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EM regularly
conducts sampling across the Oak Ridge Reservation. The five-year review
uses groundwater, surface water, soil, sediment, and data from plant and
animal life from fiscal 2016 to fiscal 2020 for its evaluations.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management
(OREM) and its cleanup contractor UCOR are conducting a critical review
of remediation measures in place across the Oak Ridge Reservation
virtually as they adapt to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The five-year, multi-agency review underway is designed to
determine if remedies that have been implemented continue to protect
human health and the environment. Required by CERCLA — the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act — the review
covers the three DOE sites in Oak Ridge — the East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Y-12 National Security Complex. This is
the fifth review since the start of remedial actions in Oak Ridge in the
1990s.
The review included more than 40 interviews held this summer
followed by virtual site visits in August and September. Those
interviewed included facility managers, engineers, system operators,
project managers, subject-matter experts, and site personnel. Regulators,
stakeholders, members of the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, and
others participated in the virtual site visits. Interviews and visits were
conducted using online conference systems.
Lynn Sims, the manager of the five-year
review, looks at data that will help evaluate Oak Ridge’s remediation
measures. Sims is an employee of UCOR subcontractor RSI, which performs
water and soil sampling at the site, among other things.
All three Oak Ridge sites will be evaluated on their
performance of cleanup remedies. This evaluation will continue into next
year, with results scheduled to be delivered by May 31, 2021.
“This is an important review that helps ensure that public
health and safety, and the environment are protected over the long term,”
OREM Quality and Mission Support Division Director Dave Adler said.
Cleanup remedies address the legacies remaining from more
than 50 years of energy research and weapons production. The measures
includes environmental remediation, removing deteriorated and radioactively
contaminated facilities, and disposing legacy low-level, mixed low-level,
transuranic wastes, and hazardous and non-hazardous industrial wastes.
The review, which will be finalized and released next year,
uses groundwater, surface water, soil, sediment, and data on plant and
animal life from fiscal 2016 through fiscal 2020 as the basis for its
evaluations. Sampling is conducted as part of the review.
OREM, UCOR, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and
the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will evaluate
that data to ensure that the cleanup and remediation that are conducted
to fulfill regulatory commitments are protective of human health and the
environment.
-Contributor: Mike Butler
One of 44 trucks delivers grout to the
West Valley Demonstration Project to place inside a cell 30 feet below
ground.
WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – EM and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT
West Valley (CHBWV) recently began grouting a large underground cell at
the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP)
to provide structural stability for when heavy demolition equipment
operates aboveground to tear down the Main Plant Process Building.
The cell, which is nearly 30 feet below ground, will remain
in place until the underground portion of the Main Plant Process Building
is removed in the future. Crews continue to prepare the building for
demolition.
“The WVDP team’s work was well planned and executed in an
effort to maintain safety, including the addition of COVID-19 protocols,”
EM WVDP Safety and Site Programs Team Leader Jennifer Dundas said. “This
work is part of DOE’s efforts to reduce legacy risks in preparation for
the future demolition of the Main Plant Process Building, an EM priority
for 2020.”
A total of 44 trucks supported the grouting effort. Prior to
grouting, all major process equipment was removed, interior surfaces were
decontaminated and sealed, all utilities and connections with adjoining
structures were disconnected, and characterization data was obtained to
plan for future waste disposal.
Before crews deactivated the cell, it had contained radiological
and hazardous contaminants resulting from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing
activities.
“This work activity was successful because it was a group
effort,” said Scott Chase, facility disposition operations manager. “Our
crew worked with the engineering division on the overall plan and we had
good support from the radiation control and security divisions as well.”
Used in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing operations in the
late 1960s and early 1970s, the cell is 46 feet long, 11 feet wide, and
nearly 20 feet tall.
-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere
NEW ELLENTON S.C. –
U.S. Forest Service employees recently held their annual longleaf pine
cone collection event on Savannah River Site (SRS), gathering
approximately 700 bushels of pine cones.
The cones will be sent to a facility where the seeds are
extracted and planted, and will eventually grow into longleaf pine
seedlings at a nursery. Those seedlings will then be used on SRS and by
partnering agencies to help restore lands once dominated by longleaf pine
forests.
“Collecting cones from known longleaf pine trees that are
phenotypically superior ensures great genetic stock. When we replant, we
want to know the seedlings will grow well in this area,” Silviculture
Forester Jennie Haskell said. “We have had tremendous success planting
quality seedlings from locally collected cones as opposed to reforesting
with seedlings collected from other zones.”
A silviculture forester manages programs to control the
establishment, growth, quality, and health of forests. They analyze
forests to maximize timber production and minimize negative impacts on
the land, water, and wildlife.
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Preparing collected cones for transport
to the facility where their seeds will be extracted and eventually
planted.
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Restoring the
longleaf pine community is an important objective for the U.S. Forest
Service across the SRS and the southeast region of the U.S. This process
takes many years. Reforesting with longleaf pine seedlings is just one
step. Prescribed fire, chemical treatments, and harvesting to remove
undesirable vegetation and reduce competition are also important in the
process.
The longleaf pine
community, when maintained with prescribed fire, is one of the most
biologically diverse ecosystems in North America. The biodiversity is
evident in the abundant understory and groundcover that is important to
many wildlife species, including wild turkey, white tail deer, fox,
squirrels, many reptiles, numerous songbirds, and native butterflies and
other pollinator species.
“Forest management
is a long-term ongoing process. We provide sustainable forest products,
bioenergy, and economic stability to our local communities. It all starts
with collecting the hundreds of seeds contained in each individual pine
cone,” Forest Planner David Malone said.
To learn more
about ongoing forest restoration efforts on SRS, click here.
-Contributor: Joe
Orosz
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