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Tennessee NPL/NPL Caliber Cleanup Site Summaries

U.S. DOE Oak Ridge Reservation
EPA ID: TN1890090003
Location: Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Tennessee
Congressional District: 03
NPL Status: Proposed: 07/14/89; Final 11/21/89
Project Manager
Documents:About Adobe Portable Document Format

Site Background:
The Oak Ridge Reservation site, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facility, covers 37,000 acres and includes 294 on-site contaminated areas and off-site surface waters including Poplar Creek, the Clinch River and lower Watts Bar Reservoir of the Tennessee River. The site consists of three large industrial facilities: the Oak Ridge National Laboratory or X-10, a research facility that includes nuclear reactors and ongoing energy, chemical, and biological programs; the former K-25 Site, now known as the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), a former production facility that enriched uranium-235 by gaseous diffusion; and the Y-12 Plant, a production facility that formerly enriched uranium-235 by an electromagnetic process, and currently disassembles nuclear weapon components, processes nuclear materials, and performs other functions that relate to energy and national defense programs. Site operations generated a variety of radioactive, non-radioactive, and mixed (radioactive and non-radioactive) hazardous wastes, most of which were containerized and buried below ground or stored in buildings on site. Leakage from buried waste areas and former-processing facilities has contaminated on-site and off-site soils, surface water, sediments, and groundwater. Site related contaminants above levels of concern could be found in sediment, water, and biota of Popular Creek. The State has advised against consuming fish and coming into contact with water from Poplar Creek, which flows to the Clinch River and ultimately to the Tennessee River. An estimated 43,200 people obtain water from surface water intakes on the Tennessee River along a 118-mile stretch downstream from the site.
Cleanup Progress: Construction Underway and Completed
Cleanup Progress: DOE commenced initial cleanup activities under a RCRA permit in 1986. The facility was later listed on the NPL, and DOE, EPA, and State of Tennessee enter a Federal Facility Agreement (FFA). Since that time, DOE has initiated approximately 50 response actions under the FFA that address contamination and disposal issues.
1. Lower East Fork Poplar Creek - A remedial action was conducted to remove mercury-contaminated sediments in the flood plains area. Physical work was completed in November 1997. The remedial action report was issued and approved in 1998.
2. United Nuclear Corporation Landfill - In 1995, remedial action to construct a multi-layer cap and institute monitoring was completed.
3. Mercury Sumps - In 1994, remedial action was completed to remove mercury (Hg) contaminated materials to prevent transport to the surface water system.
4. K-1407-B and K-1407-C Ponds - A RCRA action was conducted to remove and stabilize contaminated sediments. A cap was later installed as part of a remedial action to address residual radioactive contaminants. The action was completed in 1995.
5. Drum Storage Yard - In 1995 a RCRA action/remedial action was completed to stabilize, repackage, and off-site disposal of sediments from the B&C Ponds project.
6. White Wing Scrap Yard - A remedial action was completed in 1994 to remove and dispose of contaminated scrap material to prevent further contamination of soils and allow for future subsurface investigations.
7. Cesium Plots Research Facility - A remedial action was completed in 1994 to remove and dispose of cesium-137 contaminated soils from a research area adjacent to the Clinch River.
8. K-1070 SW-31 - A remedial action was completed in 1994 to intercept and treat groundwater contaminated with VOCs prior to discharge to the surface water system.  The system is expected to be terminated in 2007 because due to a decrease of contaminant levels in the discharge.
9. Clinch River and Poplar Creek - A remedial action imposed institutional controls that restrict dredging of creek sediments and consumption of fish and turtles contaminated with Hg and PCBs. The remedial action report was approved in November 1997.
10. Lower Watts Bar Reservoir - A remedial action was completed in August 1997 to impose institutional controls that restrict dredging of creek sediments and the consumption of fish and turtles contaminated with mercury and PCBs.
11. South Campus Facility - A remedial action was completed in 1996 to impose a deed notification for shallow groundwater contamination and periodic monitoring. No other actions were required.
12. Union Valley Groundwater - An interim remedial action was completed in July 1997 that imposed institutional controls that restrict groundwater use. The remedy also provided for license agreements with private property owners to allow for continued access for future investigations or actions.
13. Filled Coal Ash Pond, McCoy Bridge - A remedial action was conducted to stabilize the dam holding contaminated pond sediments in place. A wetland, removed during stabilization activities, was re-constructed as part of the remedial action. Physical work was completed in March 1997. The remedial action report was approved in May 1997.
14. Bear Creek Rust Spoil Area - A remedial action was completed in January 1997 that imposed institutional controls to maintain existing soil cover and prevent waste intrusion.
15. Nitric Acid Pipeline - A No Action Record of Decision (ROD) was issued in 1994.
16. Plating Shop Container Area - A No Action ROD was issued in 1992.
17. Kerr Hollow Quarry - A No Further Action ROD was issued for this former hazardous waste treatment area in 1995.
18. White Oak Creek Embayment - A removal action was completed in 1992 to install a sediment retention structure to preclude the migration of contaminated sediments from the White Oak Creek system into the Clinch River.
19. Solid Waste Storage Area (SWSA) 4 - A removal action was completed in January 1997 to solidify trenches, through low pressure grouting, releasing high levels of strontium (Sr-90) into the White Oak Creek system.
20. Molten Salt Reactor Experiment Facility - A removal action was completed in August 1997 to remove the build-up of reactive and uranium gases from the facility’s piping system. Actions were also taken to minimize the possibility of a criticality event.
21. Molten Salt Reactor Experiment Facility - A removal action was completed in 2002 to remove a significant deposit of fissile uranium from an auxiliary charcoal filter outside of the facility’s primary containment boundary. A remedial action to remove the fuel and flush salts is currently underway.  Because of technical and budgetary issues, a fixed completion date is currently unavailable.
22. ORNL Corehole 8 - A removal action was completed in 1995 to intercept and treat groundwater contaminated with Sr-90 prior to discharge into the White Oak Creek system.
23. ORNL Corehole 8 - A removal action was completed in 2001 to remediate the source of the Sr-90 contamination to the Corehole 8 groundwater plume. However, Trans-Uranic (TRU) waste was discovered during the removal. Because the cost of handling and disposing of TRU waste is significantly higher than that of the material that was expected during this project, the contractor performing the removal was unable to address the TRU waste and had to leave it in place. The TRU waste will be addressed in a later action.
24. SWSA 5 - A removal action was completed in 1995 to intercept and treat two of the most significant sources of Sr-90 into the White Oak Creek system.
25. Alpha 4 Building - A removal action was completed in December 1997 that removed inactive outdoor piping systems contaminated with mercury. Approximately 2,300 lbs. of elemental Hg was recovered for recycling purposes.
26. K-1401 and K-1420 Sumps - A removal action was completed in 1998 to collect and treat shallow groundwater contaminated with VOCs.
27. K-1070 C/D Mitchell Branch - A removal action was completed in 1998 to collect and treat shallow groundwater contaminated with VOCs. Although a collection and treatment system was installed, the system did not perform at optimum levels. DOE terminated the ineffective removal action and is deferring further response on groundwater to the final remedial action decision scheduled for 2007.
28. K-901-A and K1007-P1 Ponds - A removal action was undertaken in 1999 to stabilize ponds contaminated primarily with PCBs.  A non-time critical removal action has been accepted as the remedial alternative for the K-1007-P1 Holding Pond.  DOE is intending to implement an ecological enhancement innovative technology to remove PCB contamination from fish receptors.  This action should eventually eliminate all risk from PCB’s to the pond ecosystem.  The Action Memorandum was approved March 20, 2007.
29. Firing Range Soils - A removal action was completed in 1999 to remove sediments contaminated with lead.
30. Old Hydrofracture Tanks - A removal action was completed in 2001 to remove sludge contaminated with approximately 30,000 curies of fission products and transuranics and transfer the materials to an active doubly contained storage facility for further treatment.
31. Waste Evaporator Facility - A removal action was completed in December 1996 to demolish this inactive contaminated facility.
32. Building 3001 Canal - A removal action was completed in September 1997 to eliminate the source of on-going releases of radionuclides to the groundwater system.
33. Buildings K-29, 31&33 - A removal action was initiated  November 1997 to recycle uranium and other metals from the building’s uranium enrichment process equipment, remove contaminated equipment and decontaminate building surfaces at these three large buildings located at the East Tennessee Technology Park. The DOE contractor implementing the removal action is the British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) company.  The removal action did not fully attain the cleanup objectives in the Removal Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis and Action Memorandum.  DOE determined that attainment of these decontamination goals would be contingent upon future re-use potential.  DOE completed demolition of the K-29 building in 2007 because its re-use potential was limited.  DOE has deferred a final decision on whether to further decontaminate the remaining buildings or begin full building demolition.
34. ORNL Gunite Tanks - A remedial action was being conducted to remove water and sludges containing over 30,000 curies of transuranic and fission product material. That action is now complete.
35. ORNL Inactive Tanks - A removal action to remediate 10 to 12 inactive tanks that contain radioactive waste has been completed. These tanks posed less of a risk than the Gunite Tanks at ORNL.
36. East End Volatile Organic Plume- A removal action was approved in 1999 to contain the existing volatile organic plume at the Y-12 fence line through pump and treat actions. Construction on the project began in early 2000.  Construction was completed in June 2006 and the treatment remains operational.
37. Bear Creek Valley- A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in early 2000 for the Boneyard/Burnyard S-3 pathway 3 areas of the valley. Following are the actions being implemented under this ROD:
a. Construction of the french drain was completed in 2000.
b. The remainder of construction on the Boneyard/Burnyard site was completed in 2003. This action included the excavation of 57,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil, capping of the remaining soil and site restoration activities. The contaminated soil was disposed of at EMWMF CERCLA Waste Cell.
c. The removal and disposal of the wastes stored at the Oil Landfarm was completed in July 2001.
d. The remaining two activities under this ROD, the S3 Pathway 3 and the DARA pad, will be completed in the future.  In the meantime, the removal action for the S3 Pathways 1 and 2 has been terminated because it was ineffective.
38. K-1070-A Burial Ground - A one acre site that consisted of 26 unlined trenches and 62 circular unlined pits. The Record of Decision was signed January 13, 2000 to remove the source material. Excavation was tied directly with the opening of the on-site EMWMF CERCLA Waste Cell and began in June 2002. All remedial action activities were completed in June 2003. Approximately 16,684 cubic yards of low-level radioactive material was removed. A Remedial Action Report documenting the completion of the response action was approved November 2003.
39. K-1070-C/D G-Pit and Concrete Pad - The concrete pad was covered with soil and seeded. The contaminated soil, which contains some classified waste material, has been excavated. The soils were treated in late 2001 using a low temperature thermal desorption process. On-site disposal of the contaminated soils was completed; however, some secondary waste material was disposed in the TSCA incinerator due to radionuclide levels. A Remedial Action Report documenting the completion of the response action was approved in October 2003.
40. Group I Buildings - Decontamination and demolition of five former process buildings was initiated in 1997. Demolition of the K-724-Storage Building and K-725 Beryllium Building was competed in 1998.  Final disposition of all waste was completed and the response action closed June 2006.
41. Group II Buildings/Phase I - Decontamination and demolition of seven former process related buildings and associated structures began late fall 2000. All buildings have been demolished. Due to the extent of fixed contamination, an asphalt cap was placed on building K-1413 slab. A Removal Action Report documenting the completion of the response action was approved in September 2004.
42. Group II Buildings, Phase II - Decontamination and Demolition of 18 minor facilities began in March of 2004 as part of the K-1064 area D&D. A Removal Action Report documenting the completion of the response action was approved in June 2007.
43. Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF) CERCLA Waste Cell - On November 2, 1999, the ROD selected the preferred alternative for the disposal of wastes that will result from future cleanups at the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) under CERCLA was signed. The preferred alternative was the design, construction, operation and closure of an onsite earthen disposal cell and supporting facilities in East Bear Creek Valley. Two additional cells, adding 800,000 cubic yards in capacity, have recently been completed and a third and final expansion design has been approved.
44. Melton Valley- The ROD was signed in September 2000. This ROD selected a number of different source control remedies for waste areas in Melton Valley. The ultimate goals are to protect human health and to reduce the amount of contaminants in White Oak Creek to acceptable levels. Following are the projects being implemented under this ROD:
a. The D&D of the Old Hydrofracture Facility was completed in September 2006.
b. A number of monitor wells that are no longer in use have been plugged and abandoned.  This action was completed in July 2006.
c. The Intermediate Holding Pond (IHP) cleanup has been completed. This project involved the excavation and removal of 14,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. The soil was disposed of in the EMWMF. The capping and hydraulic isolation of SWSA 4 has been completed.
d. The D&D of the New Hydrofracture Facility was completed in July 2006.
e. The D&D of the Small Facilities at SWSA 4 was completed in February 2003.
f. The construction for the hydraulic isolation projects for SWSA 4, SWSA 5, SWSA 6, and the hydraulic isolation at the Pits and Trenches Area have been completed.  The completions are, respectively, September 2006, October 2006, August 2006 and September 2006.
g. An Explanation of Significant Differences was signed by the three FFA agencies in 2004 adding Tumulus I, Tumulus II and the Interim Waste Management Facility to the SWSA 6 hydraulic isolation remedy.
h. The Soils and Sediment project was completed in September 2006.
i. The HRE Ancillary Facilities D&D was completed in September 2006.
j. The 22 TRU trenches project has been completed.  This consisted of excavating the buried casks containing TRU waste and transporting them to the onsite Foster Wheeler plant for eventual disposition at WIPP.  This action was authorized under a State Consent Order, not under CERCLA.
k. A ROD amendment was signed November 2004 to change the selected remedy for Trenches 5 and 7 (in the Seepage Pits and Trenches Area) from in-situ vitrification to in-situ grouting.
l. An Explanation of Significant Differences was signed November 2004 to add additional units to the remedial action approved in the Interim ROD.
m. An Explanation of Significant Difference was signed in 2005 to remove the MSRE Ancillary Buildings from the scope of the interim ROD.  Instead, these buildings will undergo D&D at the same time as the MSRE itself.
n. An Explanation of Significant Difference was signed in 2007 to remove the Shielded Transfer Tanks from the scope of the interim ROD.  Instead, these tanks will be addressed under NEPA.
45. Bethel Valley - The ROD was negotiated between the EPA, TDEC and DOE during 2001 and signed in May 2002. This ROD selected a number of different source control remedies for waste areas in Bethel Valley. The major actions are the decontamination and decommissioning of a number of buildings, capping of buried wastes, removal of contaminated soils, addressing of contaminated tanks and pipelines, and addressing areas of contaminated groundwater. The ultimate goals are to protect human health and to reduce the amount of contaminants in White Oak Creek to acceptable levels. Following are the projects being implemented under this ROD:
a. Field work has been completed in support of the Engineering Study Work Plan for Groundwater Actions.  This plan was approved in 2006.  Remedial actions will not be implemented until completion of the remaining accelerated cleanup response actions Therefore, response actions required by the ROD will not be implemented prior to 2009.
b. The remedial action at the T1, T2 and HFIR tanks has been completed.  The response included emptying the contents of the three tanks for offsite disposal and grouting the tanks in place. 
46. The Upper East Fork Poplar Creek (UEFPC) - The ROD was negotiated between the EPA, TDEC and DOE during 2001 and signed in May 2002. This ROD selected a number of different source control remedies to control the influx of mercury from the Y-12 plant into UEFPC. The major actions are the hydraulic isolation of contaminated soils in the West End Mercury Area (WEMA), the treatment of the discharge of groundwater into UEFPC at Outfall 51 and the removal of contaminated sediments from UEFPC and Lake Reality. The goal is to restore surface water in UEFPC to human health recreational risk-based values at Station 17. Following are the projects being implemented under this ROD:
a. The construction of the Big Springs Water Treatment Plant has been completed and facility is operating as of August 2005.
b. The Phase 2 UEFPC Soils ROD was issued in April 2006.  Remedial actions will not be implemented until completion of the remaining accelerated cleanup response actions.  Therefore, response actions required by this ROD will not be implemented prior to 2009.
47. K-25/K-27 Buildings - An engineering evaluation/cost analysis (EE/CA) was prepared in 2001 for phased demolition of the buildings. Phase 1, characterization and removal of hazardous buildings materials (primarily asbestos) began in February 2002 and the completion of this phase of the response action was documented in an approved Phased Completion Report.  Phases 2 and 3 apply to equipment removal and building demolition, respectively, and have since been combined into a single project. Equipment removal, disposal and demolition are currently scheduled to be completed by 2009; however DOE has recently proposed to extend this work to 2016. A Memorandum of Agreement regarding historic preservation has been signed by the consulting parties.  Demolition for the K-25 building is scheduled to begin in early October 2008.
48. K-1085 Old Firehouse Burn Drum Burial Site- This is a time-critical removal action to mitigate risks from buried drums and associated waste near the perimeter fence of ETTP. Removal action at the site was completed in 2003 and most material properly disposed.  Residual material has been disposed and documented in a completion letter.  The action was completed December 2006.  Additional removal actions are underway to remove residual downgradient contaminated soil detected during investigations to close out the Exposure Unit.
49. East Tennessee Technology Park, Zone 1 Interim Record of Decision - The ROD was signed November 2002 to address selected sources in approximately 1400 acres. Excavation is the selected remedy. Source areas include contaminated soils, buried waste, and debris (scrap metal) outside the main plant area.  The ROD requires investigations of areas to address data insufficiency. A pilot was initiated at the Blair Road Quarry in February 2004 to evaluate the Dynamic Verification Strategy (DVS), a methodology which uses systematic planning, dynamic work plans, and real-time measurements.  Two Phased Construction Completion Reports were approved in 2006 with approximately 988 acres now identified as meeting the future industrial use classification. The remedy is expected to be complete in 2009; however DOE has recently proposed to extend this work to 2016 as part of the accelerated closure of ETTP.  To date, approximately 1013 of the estimated 1400 acres have been determined to meet the industrial use scenario.
50. East Tennessee Technology Park, Zone 2 - A ROD was signed April 2005 to address approximately 800 acres located within the fenced security area.  The scope of the ROD requires investigations in areas to address data insufficiency, excavation of the K-1070-B Classified Burial Ground, and allows disposal of concrete debris and rubble within the footprint of the K-25 Building vaults. The remedy also allows for concrete disposal, which meets the acceptance criteria, in other non-vault areas following excavation.  A Phased Construction Completion Report was approved in 2007 with approximately 108 acres now identified as meeting the future industrial use classification.  Cleanup is expected to be complete in 2009; however DOE has recently proposed to extend this work to 2016.  To date, approximately 252 of the estimated 800 acres have been determined to meet the industrial use scenario.
51. Metals Recovery Building - The field work for this D&D removal action has been completed.   Final approval awaits disposition of TRU waste from the project.
52. Surface Impoundments Operable Unit - The remedial action, which consisted of excavation of the impoundments, stabilization and onsite disposal at the EMWMF, was completed in May 2004.
 53. ETTP Remaining Facilities - A Remaining Facilities Action Memo, generic Standard Operating Protocol (Removal Action Work Plan), and Waste Handling Plan was developed to address 508 facilities targeted for demolition before closure of the East Tennessee Technology Park in 2008. These 508 facilities have been divided into approximately 11 sub-projects. Each sub-project will have a project specific Sampling and Analysis Plan and a Waste Handling Plan Part 2, in order to fulfill CERCLA and FFA requirements, while accelerating clean-up. Waste Handling Plans have been approved for Low Risk /Low Complexity facilities and buildings K-29, K-1401, K-1420, and Centrifuge Equipment.  Sub-projects are being prioritized and implemented based on a schedule that takes into consideration coordination with the Zone 1 and 2 Soils Remediation project, as well as risk, logistics, funding, etc. Completion of all 11 sub-projects in targeted for 2009.
54. ETTP Site-wide Final Operable Unit – This ROD will address the groundwater and surface water/sediment ecological receptor pathway across ETTP. Field and laboratory work in support of the RI/FS Work Plan were completed in 2006.  The final RI/FS report has been placed on hold pending the outcome of a treatability study designed to address DNAPLs in the subsurface. The final ROD for this operable unit is currently scheduled for FY 2012.
55. Property Transfers are another mechanism by which DOE is accelerating site closure while saving funds. Properties which DOE can show are protective for the intended use may be transferred under a Covenant Deferral Request (CDR) which allows DOE to transfer properties prior to completion of CERCLA remediation activities. There are approximately 26 facilities at ETTP proposed for early transfer. Collectively these 26 properties represent a potential cost savings of up to 99 million dollars in O&M and D&D expenses. The first draft CDR was submitted to EPA and TDEC for approval in early 2004.  To date, three CDRs have been approved and represent 6 buildings and approximately 18 acres of vacant property transferred. EPA concurred on a Clean Parcel Determination (CPD) for an 18-acre parcel in May 2008, and anticipates concurrence on a fourth parcel consisting of over 100 acres in the fall of 2008.
56. Low Level Legacy Wastes – An Action Memorandum (AM) was signed October 2003 to conduct a non-Time Critical Removal Action to dispose of 22,200 cubic yards of accumulated (i.e., legacy) low level wastes stored in containers adjacent to the K-33 Building at the East Tennessee Technology Park.  The AM calls for disposition of the waste in the on-site CERCLA waste landfill.  DOE completed the response action and submitted a Removal Action Completion Report in 2005. 
57.  A time critical removal action is currently underway (Action Memo approved 12/20/07) to address the uncontrolled release of hexavalent chromium to Mitchell Branch at the East Tennessee Technology Park. The groundwater collection system will pump the contaminated groundwater to the Central Neutralization Facility and greatly reduce and/or eliminate the ongoing release of hexavalent chromium to the creek.

 

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