DOE/ORO/2327 Oak Ridge Reservation Annual Site Environmental ...

Annual Site Environmental Report
phase. Fuel oil used to rinse the waste storage and feed tanks was incinerated at the facility. When the
decontamination is completed, the facility will be demolished.
The CNF, ETTP’s primary wastewater treatment facility, which processes both hazardous and
nonhazardous waste streams, treated more than 18,351,000 million gal of wastewater in 2009. Although
the largest single contributor by far is the TSCA Incinerator, wastes also arise from other facilities and
remediation projects, including the chromium-contaminated groundwater collection system. With the
shutdown of the TSCA Incinerator, CNF has reduced operational hours to a single day shift. The facility
removes heavy metals and suspended solids from the wastewater, adjusts pH, and discharges the treated
effluent into the Clinch River. Sludge from the treatment facility is treated, packaged, and disposed of offsite.
TDEC is in the process of developing and issuing a new NPDES permit that will reflect the changing
conditions at the ETTP.
The Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF), located in Bear Creek
Valley, is used for disposal of waste resulting from CERCLA cleanup actions on the ORR. The EMWMF
is an engineered landfill that accepts low-level radioactive and hazardous wastes in accordance with
specific waste acceptance criteria under an agreement with state and federal regulators. The EMWMF
received approximately 14,700 truckloads of waste accounting for 173,600 tons during FY 2009. In
addition, approximately 3.4 million gal of leachate were collected and disposed of at the ORNL Liquids
and Gases Treatment Facility. An additional 8.9 million gal of contact water were collected, analyzed,
and released to the sediment basin after analyses confirmed that the water met the release criteria. ETTP
projects that have disposed of waste at the EMWMF include the following:
• David Witherspoon, Inc. Site Remedial Action Project;
• the K-25/K-27 D&D Project, including hazardous materials abatement, excess materials removal; and
K-25 Building west wing demolition debris and equipment; and
• other ETTP D&D projects, including K-1401; K-1066-G Scrapyard; K-1070-B Burial Ground; and
K-1035 demolition debris.
To ensure the continuity of disposal capacity for the ORR cleanup waste, construction of a new cell at
EMWMF began in 2009. The new cell will bring the total capacity of the EMWMF to slightly below 1.7
million cubic yards. Planning is also underway for a sixth cell, if it should prove necessary.
The use of radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) was implemented for waste shipments to
EMWMF. This innovation allows for faster, and more accurate tracking of waste shipments and reduces
paperwork, decreases the shipment cycle time, and improves security of the materials being transported
along the haul road.
The Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills (ORRL) are located near the Y-12 complex, and are designed
for the disposal of sanitary, industrial, construction, and demolition wastes that meet the waste acceptance
criteria for each landfill. In FY 2009, more than 145,000 cubic yards of waste were disposed of at these
facilities, and more than 1.6 million gallons of leachate were collected, monitored, and discharged to the
Oak sewer system. In 2009, planning also began to expand Landfill V of the ORRL.
3.8.2 Environmental Restoration Activities
The ETTP operated as an enrichment facility for four decades, during which time many of the
buildings became contaminated to some degree with radionuclides, heavy metals, and toxic organic
compounds. In addition, large quantities of wastes were generated, much of which was stored on the site.
The Environmental Management Program (EMP) is designed to demolish all unnecessary facilities
and restore the site to a usable condition.
Safety and health of employees and the public is a constant focus. Cost-effectiveness is also a major
consideration in the cleanup operations.
DOE has signed two of three key CERCLA records of decision (RODs) with the state of Tennessee
and EPA authorizing environmental restoration of about 890 ha of land at ETTP. The area encompasses
approximately about 567 ha outside the main plant security fence (Zone 1), and about 324 ha inside the
fence within the former plant production area (Zone 2). The main objectives of the two decisions are to
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