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Oak Ridge closes on $20 million loan for new water plant

Posted at 2:25 pm October 21, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

An aerial view of the Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo courtesy Y-12 National Security Complex)

The City of Oak Ridge closed on a $20.7 million federal loan on Thursday for a new water treatment plant in south Oak Ridge.

It’s a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, or WIFIA, loan. The funds provided by the federal loan program will be used to design and build the new water plant, which will replace an aging facility on Pine Ridge that has served the community since the 1940s.

The total cost for replacement of the water treatment plant is estimated to be $42.2 million, the city said in a press release on Friday. WIFIA will provide about 49 percent of that cost, with the city using the Tennessee State Revolving Fund Loan Program to cover the balance, the press release said.

“After three years of application and planning, the City of Oak Ridge has reached a significant milestone in the funding needed for a new replacement water plant,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in the press release. “WIFIA has helped Oak Ridge with a low-interest federal loan, allowing us to avoid potential failures in a system originally designed for a different Oak Ridge. The financial terms will allow Oak Ridge to afford these much-needed improvements to serve not only our residents, but the national security and U.S. Department of Energy facilities located here.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, EPA, Janice McGinnis, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Tennessee State Revolving Fund Loan Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Warren Gooch, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, water plant, water treatment plant, WIFIA loan

TDEC announces $3.2 million drinking water loan for Oak Ridge

Posted at 2:10 pm May 15, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Low-interest loan will go toward new water treatment plant 

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers on Monday announced approximately $3.2 million in a low-interest loan for drinking water infrastructure improvements for the City of Oak Ridge.

“This loan will help Oak Ridge to meet one of the vital needs of its citizens,” Lee said in a press release. “I am pleased to support infrastructure upgrades that will help to provide safe and reliable drinking water for more Tennesseans.”

The City of Oak Ridge will receive a planning and design loan in the amount of $3,288,000 to develop plans and specifications for construction of a new 16-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant, the press release said. The effort is funded from the State Revolving Fund Loan Program with a five-year repayment period and an interest rate of 1.08 percent.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, State Tagged With: Bill Lee, City of Oak Ridge, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, David Salyers, drinking water infrastruture, drinking water loan, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, State Revolving Fund Loan, TDEC, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Local Development Authority, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Government shutdown not affecting DOE cleanup work

Posted at 2:59 pm January 18, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The partial shutdown of the federal government is not affecting the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup program in Oak Ridge, a spokesperson said Friday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides federal oversight of the work, and EPA is one of the federal departments and agencies affected by the partial government shutdown.

But on Friday, Ben Williams, spokesperson for the DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, said the shutdown is not affecting the office’s cleanup work at this time. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Ben Williams, DOE, DOE cleanup, EPA, federal government, federal oversight, government shutdown, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, Oak Ridge cleanup, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, partial government shutdown, partial shutdown, state oversight, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

A dozen IIA employees affected by government shutdown

Posted at 11:39 am January 18, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information International Associates

Pictured above in a file photo from February 2014 is the headquarters of Information International Associates on Union Valley Road in Oak Ridge.

 

About a dozen employees of Information International Associates Inc. have been affected by the partial shutdown of the federal government, an executive said in response to questions on Wednesday.

IIA staff members who support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati, Ohio, have been affected by the shutdown, said Kelly Callison, senior vice president of operations.

“All the rest of the agencies we support have funding,” Callison said.

He said about 12 IIA staff members are affected to some extent. Two of those employees are part-time, and three have shifted work to another project but that will end soon. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: EPA, federal government, government shutdown, IIa, Information International Associates Inc., Kelly Callison, partial shutdown, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Federal shutdown does not affect state oversight of Oak Ridge cleanup program

Posted at 11:16 am January 18, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The partial shutdown of the federal government does not affect state oversight of the federal cleanup program in Oak Ridge, a state official said Thursday.

At this time, the federal shutdown has no impact on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said Kim Schofinski, TDEC deputy communications director. That means state oversight of the Oak Ridge cleanup program is not currently affected. The Oak Ridge sites include East Tennessee Technology Park (the former K-25 site), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Y-12 National Security Complex. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: DOE, EPA, federal cleanup program, federal government, federal shutdown, Kim Schofinski, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, partial government shutdown, partial shutdown, state oversight, TDEC, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

You can comment on DOE landfill

Posted at 3:30 pm September 13, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

You can comment on the proposed new federal landfill in Bear Creek Valley during a public information session in Oak Ridge today (Thursday, September 13).

The landfill would be called the Environmental Management Disposal Facility, and it would be 2.2 million cubic yards on land owned by the federal government. It would be used by the U.S. Department of Energy to dispose of waste from the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The public information session is scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday at the DOE Information Center in east Oak Ridge at 1 Science.gov Way. The meeting is hosted by DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

The purpose of the meeting is to share information about the proposed plan and hear public comments, according to a public notice sent to Oak Ridge Today on Wednesday afternoon. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, State, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Bear Creek Valley, CERCLA, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, DOE, DOE landfill, Environmental Management Disposal Facility, federal landfill, Oak Ridge Reservation, public information session, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, waste

EPA picks Oak Ridge to apply for new loan program for new water plant

Posted at 2:36 pm July 23, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Water-Treatment-Plant-2009-1

The Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant is pictured on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has invited the City of Oak Ridge to apply for a new federal loan program for the city’s proposed new water plant, a press release said.

The City of Oak Ridge water plant is one of 12 projects in nine states to apply for more than $2 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loans, the EPA said in a press release Wednesday. The projects were selected from a group of 43 projects that submitted letters of interest to EPA in April 2017.

“Rebuilding America’s infrastructure is a critical pillar of the president’s agenda,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “These large-scale projects will improve water quality for 20 million Americans, especially those communities that need it the most—such as rural and urban communities.”

The press release said the City of Oak Ridge will design and construct a new 16 million-gallons-per-day membrane treatment plant and associated equipment to replace the existing decades-old conventional treatment plant, which is currently at capacity and beyond its useful life.

Among the city’s water plant customers are Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.

“This project will provide sufficient capacity to meet the city’s water needs by continuing the production and delivery of safe potable drinking water to its customers,” the EPA press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, EPA, Lamar Alexander, loan program, Mark Watson, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Scott Pruitt, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Loans, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program, water plant, water treatment plant, WIFIA, Y-12 National Security Complex

EPA recognizes Oak Ridge as leading Green Power Community

Posted at 6:47 pm May 12, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge has again been designated as a Green Power Community by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, officials said in May 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge has again been designated as a Green Power Community by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, officials said in May 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge has again been designated as a Green Power Community by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The city is collectively using more than 32 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 16 percent of the community’s total electricity use, a press release said.

“This is a huge honor, and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” Oak Ridge Electric Department Business Office Manager Marlene Bannon said. “Using green power helps our community become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the country that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Buffalo Mountain Wind Farm, carbon footprint, City of Oak Ridge, EnergyRight Solutions, EPA, green power, Green Power Community, Green Power Switch, Marlene Bannon, Oak Ridge Electric Department, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Oak Ridge receives $2 million wastewater loan

Posted at 1:19 pm April 7, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge has received a $2 million state wastewater loan, officials said Friday.

The loan is for the city’s Infiltration and Inflow Correction project. It will be used to rehabilitate approximately 30,000 linear feet of sewer line, a state press release said. The project will be funded with a 20-year, $1,860,000 loan with an interest rate of 1.89 percent and $140,000 in principal forgiveness that will not have to be repaid, Tennessee officials said.

The loan was announced Friday by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. They said that three communities have been approved to receive more than $9.3 million in low-interest loans for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

“The State Revolving Fund Loan Program helps citizens enjoy a better quality of life by assisting communities with current and future infrastructure needs for improved environmental health,” Haslam said.

Tennessee’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $1.7 billion in low-interest loans since its inception in 1987, the press release said. Tennessee’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $296.2 million in low-interest loans since its inception in 1996. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Bill Haslam, Bob Martineau, City of Oak Ridge, Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program, sewer line, TDEC, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Local Development Authority, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, wastewater infrastructure, wastewater loan

Watts Bar Reservoir has returned to conditions before Kingston coal ash spill, EPA says

Posted at 10:11 pm January 18, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

River Reaches Arcadis Updated Data Analysis and Temporal Trend Evaluations in Biota 2009-2015 TVA Kingston

River Reaches—Updated Data Analysis and Temporal Trend Evaluations in Biota: 2009-2015, Tennessee Valley Authority, Kingston, Tennessee (By Arcadis)

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta reported Thursday that monitoring data shows that areas of Watts Bar Reservoir affected by the 2008 ash spill in Kingston have returned to “pre-spill” conditions.

The ash spill occurred at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant. It released 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash on December 22, 2008.

Environmental data collected from 2009-2015 shows the fish community, benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs), sediment quality, and tree swallow colonies have recovered to baseline conditions that existed before the spill, the EPA said.

The cleanup was accomplished in three phases under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: ash spill, CERCLA, coal ash, coal ash spill, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, Emory River, EPA, Kingston, Kingston Coal Ash Recovery Project, Kingston coal ash spill, Kingston Fossil Plant, Monitored Natural Recovery, Scott Brooks, Swan Pond, TDEC, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Watts Bar Reservoir

ETEBA has information session on new low-level waste disposal facility on Wednesday

Posted at 6:41 pm July 25, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

EMDF Onsite Disposal Location Options

There is a public information session on Wednesday on the U.S. Department of Energy’s proposal to build a new on-site low-level waste disposal facility on the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The public information session is hosted by the Energy, Technology, and Environmental Business Association, or ETEBA. It’s scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at Pollard Auditorium, which is at 210 Badger Avenue in Oak Ridge. The public is invited.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, or OREM, has identified four site alternatives for the proposed facility, which is called the Environmental Management Disposal Facility, or EMDF.

“The purpose of this session is to provide the public with information about these four sites in preparation for the formal public comment period that will occur later this year,” a press release said. “Representatives of DOE, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will provide an overview of the site alternatives as well as the regulatory issues and requirements associated with these four sites, and will be on hand to address questions from the public following the presentations.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Office, Oak Ridge Reservation, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: EMDF, Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association, Environmental Management Disposal Facility, ETEBA, low-level waste disposal facility, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Oak Ridge Reservation, OREM, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tim Griffin, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Construction on Y-12 mercury treatment plant could start in 2018, cost $146 million

Posted at 2:28 pm September 10, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Y-12 Process Buildings and Mercury Use Area

Note: This story was last updated at 3:30 p.m.

Construction on a mercury treatment plant at the Y-12 National Security Complex could start in 2018 and cost $146 million, a federal official said Wednesday.

The plant would treat mercury contamination that originates in the West End Mercury Area at Y-12, flows through storm drains, and enters Upper East Fork Poplar Creek at a point known as Outfall 200. East Fork Poplar Creek flows through Oak Ridge.

The U.S. Department of Energy has evaluated several alternatives for treating the mercury, including doing nothing. But DOE prefers an option that would treat 3,000 gallons of contaminated water per minute and store two million gallons of stormwater. It could reduce the flow of mercury, a toxic metal, by an estimated 84 percent. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge Office, Slider, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: 2013 DOE Tennessee Science Bowl, Alpha 2, Alpha 4, Alpha 5, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Beta 4, Claude Buttram, East Fork Poplar Creek, EPA, Jason Darby, Lamar Alexander, lithium, Mark Whitney, mercury, mercury cleanup, mercury remediation, Mercury Treatment Facility, mercury treatment plant, MTF, nuclear weapons, Oak Ridge Office, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Outfall 200, record of decision, Site Specific Advisory Board, SSAB, stormwater, Sue Cange, TDEC, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, treatment plant, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Upper East Fork Poplar Creek, WEMA, West End Mercury Area, Y-12 National Security Complex

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Classifieds

Public Notice: Comment period extended for Draft EA for Lithium Processing Facility at Y-12

EXTENSION OF THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING … [Read More...]

Public Notice: Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Lithium Production Facility at Y-12

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING FACILITY AT THE Y-12 … [Read More...]

Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment for the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) (DOE/EA-2144), Finding of No Significant Impact, and Wetland Statement of Findings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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