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

• lead and copper, and
• disinfectant by-products (trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids).
Annual Site Environmental Report
The city of Oak Ridge supplies potable water to the ORNL water distribution system and meets all
regulatory requirements for drinking water. The water treatment plant, located on the ORR, north of the
Y-12 Complex, is owned and operated by the city of Oak Ridge.
In 2009, sampling results for ORNL’s water system chlorine residual levels, bacterial constituents,
disinfectant by-products, and lead and copper were all within acceptable limits. TDEC requires triennial
sampling of the ORNL potable water system for lead and copper; the next sampling is scheduled to be
performed during June –September 2012.
5.3.5 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Compliance Status
DOE and the DOE contractors at ORNL were jointly regulated as a large-quantity generator of
hazardous waste in 2009 (EPA ID No. TN1890090003), because collectively more than 1,000 kg of
hazardous waste per month was generated. This includes hazardous waste that is generated under
permitted activities (including repackaging or treatment residuals). At the end of 2009, there were
approximately 400 generator accumulation areas for hazardous or mixed waste serving various contractor
organizations at ORNL, including UT-Battelle, BJC, Energy Solutions, Isotek, and WAI. DOE and the
DOE contractors at ORNL were also jointly regulated as a large quantity handler of universal waste (e.g.,
fluorescent lamps, batteries, etc.) under the universal waste management standards as more than 5,000 kg
of total universal waste was collectively accumulated prior to off-site recycle at any time during 2009.
Similarly, DOE and ORNL contractors were collectively regulated as a used oil generator under the used
oil management standards in 2009. At the end of 2009, there were approximately 100 used oil areas for
management of used oil prior to off-site recycle or disposal.
UT-Battelle and BJC were permitted to transport hazardous wastes and UT-Battelle was registered to
operate a transfer facility for temporary (less than 10-day) storage of hazardous wastes transported from
off-site locations (such as NTRC). DOE, UT-Battelle, BJC, and WAI were permitted to operate RCRApermitted
hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities (or units). During 2009, 24 units operated as
permitted units; another 6 units were permitted as proposed units (but will not be built and have been
eliminated in a permit renewal application submitted in 2007 for TNHW-097).
The RCRA units operate under three permits at ORNL: TNHW-097 (TNHW-145 was issued in early
2010 and replaces the TNHW-097 permit), TNHW-134, and TNHW-121. TNHW-121 is the existing
RCRA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments permit for the ORR (see Table 5.8). The permits are
modified when necessary. Five permit modifications and two temporary authorizations were approved by
TDEC in 2009. Two modifications to permit TNHW-134 included removal of Portable Unit 1 and minor
changes to the waste analysis plan, training, and inspection logs. Three permit modifications and two
temporary authorizations to TNHW-097 were approved by TDEC in 2009. The modifications included
removal of WESKEM, LLC as permit co-operator; addition of Portable Unit 1; and for the TWPC,
approval of a staging area for loaded and sealed 72-B casks, addition of storage capacity, and addition of
size reduction treatment. The temporary authorizations included adding additional storage capacity to four
TWPC permitted units and allowing macroencapsulation at an additional location at the TWPC. The
renewal application for the TNHW-097 permit submitted in March 2007 was still pending throughout
2009.
TDEC conducted an annual RCRA inspection in May 2009 of ORNL generator areas, battery
collection areas, RCRA permitted areas, and RCRA records including required training, generator
inspections, permitted facility records, shipments, transfer facility log, the 2008 RCRA Annual Report of
Hazardous Waste Activities, and the 2008 Hazardous Waste Reduction Progress Report. All activities and
records were found to be in compliance with RCRA regulations and the RCRA permits, and there were no
notices of violation or penalties associated with this inspection.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory 5-25