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

Oak Ridge Reservation
Outreach activities in 2009 consisted of providing tours of the Y-12 Complex for the Secret City
Festival and for the American Museum of Science and Energy. Twenty thousand people attended the
annual Secret City Festival, held in June, sponsored by the city of Oak Ridge, the Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau, and the Arts Council of Oak Ridge. B&W Y-12 partnered with The Secret City Festival
to promote the history of Oak Ridge by providing guided tours of the Y-12 Complex. B&W Y-12 also
partnered with the American Museum of Science and Energy by providing guided public tours from June
through September for over 1545 tourists from 42 states. Other outreach activities include visiting local
schools and conducting presentations on the history of Y-12 and Oak Ridge.
4.3.3 Clean Air Act
This section contains a review of the major elements of the Clean Air Program at the Y-12 Complex
Including program highlights for 2009.
The DOE was issued the Title V Major Source Operating Permits 554701 and 554594 in 2004 for the
Y-12 Complex and required compliance implementation began April 1, 2005. More than 3,000 data
points are obtained and reported under the Title V operating permit every 6 months, and there are five
continuous monitors for criteria pollutants as well as numerous continuous samplers for radiological
emissions.
There was no noncompliance as a result of monitoring activities during 2009.
In 2009, only one construction air permit was in effect at the Y-12 Complex. Under a permit issued in
2007, construction began in 2008 on the replacement steam plant. The new steam plant is planned to be
transitioned to management and the operating contractor in April 2010. Completion of the new steam
plant will ultimately result in the shutdown of the existing steam plant.
More than 90% of the Y-12 Complex pollutant emissions to the atmosphere is attributed to the
operation of the existing coal-fired and natural gas–fired steam plant. Emissions from the new steam plant
will be significantly lower than those from the existing steam plant, resulting in an overall air quality
improvement. The new steam plant will burn primarily natural gas and will have a fuel oil backup. The
Clean Air construction permit for this project included a Best Available Control Technology analysis for
certain criteria pollutants and a case-by-case Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)
analysis for hazardous air pollutants.
Prior-year efforts to increase usage of E-85 (i.e., a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) in
flexible fuel vehicles continued to reap motor vehicle emission reductions in 2009.
In 2009, TDEC personnel performed an inspection of the Y-12 Complex on January 21 and 22 to
verify compliance with applicable regulations and permit conditions. No compliance issues were
identified.
4.3.4 Clean Water Act and Aquatic Resources Protection
The Y-12 NPDES permit (TN0002968) was issued on March 13, 2006, and became effective on
May 1, 2006. An application for reissuance of the NPDES permit was submitted to TDEC, Division of
Water Pollution Control, on July 1, 2008.
In 2008 an evaluation of options for reducing mercury loading in lower East Fork Poplar Creek was
completed. The pilot studies indicated that a reduction of flow in certain areas of the creek would reduce
the amount of mercury in the water flow. To implement this improvement effort, a permit modification
was required. The request to reduce flow was embraced by both state and EPA regulators. The request to
modify flow was in part a result of activities associated with a team of NNSA, DOE-EM, and contractor
employees formed to study proposed state requirements for a mercury Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) in EFPC. On December 30, 2008, the permit was modified to change the required minimum
flow in East Fork Poplar Creek at Station 17 to 19 million L/day (5 million gal/day). The permit expired
December 31, 2008, and Y-12 Complex discharges are continuing under the requirements of this permit
pending TDEC action on the renewal application submitted on July 1, 2008. The effluent limitations
contained in the permit are based on the protection of water quality in the receiving streams. The permit
emphasizes storm water runoff and biological, toxicological, and radiological monitoring.
4-24 The Y-12 National Security Complex