The Road to 2020: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA): Cleanup of the East Tennessee Technology Park - 17425
- URS - CH2M Oak Ridge LLC, ast Tennessee Technology Park P.O. Box 4699, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (United States)
Uranium enrichment activities at the 890-ha (2,200-acre) East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), formerly the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, date back to the World War II Manhattan Project. The site produced nuclear fuel for weapons and reactors for four decades. Because of these operations, ETTP has a legacy of radiologically and chemically contaminated buildings, soil, sediment, and groundwater that required remedial action to reduce the risk to human health and the environment. Since the early 1990's, the DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) has directed the environmental cleanup of this contaminated site through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) process. Cleanup activities have included the demolition of contaminated facilities and structures, including five gaseous diffusion buildings; remediation of contaminated soils; disposal of associated waste; and treatment of contaminated groundwater. In August 2016, DOE realized its Vision 2016, demolition of all five gaseous diffusion buildings at ETTP. This milestone marked the first time that an entire uranium enrichment complex has been demolished. The landmark cleanup included deactivation and demolition of 418,064 m{sup 2} (4.5 million ft{sup 2}) of radiologically and chemically contaminated facilities, and disposal of more than 55,000 truckloads of debris. Fulfillment of Vision 2016 was a major step toward completing ETTP cleanup by 2020. To attain 2020 cleanup, DOE and its cleanup contractor, URS - CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR), must complete demolition of the following areas: - Poplar Creek Facilities; - K-731 Switch House; - Building K-1037; - Central Neutralization Facility; - K-1200 Complex; - Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator facilities; - Balance of Site Facilities. In addition, DOE will complete all remedial actions in accordance with current Records of Decision (RODs); as well as cleanup activities involving surface water, sediment, and groundwater that will be addressed in a final site-wide ROD. All waste, including soils, debris, and rubble from demolition and remediation activities, will be dispositioned. Final cleanup of ETTP further advances DOE's goal for re-industrialization of the site as a private sector industrial park. With risks reduced, hazards removed, and the environment restored, DOE can transfer usable ETTP building and land assets to the community for redevelopment and reuse. A history center, equipment building, viewing tower, and wayside exhibits will tell the story of the site, honoring its contributions to the nation's defense and energy needs. Approximately 1,214 ha (3,000 acres) of adjoining lands, now the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement (BORCE), will be used for conservation and recreational purposes, including green-ways and trail systems. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 27646, 85285-7646 Tempe, AZ (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 22802427
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-19-WM-17425; TRN: US19V0439046821
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM2017: 43. Annual Waste Management Symposium, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 5-9 Mar 2017; Other Information: Country of input: France; 3 refs.; available online at: http://archive.wmsym.org/2017/index.html
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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