Crews are expected to finish remediating soil, reversing or stopping environmental damage at the former K-25 site in west Oak Ridge this year, and federal cleanup managers are shifting their focus to groundwater. It’s the final phase of cleanup at the former uranium enrichment site.
Now also referred to as Heritage Center and East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), the K-25 site produced fuel for nuclear weapons and reactors starting in the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II and continuing through the Cold War. The site has been shut down for almost four decades, and a massive cleanup project has been under way for many years.
The groundwater work can begin with the recent signing of two records of decision between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. That’s according to “EM Update,” an electronic newsletter published by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management.
A record of decision is a public federal document that summarizes the findings of an environmental impact statement and the basis for making a decision. The formal regulatory documents, shared with the public for input last spring, provide guidance and the approved, agreed-upon remediation methods to conduct the work, DOE said.
“One of our program’s guiding principles is always pursuing progress and completing the work we start,” OREM Manager Jay Mullis said. “The partnership and collaboration displayed with our regulators is allowing us to do just that. With these signings, we can move forward with completing our mission at the East Tennessee Technology Park.”
“OREM and its contractor UCOR completed building demolition at ETTP in 2020,” the newsletter said. “That concluded a two-decade effort that removed more than 500 facilities, including five massive uranium enrichment buildings, with a combined footprint that could span 225 football fields.
“Since then, they’ve been steadily completing soil remediation projects across the site—an EM 2024 priority.”
“The site cleanup and soil remediation successes are paving the way for a brighter future at a site that once housed deteriorated, contaminated buildings,” said Ken Rueter, UCOR president and chief executive officer. “This final phase of remediation would not have been possible without all the hard work, expertise, and partnering successes that allowed us to successfully and safely complete this work.”
The “EM Update” newsletter said ETTP is divided into three sections for groundwater remediation planning. One section is the Main Plant Area. It includes most of the operations area at the former enrichment complex. Another section is the area where the large K-31 and K-33 uranium enrichment buildings once stood. The third section is called Zone 1, which is the area immediately surrounding the Main Plant and K-31 and K-33 areas.
The two records of decision signed this month are for the Main Plant Area and the K-31 and K-33 Area.
“The groundwater remediation approach in the Main Plant Area is called enhanced in-situ bioremediation,” DOE said. “A widely used technology for treating contaminated waste, it involves injecting microorganisms and a carbon source, such as vegetable oil, into the ground. The microorganisms reduce or detoxify the contaminants.
“For the K-31 and K-33 Area, OREM will use a process called monitored natural attenuation. Monitored natural attenuation relies on natural processes that reduce contaminant concentrations in groundwater. Using this process as the remedial action involves monitoring groundwater conditions with land use controls limiting potential exposures.”
A future record of decision will detail groundwater remediation activities for Zone 1.
OREM’s projects have transformed the former uranium enrichment complex into a private industrial park designed to benefit the community.
“Crews have cleared away all the former buildings, addressed impacted soil, and transferred more than 1,700 acres of land to the community to attract new economic development,” the “EM Update” newsletter said. “To date, 25 businesses are located there, with more expected soon.”
“EM Update” contributor: Wayne McKinney
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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