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

Oak Ridge Reservation
prevention benefits or targets eliminating the source of pollution, including the 2009 activities highlighted
in this section.
Y-12 Clean Sweep Program
This program (Fig. 4.9) conducted cleanup events at key operating facilities in FY 2009 as part of a
major initiative to improve the overall condition of the Y-12 Complex and support pollution prevention
goals. Due to the complexity of these cleanups, Y-12 established a multi-organization team to ensure that
the materials/chemicals are reused or recycled if at all possible and to plan these cleanups to ensure that
all health and safety, security, operational, radiological, and environmental requirements are met. The
cleanups resulted in the removal of more than 907,185 kg (1,000 tons) of materials and chemicals from
more than six facilities, of which more than 317,515 kg (350 tons) of materials were recycled or reused.
The effort resulted in an estimated cost avoidance of more than $15,770 due to reduced waste disposal
costs; eliminated more than 108 m 2 (1,160 ft 2 ) of radiation management areas; and freed over 328.8 m 2
(3,535 ft 2 ) of valuable floor space that could be used for other mission critical tasks, with an associated
estimated cost avoidance of $3,600,000 based on an estimated cost of $1,036 per 0.09 square meter
(1 square foot) if such space had to be constructed. Finally, the overall cleanup efforts are implemented
using the 7S process (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, safety, security, and sustain) to ensure that
work spaces are maintained and the excess/recycle and disposal of materials can continue on an ongoing
basis.
4-12 The Y-12 National Security Complex
Fig. 4.9. Y-12 Clean Sweep Program.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Environmentally preferable products, including recycled-content materials, are procured for use
across the Y-12 Complex. In 2009, B&W Y-12 procured recycled-content materials valued at more than
$2.83 million for use at the site.
Y-12 Digital Radiography
The Y-12 Complex is implementing a high-energy digital radiography to automate part setup and
alignment and digitize radiographs of products. The development of this high-resolution imaging system
will make Y-12’s digital capability equal to or better than film at all energy levels. The Y-12 technical
team developed a mid-energy radiographic capability for operational use, which was followed by the
development of a low-energy digital radiographic capability in 2009. Digital techniques provide
additional capabilities such as image enhancements and feature extractions to support product analysis.
Benefits include reducing setup time and the time associated with obtaining high-quality radiographs,
eliminating the use of film and film processing chemicals, eliminating storage and archive costs
associated with legacy radiographic films, enabling teleradiography collaboration and communications