8 extraction well drilling
28

 DOE completed installation in 2010 of 

16 new monitoring wells opposite the Oak 

Ridge Reservation side of the Clinch River, 

These wells are monitoring for potential 

ORNL site-related contaminants. 

Four quarters of groundwater sampling 

have been completed. DOE is continuing 

to monitoring these off-site wells as well as 

several residential wells. Data from the offsite well monitoring will be included in the 

annual Remediation Effectiveness Report.

The wells, financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, were 

drilled to depths from 250 to 650 feet. 

Monitoring Wells Will Help Identify

Potential Contaminant Migration

The off-site monitoring wells 

are sampled quarterly to detect 

contaminants that may have 

migrated from ORNL.

Two new bedrock wells were installed and connected 

to the extraction system in FY 2011. The extraction system flow controls and piping were upgraded to provide 

added transfer capacity and to improve the reliability of 

the system, which will be restarted in FY 2012. 

SWSA 3 Exit Pathway Monitoring

 Three new monitoring wells were installed west of 

Highway 95 along Raccoon Creek. The wells were installed to monitor a Strontium-90 plume that originates 

at the SWSA 3 landfill. 

Wells were installed at 50 and 100-feet depths. Information about these wells will be published in the SWSA 3 

Phased Construction Completion Report at the conclusion of the capping activities. Monitoring conducted to 

date shows strontium-90 at concentrations below drinking water standards in a shallow well in the area where 

seepage from SWSA 3 is known to enter the headwaters 

of Raccoon Creek. 

Monitoring of the new wells will continue, along with 

monitoring at SWSA 3 and Raccoon Creek to measure 

the effectiveness of remedial actions completed in 2011.
29

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. 

29
30

Cleaning and lining of storm sewers in Upper East Fork Poplar Creek (UEFPC) were completed in September 2011. More than 

8,000 linear feet of storm sewer have been cleaned, and approximately 1,200 linear feet have been lined.

The cleaning operations resulted in more mercury entering 

UEFPC, much like what occurred during a similar project completed in the late 1980s. Now that cleaning operations have been 

completed, mercury levels are expected to decrease to those observed immediately prior to starting cleaning or less. 

Wastewater and solid wastes generated by the project remain 

to be treated and disposed. This work should be completed in 2012.

 This project is part of the UEFPC Watershed Remediation 

Project, which 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 Record of Decision, 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, was completed and 

the videotape evaluated. 

The storm sewers consist of more than 20,000 linear feet of pipe, which 

were inspected by a track-mounted video camera. An engineering study was 

completed in 2009 that documented the results of the camera survey and the 

extent of remediation required, as the pipes are a known mercury pathway to 

UEFPC. 

UEFPC Remediation Under Way

Scrap Removed from Old Salvage Yard

Scrap removal in the Old Salvage Yard at Y-12 was 

completed in FY 2011. Removal activities began in 

2010, and when completed, workers had removed approximately 31,000 yd3

 of radioactively contaminated 

scrap metal in five large open piles and 1,087 containers 

of radioactive scrap metal. Several large pieces of equipment and machinery were also included in the scope.

Scrap removal, soil characterization, and soil 

remediation at the yard are being performed in accordance with the Record of Decision for Phase II Interim 

Remedial Actions for Contaminated Soils and Scrapyard in UEFPC. The interim Remedial Action prevents 

the exposure of on-site workers to hazardous substances 

associated with the scrap metal and fulfills the project 

requirements described in the Record of Decision.

Soil Characterization Continues 

Scrap removal allowed access to subsurface soil, and 

the Old Salvage Yard Scrap Removal Project received additional ARRA funding in August 2010 for soil characterization. The Phase II Record of Decision defines the 

soil contaminants of concern for industrial workers, 

Workers perform testing at the West End 

Mercury Area
31

groundwater, and surface water protection. Soil characterization data indicated soil remediation was required 

at the former Drum Deheader area. 

Groundwater modeling results determined that 

a sufficient volatile organic compound (VOC) contaminant mass was present and posed a threat to local 

groundwater that could result in contaminant concentrations above permissible industrial use levels. 

A remedial action was taken to remove soil VOC 

contamination that could contribute to future groundwater contamination. A 50-ft by 50-ft area was excavated to a depth of 5 feet to remove sufficient VOC concentration to mitigate the impact. The excavated area 

was then backfilled. Site restoration was completed for 

non-remediation areas. 

Excavated soils were staged within the West Old Salvage Yard and will be characterized and disposed. Two 

areas contained soil known to exceed Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure values and were segregated 

from the excavated soil and packaged in roll-off-type 

containers. The soil is not anticipated to meet EMWMF 

waste acceptance criteria and, if it doesn’t, will be characterized and shipped offsite for 

treatment and disposal. The 

Y-12 Old Salvage Yard 

remediation activities, 

including characterization and disposal 

of staged soil, will be 

completed in 2012. 

Old Salvage Yard East before and 

after cleanup
32

ARRA funding was used to expedite removal of legacy wastes and building demolition at the Y-12 National 

Security Complex in FY 2011. These projects include the following:

ARRA Funds Assist with Waste

Removal, Demolition Projects

A worker dismantles infrastructure associated with Building 9735 as part of the demolition project.

Building 9735 Demolition

Demolition of Building 9735, referred to as the 

Research Services Laboratory, was completed in July 

2010. This building was the last one to be removed 

from Engineering Row. Demolition of Engineering Row 

reduced the Y-12 footprint by 92,690 ft2

. 

The other six buildings that once comprised 

Engineering Row were demolished in 2008. Building 

9735 was a two-story, masonry (glazed terra cotta tile), 

wood-truss structure with a slab-on-grade foundation. 

The south end consisted of a two-story rectangular 

structure with a former basement that housed a 

development calutron.

The project involved complete deactivation and 

demolition of the building as well as the disposition of 

2,964 m3

 of material and waste to the Y-12 Sanitary and 

Industrial Waste landfills and approximately 8 m3 to the 

Nevada National Security Site. In addition to eliminating 

safety risks, this project allowed Y-12 to add an employee 

parking area and contribute to ARRA goals of creating 

and saving jobs and stimulating the local economy.
33

Building 9206 Bag Filter 

House Removal

The Building 9206 Bag Filter 

House Removal project at the Y-12 

Complex was unlike other ARRAfunded deactivation and demolition projects. Only a section of the 

building was demolished. The primary furnace chamber, ash removal 

unit, and its major control equipment were located inside Building 

9206. The remaining components 

of the system were located on the 

roof and in the south yard exterior 

to the building. This project also 

deactivated the recovery furnace 

exhaust system. The scope required 

Y-12 operations personnel to characterize, isolate, disassemble, decontaminate, and dispose of all equipment, support 

equipment, and waste from demolition of the identified 

Building 9206 Bag Filter House.

Deactivating the recovery furnace exhaust system 

reduced exposure from potential release of radiological 

and hazardous materials in out-of-service equipment. 

Deactivation also eliminated the need for daily monitoring of the process systems and was a key step in preparing the building for D&D. The Building 9206 Filter 

House project team removed and disposed of a total of 

268 m3

 of waste.

Alpha 5 Legacy Materials Disposition 

Project

The Alpha 5 Legacy Material Disposition Project was 

the largest ARRA-funded project at the Y-12 Complex. 

Alpha 5 (Building 9201-5) is the largest building at Y-12, 

measuring 613,642 ft2

.

The work scope for the project included removal and 

disposal of legacy materials from the building (floors 1 

through 4) as well as characterization of building materials to prepare for eventual deactivation and demolition under the Integrated Facility Disposition Program. 

Legacy materials were 

defined as those being easily removed 

and involving minimal reconfiguration 

efforts (e.g., unbolting, 

unplugging, wire cutting, 

cold cutting). The building was organized into 82 units, 

and legacy material was present in 67 of the units located 

on four floors. Legacy materials not salvaged or reused 

were managed as waste and characterized, segregated, 

size-reduced, compacted, and/or treated to meet the 

waste acceptance criteria for disposal at approved on-site 

and off-site facilities.

The building was completely emptied of its legacy 

materials, and those materials were appropriately disposed at on-site and off-site facilities. Approximately 

464,000 ft3

 of legacy waste was disposed.

Beta 3 (9204-3) Legacy Material Disposition Project

The Beta 3 Legacy Material Disposition project work 

scope included completing the refurbishment of the Actinide Lab area glove boxes and associated ventilation 

systems to maintain and ensure containment capability, 

completing glove box post-refurbishment maintenance 

evaluation, completing glove box debris characterization, and removing and disposing debris. A total of 36 

m3

 of low-level waste, 8 m3 of mixed low-level waste, and 

15 m3 of transuranic waste were removed and packaged 

for disposal. 

Beta 4 Legacy Material Disposition Project

The Beta 4 Legacy Material Disposition project consisted of removal and disposal of legacy materials from 

the second floor and second floor mezzanine of Building 

9204-4. This work will prepare the facility for deactivation and demolition as part of the site transformation 

Building 9735 demolition
34

plan. As with the Alpha 5 Project, legacy materials were 

defined as those being easily removed with minimal reconfiguration efforts. The second floor and second floor 

mezzanine were likewise organized into 16 units, and 

legacy materials not salvaged or reused were managed as 

waste and characterized, segregated, size-reduced, compacted, and/or treated to meet the waste acceptance criteria for disposal at approved facilities. Approximately 

128,000 ft3

 of legacy waste was disposed.

Disposition plans for Beta 4 waste were accelerated 

with ARRA funding. Results of these efforts were 

improved site safety and security, reduced operating 

costs, and reduced environmental risk to site personnel 

and to the immediate and surrounding areas. 

Biology Complex and Building 9769 

Deactivation and Demolition Project

The Biology Complex and Building 9769 Deactivation and Demolition Project involved four of the seven 

buildings in the Biology Complex that were deactivated 

and demolished. Buildings 9211, 9220, 9224, and 9769 

were demolished, and the work took place in six phases: 

building characterization, utilities deactivation, hazardous material abatement, radiological contaminated surfaces stabilization, building demolition to grade level, 

and site stabilization. 

Support activities such as waste size reduction, waste 

packaging, and shipping were integrated within the activities of these six major phases. Sanitary and construction/demolition debris that met the facility waste acceptance criteria were disposed at the Y-12 Sanitary Landfill. 

Radiologically contaminated waste were disposed at the 

on-site EMWMF. Approximately 32,000 yd3

 of waste 

were generated and properly disposed from this project.

The Biology Complex project was part of Y-12’s ongoing footprint reduction effort, designed to minimize 

maintenance and security costs. The project eliminated 

135,812 ft2 of unused building space and the risk associated with the deteriorated facilities. These buildings were 

vacant since 2003. 

Workers are draining oil from legacy processing equipment in the Beta 4 facility.
35

Waste Management

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 at the Central Neutralization 

Facility at ETTP and the Process Waste Treatment Complex 

at ORNL. 

35
36

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator, located at ETTP, was shut down permanently on 

Dec. 2, 2009, after treating 35.6 million pounds of liquid 

and solid waste over a 19-year period. 

Field closure activities initiated in 2009 were completed in December 2010. These activities included removing residual waste such as sludge, ash, incinerator 

refractory and scrubber packing material; triple-rinsing 

equipment and tanks; and surveying and sampling to 

TSCA Incinerator Undergoes Closure

confirm regulatory status. The certified closure report 

was submitted to the State of Tennessee and EPA in June 

2011. 

After completion of permit closure activities, additional activities were initiated in 2011 to encapsulate remaining PCB and radioactive contamination to reduce 

the cost of ongoing surveillance and maintenance. Upon 

completion of these activities, the facility will be under 

surveillance and maintenance until demolition.

As part of the closure process for the incinerator, workers manually shoveled sludge from the bottom of a firewater 

sump to be shipped for disposal. The sump was used to collect water from the fire sprinkler systems as well as 

rainwater from the various secondary containment areas. Throughout the years, mud, debris, and runoff from the 

off-gas cleaning system accumulated and formed a layer of sludge at the bottom of the sump. A backhoe was used 

to remove most of the sludge, with workers taking care of the remainder. 
37

Much of the waste generated 

during FY 2011 cleanup activities 

was disposed at facilities on the 

Oak Ridge Reservation.

EMWMF, located in east 

Bear Creek Valley near the Y-12 

Complex, received 19,507 truckloads of waste accounting for approximately 197,000 tons during 

FY 2011. This engineered landfill 

consists of six disposal cells and 

accepts low-level radioactive and 

hazardous waste that meet specific waste acceptance criteria. 

Waste types that qualify for 

disposal include soil, dried sludge and sediment, solidified wastes, stabilized waste, building debris, scrap 

equipment, and personal protective equipment.

EMWMF operations collected, analyzed, and dispositioned approximately 4.8 million gallons of leachate 

and 1.3 million gallons of contact water at the ORNL 

Liquid/Gaseous Waste Operations Facility in FY 2011. 

An additional 10 million gallons of contact water was 

collected, analyzed, and released to the storm water retention basin after determining that it met 

the release criteria. Operating practices 

also effectively controlled site erosion and 

sediment.

Projects that disposed of waste at 

EMWMF during FY 2011 include the 

K-25 Building Demolition Project; K-33 

Building Demolition Project; ETTP Decontamination and Decommissioning 

Project, including K-770 Scrap Yard, K1070-B Burial Ground, and K-1093 Scrap 

Yard; Y-12 Old Salvage Yard; Alpha 5 and 

Biology Projects; and several ORNL demolition projects.

DOE also operates solid waste disposal facilities called the Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills, which are located near the 

Y-12 Complex. 

The Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills 

are engineered facilities used for the disposal of sanitary, industrial, construction, 

Generated Wastes Disposed at 

Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills

and demolition waste. In FY 2011, approximately 83,000 

yd3 of industrial wastes and construction/demolition debris were disposed in the landfill. 

Operation of the Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills 

generated approximately 1.3 million gallons of leachate that was collected, monitored, and discharged to the 

Y-12 Complex sanitary sewer system, which discharges 

to the Oak Ridge sewer system under an industrial sewer 

user permit. 

Dump truck at EMWMF scales

EMWMF
38 Liner placement on EMWMF Cell 5

38

Expansions of two of the Reservation’s primary disposal facilities were completed in FY 2011.

Construction of Cell 6 at EMWMF, which kicked off 

in May 2010, was completed in the spring of 2011. The 

completion of Cell 6 marked the final expansion effort 

for EMWMF, which now has a total disposal capacity of 

2,180,000 yd3

. 

Cell 6 construction also added two 30,000-gallon 

leachate storage tanks, four 250,000-gallon Contact 

Water Tanks, and a new leachate loading station to 

improve the facility’s water management capability. 

The ORR Landfills Capacity Increase Project was 

conducted with ARRA funding. Construction of the 

ARRA-funded project, which started in April of 2010, 

was completed in January of 2011. 

The landfill increase project was comprised of three 

main work scope components: design and construction 

of the Industrial Landfill V (ILF-V), Area 4 and its 

associated systems; design and construction of the 

Truck Receiving Station at the ORR Landfill Complex; 

and construction of a leachate conveyance pipeline 

Waste Disposal Facilities Expanded

connecting the ILF-IV leachate holding facility directly 

to the Y-12 sanitary sewer system. 

The ILF-V Area 4 construction encompassed approximately 4.6 acres to provide approximately 385,000 

yd3 of new disposal capacity. The project included the 

design, construction, and independent quality control 

verification necessary for 

development of Area 4. 

The Truck Receiving 

Station was designed 

and constructed to 

provide a safe and efficient area for landfill 

acceptance technicians to 

receive paperwork, inspect the 

waste shipments, and direct trucks through the newly 

placed Vehicle Portal Monitors and to the appropriate 

landfill. The ILF-IV Leachate conveyance pipeline was 

designed and constructed for the controlled release of 

leachate into the Y-12 sanitary sewer system. 

Workers 

construct a 

concrete sump 

at Cell 6
39

Preparation of a Focused Feasibility Study 

(FFS) for CERCLA Oak Ridge Reservation Waste 

Disposal was in progress in FY 2011 to meet a 

Federal Facility Agreement milestone in September 2012. 

The ongoing FFS analysis will provide an evaluation of alternatives for disposal of waste generated from CERCLA cleanup actions on the Reservation after the maximum capacity of EMWMF 

is reached. 

Construction of a new on-site disposal facility is one of the alternatives being considered. Offsite disposal alternatives will also be evaluated. A 

screening evaluation of sites considered in previous studies and other potential locations is under 

way as part of the FFS analysis. If the On-site Disposal Alternative is identified as the preferred alternative, the preferred site would be identified in 

the Proposed Plan, which would be reviewed by 

the public. A final site would be identified in the 

Record of Decision.

A presentation about the FFS was made by 

DOE staff to the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory 

Board’s (ORSSAB) Environmental Management 

Committee in December 2010. The ORSSAB provided recommendations about the decision process that are being addressed in the ongoing FFS 

effort. Another update related to the ongoing FFS 

effort to the ORSSAB is planned in FY 2012. 

Future CERCLA Waste Disposal

Alternatives Being Considered

EMWMF with Cell 6 expansion

Cell 6
40

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 (TWPC) 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 National Security Site.

 Currently, two waste streams, contact-handled 

TWPC Treating Transuranic Waste 

(CH) TRU solids and remote-handled (RH) TRU solids, 

are being processed at the TWPC. 

During FY 2011, the TWPC processed 53.2 m3 of 

the RH-TRU waste, reaching a total of 118.2 m3 of processed RH waste. The TWPC also processed 126 m3

 of 

CH-TRU waste, reaching a total of 939 m3 of processed 

CH waste. 

During FY 2011, the TWPC shipped a total of 10 

m3

 of original RH-TRU inventory, reaching a total of 44 

m3

 disposed. The TWPC also shipped 178 m3 of original CH-TRU waste inventory to disposal facilities in FY 

2011, reaching a total of 767 m3 disposed.

During FY 2011, 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 2016.

At left, a worker is looking for 

prohibited items in contacthandled TRU waste being 

processed in a glove box at the 

TWPC. At right, workers are in 

the process of downsizing a large 

waste glove box in preparation for 

shipment to the Waste Isolation 

Pilot Plant for disposition.
41
42

The Central Neutralization Facility, located at ETTP, 

treated approximately 7.3 million gallons of wastewater 

in FY 2011. The facility is ETTP’s primary wastewater 

treatment facility and has processed 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 processed, packaged, and disposed off-site. 

With the shutdown of the TSCA Incinerator, the 

Central Neutralization Facility has continued to operate 

with a reduced work force on day shift only. The main 

waste stream in FY 2011 was hexavalent chromium-contaminated groundwater extracted to prevent discharge 

into Mitchell Branch. The facility also continued to treat 

wastewaters generated at the TSCA Incinerator as part 

of the closure activities. In FY 2012, the Central Neutralization Facility will be shut down and transitioned to 

long-term surveillance and maintenance. 

At ORNL, approximately 117 million gallons of 

wastewater were treated and released at the Process 

Waste Treatment Complex. In addition, the liquid lowlevel waste evaporator at ORNL treated 163,610 gallons 

of such waste. The ORNL 3039 Stack Facility has treated 

a total of 2.2 billion m3

 of gaseous waste.

These waste treatment activities supported both 

EM and Office of Science mission activities in a safe and 

compliant manner during FY 2011.

The National Nuclear Security Administration 

(NNSA) at the Y-12 Complex treated 127 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

112 million gallons of mercury-contaminated groundwater. The East End Volatile Organic Compound Treatment System treated 11 million gallons of VOC-contaminated groundwater. 

The West End Treatment Facility and the Central 

Pollution Control Facility at the Y-12 Complex processed 

1.2 million gallons of wastewater primarily in support of 

NNSA operational activities.  

      The Central Pollution Control Facility also downblended more than 37,175 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
43

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.

43
44

Public input is an integral part of the cleanup process. Comments are often solicited from the public to help 

develop strategies for remediation. Documentation is also made publicly available to keep the public informed on 

decisions that have been made. Following are some of the issues for which DOE sought input or provided information 

to the public. 

•	 Covenant Deferral Request for Parcel ED-12 at ETTP: request to transfer a 13-acre tract of land at ETTP to 

Heritage Center LLC

•	 Explanation of Significant Differences to modify the Record of Decision for Interim actions in ETTP Zone 1: 

changed end use designations for certain areas, removed some items from the scope, and removed restrictions 

for the disturbance of soils below 10 feet in some areas

•	 Final Sitewide Environmental Impact Statement for the Y-12 National Security Complex: analyzed the potential 

environmental impacts of the reasonable alternatives for ongoing and foreseeable future operations and activities 

at Y-12

•	 Permit Modification Request to add storage capacity at the Transuranic Waste Processing Center

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 meeting notices in local newspapers, issuing fact sheets, and conducting public meetings.

Public Participation Helps Determine 

Reservation Cleanup Strategy

Public meetings are 

key tools to keep the 

public informed on 

cleanup activities. 

The Oak Ridge Site 

Specific Advisory 

Board sponsors many 

of these meetings.
45

EM Budget and Prioritization 

In FY 2011, ORSSAB formed a new standing committee to help the board and the public better understand the budget request prioritization process and 

provide the prioritization recommendations the board 

makes each year on the EM budget. For several months 

the EM Budget and Prioritization Committee worked 

closely with DOE Oak Ridge in assessing cleanup priorities for the Oak Ridge Reservation. 

A critical part of this process involved a new computer program called the Dynamic Planning Model, 

which can take a work breakdown structure and split it 

incrementally, from a high-level overview of the cleanup program down to individual projects. The model 

takes each program baseline summary and analyzes it 

through three funding situations:

1. Fixed expenses

2. Level of effort (funding must be sufficient to sustain 

operations, but costs can be eliminated if a project 

is finished)

3. Dynamic (discretion in scheduling a project is possible)

The committee reviewed six scenarios generated 

by the model for funding and prioritizes completing 

the various cleanup projects on the Reservation. The 

committee then used these scenarios in developing the 

board’s recommendations to DOE Oak Ridge on its 

FY 2013 EM budget request. In addition to its specific 

recommendations on the budget request, the committee also recognized the value of the Dynamic Planning Model by recommending that other sites across 

ORSSAB Provides Community

Input to DOE’s Cleanup Activities 

The Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board (ORSSAB) is a federally appointed citizens’ panel that provides independent advice and recommendations to the 

DOE Oak Ridge EM Program. The board was formed in 1995 and is composed 

of up to 22 members, chosen to reflect the diversity of gender, race, occupation, views, and interests of persons living near the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation. 

Members are appointed by DOE and serve voluntarily, without compensation. 

ORSSAB continued its mission during FY 2011 with a number of activities. 

Information about ORSSAB activities can be found on a quarterly basis in its 

Advocate newsletter, which also features articles on current EM projects and includes information on how the public can learn about the EM Program and provide comments on its activities. To subscribe to the Advocate, see www.oakridge.

doe.gov/em/ssab.

the DOE complex consider implementing its use. The 

recommendations were approved by the board in May 

2011.

As part of its work, the committee assisted DOE by 

helping coordinate a public workshop on the FY 2013 

budget priorities. The workshop, which was attended 

by approximately 75 members of the public, was held 

at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak 

Ridge on February 24. The workshop provided attendees with an opportunity to understand the full scope 

of the cleanup work under way and that remains to be 

done at the Oak Ridge Reservation. 

Oak Ridge Reservation Stewardship 

In 2008, ORSSAB’s Stewardship Committee worked 

with DOE Oak Ridge to produce a stewardship map 

showing all remediated areas on the Oak Ridge Reservation and what land use controls are currently in 

place. To supplement the map, DOE has been working 

to develop an accompanying reference book containing 

data sheets for the contaminated areas. The sheets will 

provide information about the types of contamination, 

how safe the area is for use, what restrictions are on the 

properties, what permits may be required before using 

the parcels, and other information. 

In FY 2011, the ORSSAB Stewardship Committee 

provided input on the sheets, offering a public perspective on what is understandable by the average citizen. 

The resulting map and reference book will be a valuable 

resource to citizens and local officials in understanding 
46

what areas of the reservation will be suitable for future 

use. 

Establishment of a Site Transition Process 

Upon Completion of Remediation at

Ongoing Mission Sites

In November 2010, several members of the ORSSAB 

Stewardship Committee attended the Long-term Surveillance and Maintenance Conference in Grand Junction, Colo. The ORSSAB chair made a presentation on 

long-term stewardship, noting that there was no process 

for assuring long-term stewardship at continuing mission sites after EM has finished cleanup.

It was learned at the conference that Letitia O’Conor 

had been appointed the point of contact for long-term 

stewardship within the DOE EM program at Headquarters. Ms. O’Conor attended the January ORSSAB 

Stewardship Committee meeting, and she told the committee of a fact sheet that the Office of Legacy Management uses at closure sites once EM completes cleanup. 

Members of the committee thought a similar fact sheet 

would be useful at ongoing mission sites and drafted a 

recommendation to that effect, which was later adopted 

by the board. 

DOE EM accepted the recommendation and is 

crafting a fact sheet to guide the transfer of remediated 

parcels from EM to site landlords. The fact sheet is a first 

step in ensuring long-term stewardship of remediated 

areas at DOE facilities with continuing missions.

Removal of Uncontaminated Areas of the 

Oak Ridge Reservation from the National 

Priorities List

The Oak Ridge Reservation encompasses roughly 

34,000 acres, but only about 10 percent of the reservation is actually contaminated from research and 

production activities by DOE. The entire reservation, 

however, was placed on EPA’s National Priorities List 

for cleanup under the provisions of the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 

Act. Even though all of the reservation is on the National Priorities List, EPA policy states that only areas with 

contamination are considered to be part of the list.

In 2009, a white paper was written describing the 

process to clearly document areas of the National Priorities List, as well as those areas that are not part of the 

list. The board reviewed the paper and subsequently issued a recommendation to DOE, stating that the board 

ORSSAB’s EPA liaison, Connie Jones (standing), discusses her agency’s list of suggested EM cleanup topics for 

the board to consider adding to its FY 2012 work plan. The presentation was made during the ORSSAB annual 

planning meeting, held August 20 at Whitestone Country Inn near Kingston.
47

believes that defining only contaminated areas of the 

reservation in the list would be beneficial in presenting 

a more positive image of the reservation and the Oak 

Ridge community to the public.

Mitigation of Contamination in Bear 

Creek Burial Grounds

Bear Creek Burial Grounds is an area that was used 

by DOE for disposal of depleted uranium from production operations at the nearby Y-12 Plant (now the Y-12 

National Security Complex). Remediation efforts have 

reduced concentrations of uranium and other contaminants in adjacent Bear Creek, but releases of uranium 

to the creek continue to exceed acceptable safe drinking 

water standards.

Current budget limitations and technical challenges prevent any near-term final remediation of the 

burial grounds, but ORSSAB believes DOE can take 

some steps now to help define possible actions for future remediation.

The board approved a recommendation, drafted by 

its EM committee, that asked DOE to compile information related to potential remedial actions. The information would include a description of the actions; estimated costs; target contaminants; and comments regarding 

practicality, technical risk, maintenance costs, and budgetary feasibility.

DOE agreed with the recommendation and has 

pledged to provide a compilation, saying that such an 

analysis will enable informed decisions concerning possible near-term control measures for Bear Creek Burial 

Grounds.

Support/Public Outreach for EM Projects

During FY 2011, ORSSAB was actively involved in 

providing a public forum for major projects that had 

significant impact on the Oak Ridge EM program this 

year and that will continue to have ramifications for 

years to come. Through presentations at the ORSSAB 

board and committee meetings, the public received detailed briefings on a variety of topics: 

•	 FY 2011 Remediation Effectiveness Report

•	 Groundwater Management Strategies

•	 FY 2013 DOE Oak Ridge EM Budget Request

DOE’s Dave Adler provided the public with an update on the Bear Creek Burial Grounds at an ORSSAB meeting.
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•	 Uranium-233 Disposition Project

•	 Focused Feasibility Study and Proposed Plan for 

Zone 1 at East Tennessee Technology Park

•	 Oak Ridge National Laboratory Central Gaseous 

Waste System

•	 Oak Ridge Reservation Site Treatment Plan

•	 K-1007 Ponds Ecological Restoration

•	 Bear Creek Valley Response Actions

•	 CERCLA Waste Facility Expansion

•	 Molten Salt Reactor Engineering Study

•	 Wastes Stored Longer Than One Year at East Tennessee Technology Park

•	 Corehole 8/Tank W-1A Removal

•	 Transuranic Waste Processing Center

•	 National Pollution Discharge Elimination System 

Permit for Y-12

FY 2012 ORSSAB members, liaisons, 

and student representatives. Bottom 

row, left to right: Sue Cange (DOE 

Deputy Designated Federal Officer), 

Connie Jones (EPA Liaison), Fay 

Martin, Gloria Mei, Greg Paulus. 

Second row: Betty Jones, Ron 

Murphree, Maggie Owen (Chair), Ed 

Juarez (Vice Chair), Amira Sakalla 

(Student Representative), Steve 

Stow. Third row: Howard Holmes, 

Dave Hemelright, Jan Hart, Scott 

McKinney. Top row: Melyssa Noe 

(DOE Federal Coordinator), Tom 

Valunas, Dave Adler (DOE Liaison), 

David Martin, John Owsley (TDEC 

Liaison). Not pictured: Jimmy 

Bell, Bob Hatcher, Charles Jensen 

(Secretary), and Kasey McMaster 

(Student Representative).

ORSSAB student representative 

Josh Monroe and more than 60 

of his Oak Ridge High School 

classmates participated in a tour 

of EM sites at ETTP and ORNL. 

Also included in the tour was a 

stopover at ORNL’s biofuels lab.
49

The DOE Information Center is a one-stop information facility that maintains a collection of more 

than 45,000 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 2011 Stats

Average number of visitors per month 115

Number of public meetings held 147

Total citizen inquiries 1,260

Total number of documents at the center 45,964

 Total number of documents on-line 23,793

Visit the DOE Information Center on the 

Web at www.oakridge.doe.gov/info_cntr

DOE Information Center staff, from left: Eva Butler, 

Wanda Joyce, and Michelle McMillan

DOE Information Center

Phone: 865-241-4780

Note: Effective Feb. 27, 2012, the DOE 

Information Center will relocate from 475 Oak 

Ridge Turnpike to the Office of Scientific and 

Technical Information, Building 1916 – T1,

1 Science.Gov Way, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
50

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
51

ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

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

CH Contact-handled

CROET Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee

DOE U.S. Department of Energy

EM Environmental Management

EMWMF Environmental Management Waste Management Facility

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ETTP East Tennessee Technology Park

FFS Focused Feasibility Study

FY Fiscal year

NNSA National Nuclear Security Administration

NPL National Priorities List

ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory

ORSSAB Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board

PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl

RH Remote-handled

ROD Record of Decision

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

VOC Volatile organic compound

WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico

Commonly Used Acronyms
52

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
53
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For more information, please contact the DOE Public Affairs Office

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