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Title: Regulator Interface Strategies Implemented at the Y-12 National Security Complex Old Salvage Yard Soils Remediation Project, Oak Ridge, TN - 12162

Abstract

The Oak Ridge Y-12 National Security Complex housed an area known as the Old Salvage Yard (OSY) that was approximately 7 acres. The OSY was used as an area for the accumulation, processing and storage of scrap metal and equipment from Y-12 operations extending from 1968 until 2009. Areas in the northern sections of OSY also have been used for the storage of used oils containing solvents and the accumulation and recycling or de-heading and crushing of 55-gal metal drums. Scrap metal operations historically involved the accumulation, sorting, storage, public sale or disposal of scrap metal and equipment. Non-containerised storage of scrap metal was routine until 1995 when scrap metal received at OSY was placed in B-24 and B-25 boxes. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), approximately 26,759 cubic meters of scrap metal and debris were removed and disposed at both on and off-site disposal facilities including the on-site, Oak Ridge Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) landfill in 2010 and 2011. This removal action was performed in accordance with a CERCLA Record of Decision (ROD) and a close working relationship with both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IV and Tennessee Department of Environmentmore » and Conservation (TDEC). Due to efficiencies and the excellent cooperative relationship forged with EPA Region IV and TDEC for Y-12 ARRA Cleanup Projects, a surplus of funding was available for additional remediation work that was completed in fiscal year (FY) 2011. The underlying OSY soils were targeted for characterization and potential remediation. To expedite these important activities, the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Environmental Management partnered with the regulators during detailed planning sessions through a variety of means to quickly and efficiently characterize and pinpoint areas requiring remediation according to previous ROD commitments. Data Quality Objectives (DQOs), data-sharing, real-time characterization reporting, surface and groundwater modeling and other interface planning activities were utilized to help facilitate and complete characterization and remediation activities. As a result of these strategies, the surgical extraction of one contiguous area of soil approximately 354 cubic meters is planned for FY12. The strategies discussed resulted in a major reduction of footprint remediation (i.e., 2.8% of the original estimate) which was originally estimated at over 26,759 cubic meters. The original estimate was developed using historical data collected at various times over the period of 20 years. By leveraging a hybrid sampling approach that involved both statistically-based and biased sampling locations, the area of contamination was significantly reduced resulting in both a compliant remedial design that is cost effective while mitigating a principle threat sources to surface and groundwater at the Y-12 plant. One remedial action boundary of 354 cubic meters was verified in the northern section of the Western OSY area known as the old drum de-header station for VOCs. The original estimate for disposal was in excess of 26,759 cubic meters. This area is scheduled for waste characterization and profile development in the first half of fiscal year 2012. The anticipated disposal facility is an on-site Oak Ridge CERCLA disposal landfill known as the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF). By utilizing the careful strategic planning, field-based screening and close cooperation of regulatory stakeholders as detailed in this paper, the total area of soil requiring remedial action within the Y-12 OSY footprint was 354 cubic meters or 2.8% of the original planned estimate. A potential waste reduction of 97.2% was realized over the original planned estimate for OSY Soils. Significant cost savings were achieved by - Minimizing the footprint of the remedial action; - Confirmatory analysis of soils instead of use of historical sampling results for waste profile development; - Targeting traditional laboratory analysis for soils that failed field screen protocols for radionuclides, heavy metals and VOCs; - Providing accurate and precise definition of RABs; and - Reduction of target contaminants for focused laboratory analysis instead of broad-range contaminants. (authors)« less

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Alliant Corporation (United States)
  2. US DOE-ORO EM (United States)
  3. Link Technologies (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9-332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
22293464
Report Number(s):
INIS-US-14-WM-12162
TRN: US14V1118114988
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: WM2012: Waste Management 2012 conference on improving the future in waste management, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 26 Feb - 1 Mar 2012; Other Information: Country of input: France; 4 refs.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CONTAMINATION; EFFICIENCY; GROUND WATER; HEAVY METALS; OAK RIDGE; RADIOISOTOPES; REMEDIAL ACTION; SCRAP METALS; SECURITY; SOILS; VOLATILE MATTER; Y-12 PLANT

Citation Formats

Albrecht, Linda, Wilkerson, Laura, Skinner, Ralph, and Birchfield, III, Joseph W. Regulator Interface Strategies Implemented at the Y-12 National Security Complex Old Salvage Yard Soils Remediation Project, Oak Ridge, TN - 12162. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
Albrecht, Linda, Wilkerson, Laura, Skinner, Ralph, & Birchfield, III, Joseph W. Regulator Interface Strategies Implemented at the Y-12 National Security Complex Old Salvage Yard Soils Remediation Project, Oak Ridge, TN - 12162. United States.
Albrecht, Linda, Wilkerson, Laura, Skinner, Ralph, and Birchfield, III, Joseph W. 2012. "Regulator Interface Strategies Implemented at the Y-12 National Security Complex Old Salvage Yard Soils Remediation Project, Oak Ridge, TN - 12162". United States.
@article{osti_22293464,
title = {Regulator Interface Strategies Implemented at the Y-12 National Security Complex Old Salvage Yard Soils Remediation Project, Oak Ridge, TN - 12162},
author = {Albrecht, Linda and Wilkerson, Laura and Skinner, Ralph and Birchfield, III, Joseph W.},
abstractNote = {The Oak Ridge Y-12 National Security Complex housed an area known as the Old Salvage Yard (OSY) that was approximately 7 acres. The OSY was used as an area for the accumulation, processing and storage of scrap metal and equipment from Y-12 operations extending from 1968 until 2009. Areas in the northern sections of OSY also have been used for the storage of used oils containing solvents and the accumulation and recycling or de-heading and crushing of 55-gal metal drums. Scrap metal operations historically involved the accumulation, sorting, storage, public sale or disposal of scrap metal and equipment. Non-containerised storage of scrap metal was routine until 1995 when scrap metal received at OSY was placed in B-24 and B-25 boxes. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), approximately 26,759 cubic meters of scrap metal and debris were removed and disposed at both on and off-site disposal facilities including the on-site, Oak Ridge Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) landfill in 2010 and 2011. This removal action was performed in accordance with a CERCLA Record of Decision (ROD) and a close working relationship with both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IV and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Due to efficiencies and the excellent cooperative relationship forged with EPA Region IV and TDEC for Y-12 ARRA Cleanup Projects, a surplus of funding was available for additional remediation work that was completed in fiscal year (FY) 2011. The underlying OSY soils were targeted for characterization and potential remediation. To expedite these important activities, the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Environmental Management partnered with the regulators during detailed planning sessions through a variety of means to quickly and efficiently characterize and pinpoint areas requiring remediation according to previous ROD commitments. Data Quality Objectives (DQOs), data-sharing, real-time characterization reporting, surface and groundwater modeling and other interface planning activities were utilized to help facilitate and complete characterization and remediation activities. As a result of these strategies, the surgical extraction of one contiguous area of soil approximately 354 cubic meters is planned for FY12. The strategies discussed resulted in a major reduction of footprint remediation (i.e., 2.8% of the original estimate) which was originally estimated at over 26,759 cubic meters. The original estimate was developed using historical data collected at various times over the period of 20 years. By leveraging a hybrid sampling approach that involved both statistically-based and biased sampling locations, the area of contamination was significantly reduced resulting in both a compliant remedial design that is cost effective while mitigating a principle threat sources to surface and groundwater at the Y-12 plant. One remedial action boundary of 354 cubic meters was verified in the northern section of the Western OSY area known as the old drum de-header station for VOCs. The original estimate for disposal was in excess of 26,759 cubic meters. This area is scheduled for waste characterization and profile development in the first half of fiscal year 2012. The anticipated disposal facility is an on-site Oak Ridge CERCLA disposal landfill known as the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF). By utilizing the careful strategic planning, field-based screening and close cooperation of regulatory stakeholders as detailed in this paper, the total area of soil requiring remedial action within the Y-12 OSY footprint was 354 cubic meters or 2.8% of the original planned estimate. A potential waste reduction of 97.2% was realized over the original planned estimate for OSY Soils. Significant cost savings were achieved by - Minimizing the footprint of the remedial action; - Confirmatory analysis of soils instead of use of historical sampling results for waste profile development; - Targeting traditional laboratory analysis for soils that failed field screen protocols for radionuclides, heavy metals and VOCs; - Providing accurate and precise definition of RABs; and - Reduction of target contaminants for focused laboratory analysis instead of broad-range contaminants. (authors)},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22293464}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}

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