• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News
  • Subscribe

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds




Y‑12 receives six NNSA Sustainability Awards

Posted at 11:30 pm May 22, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Y‑12 Waste Management’s proposed strategies for operations of the West End Treatment Facility (seen here) allowed processing of 718,000 gallons of production wastewater and eliminated generation of approximately 14,000 gallons of low-level radioactive waste sludge. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

Y‑12 Waste Management’s proposed strategies for operations of the West End Treatment Facility (seen here) allowed processing of 718,000 gallons of production wastewater and eliminated generation of approximately 14,000 gallons of low-level radioactive waste sludge. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

 

Site’s efforts earn half of 2016 honors

The National Nuclear Security Administration recently recognized the Y‑12 National Security Complex with six 2016 Sustainability Awards.

“Y‑12 has a long history of being recognized for their environmental accomplishments, and this year was no exception as acknowledged by U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz,” a press release said.

“I want to congratulate the winners of this year’s Sustainability Awards and recognize the team effort needed to implement environmentally responsible and sustainable operations and projects,” Klutz said. “NNSA will continue to build on these successes and pursue new and creative solutions as stewards of the environment and our enduring national security mission.”

Advertisement

The awards recognize exemplary individual and team performance. Sites are honored for achieving sustainability objectives through innovative and effective programs and projects that increase energy and water efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases, pollution, and waste, the release said. NNSA has conducted an internal environmental stewardship awards program for more than a decade. The 12 sustainability awards comprise six “Best in Class” awards and six “Environmental Stewardship” awards.

Y‑12 Site Manager Bill Tindal also applauded those who helped make the awards possible.

“To receive four of the six Best in Class Awards and six of the twelve total awards is huge for us,” Tindal said. “While I am excited and proud, I am not surprised because we’ve got a solid group of dedicated employees that have made this a priority for years. We’re honored to share this wealth of expertise with the rest of the enterprise and others to make our world a better place.”

Y‑12’s awards include:

Best in Class Awards

  • Change Agent: Terry Cothron Builds Bridges to a Bright Future at Y‑12

The change-agent category recognizes individuals who take the initiative to foster behavior change in their immediate work environment, organizational unit and/or site, the press release said. Terry Cothron is a recognized statewide champion for the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the state of Tennessee and is considered a founding father of the environmental programs at Y‑12.

  • Water: Y‑12 Reduced Water Usage and Improved Water Quality

This award category recognizes an integrated approach to water resource management, addressing all water types as potential resources (waste, storm, gray, etc.), and identifying opportunities for reuse. One major way Y‑12’s success in this area is measured is in water intensity. Resource intensity is a measure of the resources (e.g., water, energy, materials) needed for the production, processing, and disposal of a unit of good or service or for the completion of a process or activity; it is therefore a measure of the efficiency of resource use. Y‑12 has achieved a 61.6 percent water intensity reduction with savings of more than 79 million gallons of potable water, the press release said. This reduction yields annual energy savings of more than 110,000 MBTU (million British Thermal Units) and annual cost savings of more than $2.2 million.

  • Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention: Y‑12 Perseveres to Prevent Pollution in Wastewater Treatment Operations

This award category and selected nomination recognize innovative and effective waste-reduction programs that exceeded performance targets in the site sustainability plan, the press release said. Y‑12 Waste Management group’s proposed strategies for operations of the West End Treatment Facility allowed processing of 718,000 gallons of production wastewater and eliminated generation of approximately 14,000 gallons of low-level radioactive waste sludge, and the need for 200 gallons of sulfuric acid, 4,000 gallons of ferric sulfate, 3,200 gallons of sodium hydroxide, and four gallons of polymer as treatment chemicals. Overall, approximately 130.5 metric tons of sludge generation and related materials were eliminated.

  • Performance-Based Contracts: Y‑12 Energy Savings Performance Contracts Investing in a Sustainable Future

This award category recognizes use of performance-based energy contracts to achieve DOE sustainability goals that support Executive Order 13693 and the president’s performance contracting challenge. Y‑12 has taken advantage of the energy saving opportunities provided by energy savings performance contracts, or ESPCs. In the fourth period of performance, Y‑12 has annual savings of 10 million kWh of electricity, 76,771 MBTU of natural gas, 55 million gallons of potable water, and $2 million in energy, water, and related operations and maintenance costs, the press release said.

Environmental Stewardship Awards

  • Greenhouse Gas Scope 1 and 2: Y‑12 Steams Ahead—Wise Utilities Management

This award category recognizes site greenhouse gas reduction strategies and management approaches and emphasize a holistic approach to greenhouse gas management, the press release said. Through its Be-Wise with Energy Dollars program, Y‑12 made smart changes in utilities management and created an energy renaissance at Y‑12 that empowered employees and saved more than $6 million in fuel, water, and electricity costs. Beginning with Fiscal Year 2014, initiatives regarding natural gas use at the site’s recently constructed steam plant saved more than 97 billion BTU in fuel and electricity, 10,800 gallons of water, and $1.3 million in costs from the prior year.

  • Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention: Y‑12 Uranium Processing Facility Sustainable Practices

This award category recognizes innovative and effective waste-reduction programs that exceed performance targets in the site sustainability plan. In Fiscal Year 2015, the Uranium Processing Facility Project diverted more than 74.4 million pounds of material from landfill disposal, and more 89.3 million pounds of materials have been diverted since FY2013. The UPF project’s sustainability efforts have resulted in a 98 percent landfill diversion rate since the start of site preparation. This project illustrates Y‑12’s commitment to integrate sustainable practices into site design and operation as Y‑12 transforms to support mission needs safely and securely. The UPF Project activities represent only a portion of Y‑12’s waste reduction and pollution prevention efforts. In FY 2015, Y‑12 implemented more than 90 pollution prevention initiatives with an anticipated reduction of more than 88 million pounds of waste and a projected cost efficiency of more than $5.7 million, the release said.

The Uranium Processing Facility Project diverted more than 74.4 million pounds of material from landfill disposal, and more than 89.3 million pounds of materials have been diverted to date. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

The Uranium Processing Facility Project diverted more than 74.4 million pounds of material from landfill disposal, and more than 89.3 million pounds of materials have been diverted to date. (Photo courtesy Y-12)

 

This press release was submitted by Ellen Boatner of Consolidated Nuclear Security.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Filed Under: Front Page News, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bill Tindal, Frank G. Klotz, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Sustainability Awards, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

Advertisements

Join the club!

If you appreciate our work, please consider subscribing. Besides helping us, your subscription will give you access to our premium content.

Most of our stories are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our members—advertisers, subscribers, and sponsors.

But some are premium content, available only to members. Those are in-depth, investigative, or exclusive stories that are available only on Oak Ridge Today. They generally require at least four hours to report, write, and publish.

You can subscribe for as little as $5 per month.

You can read more about your options here.

We currently offer five primary subscription options to readers, and they include benefits.

Basic

  • Basic monthly subscription ($5 per month)—access premium content
  • Basic annual subscription ($60 per year)—access premium content

Pro

  • Pro monthly subscription ($10 per month)—access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month
  • Pro annual subscription ($100 per year)—save $20 per year, access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month

Temporary

  • Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.

We also accept donations. You can donate here.

If you prefer to send a check for a subscription or donation, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Thank you for your consideration and for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support.

Commenting Guidelines

We welcome comments, but we ask you to follow a few guidelines:

1) Please use your real name, including last name. Please also use a valid e-mail address.
2) Be civil. Don't insult others, attack their character, or get personal.
3) Stick to the issues.
4) No profanity.
5) Keep your comments to a reasonable length and to a reasonable number per article.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these guidelines. Comments held for review, usually from those posting for the first time, may not post if they violate these guidelines. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you also for reading Oak Ridge Today and for participating in the discussion.

More information is available here.

More U.S. Department of Energy News

Hear from ORNL scientists who worked on Perseverance mission

https://www.youtube.com/embed/mV1sYjE-zMU Video published on YouTube by Oak Ridge National Laboratory Three scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discuss their work this afternoon on technologies for the … [Read More...]

Bienvenue named first executive director of Oak Ridge Institute

Joan Bienvenue Joan Bienvenue has been selected as the first executive director of the Oak Ridge Institute at the University of Tennessee. "The institute was established last year to align the expertise and … [Read More...]

ORISE report shows overall number of nuclear engineering degrees increases to highest level since 2016

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today) The number of nuclear engineering degrees awarded in 2019 were at the highest level since … [Read More...]

ORAU receives National Science Foundation grant to study greenhouse gases in Arctic

Praveena Krishnan The National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs has awarded ORAU a collaborative research grant to study greenhouse gas emissions in the Arctic. The award is valued at $581,829. The grant … [Read More...]

NNSA has virtual job fair, including for Y-12

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today) The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security … [Read More...]

More DOE

Recent Posts

  • ORUD announces new president, general manager
  • REAC/TS receives U.S. Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award
  • TVA conducting maintenance at Bull Run
  • Basketball: Girls, boys play for district championships
  • Natural gas rates will rise, expected to drop when prices decline
  • Lady Wildcats play in district semifinal game Friday night
  • Planning Commission to discuss district that would allow motorsports park
  • City has second public meeting on new entrance sign
  • Council to discuss fatal police shooting, Gateway Project
  • Hear from ORNL scientists who worked on Perseverance mission

Search Oak Ridge Today

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2021 Oak Ridge Today