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Radionuclide levels dropping at Rarity Ridge Treatment Plant, but sludge shipments continue for now

Posted at 12:00 am January 14, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Ken-Glass-Rarity-Ridge-Wasterwater-Treatment-Plan-Jan-4-2016

Ken Glass, Oak Ridge Public Works environmental compliance officer, said levels of technetium 99 in the wastewater system in west Oak Ridge are dropping, but it’s not clear how long UCOR might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill. Above, Glass stands near a chlorine contact tank at the treatment plant on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:55 a.m.

The radioactive nuclide that was first detected in the city’s wastewater lines more than two years ago near the demolition project at the former K-25 Building doesn’t affect drinking water, and it’s not believed to pose any threat to residents or municipal employees, officials said this month.

The levels of the radionuclide, technetium 99, are dropping at several measuring spots in the sewer system in west Oak Ridge, but it’s not clear how long UCOR, the federal government’s cleanup contractor, might have to ship sludge from the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant to an out-of-state landfill.

Officials said UCOR has already hauled away about 80,000 gallons of sludge using a 5,000-gallon tanker truck about once every one or two months since 2014. The sludge, which is about 3 percent to 4 percent solid, comes from a part of the plant known as a digester, and the shipments vary depending upon how much is processed at the plant each month.

Officials don’t know yet when the shipments might end. The sludge is now being taken to the Perma-Fix Northwest treatment facility in Richland, Washington. The last shipment was this month. [Read more…]

Filed Under: DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, State, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Anne Smith, Clinch River, curie, DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, ETTP, groundwater, K-25, K-25 Building, Ken Glass, Mike Butler, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Perma-Fix Northwest, picocurie, Poplar Creek, radioactive nuclide, radionuclide, Rarity Ridge, Rarity Ridge Treatment Plant, Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant, Roger Flynn, Tc-99, technetium-99, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR, wastewater

Electric, Public Works directors at Lunch with League on Tuesday

Posted at 6:35 pm February 2, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jack Suggs

Jack Suggs

Submitted

As we go about daily life in Oak Ridge, we don’t ordinarily think about where wastewater goes or where the electricity we use comes from. When the monthly utility bill arrives from the City of Oak Ridge, the cost of electricity, water, and sewer may surprise us and make us wonder about the cost and changes in rates.

Gary Cinder, director of Oak Ridge Public Works, and Jack Suggs, Oak Ridge Electric Department director, will be the guest speakers at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 3, and they will provide insights into their departments’ activities and responsibilities. The program will be held at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church’s new location at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, electric grid, electric rates, electricity, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Green Power Community, Gary Cinder, Jack Suggs, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Electric Department, Oak Ridge Public Works, sanitary sewer overflows, sewer, Tennessee Valley Authority Platinum Community, wastewater, water

Council to consider DOE wastewater billing; lobbying, economic development contracts

Posted at 8:48 am June 2, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge City Council

The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above during an August 2013 meeting. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday night will consider adding a facilities charge to the U.S. Department of Energy’s monthly wastewater bill for costs related to the construction of a holding tank, or equalization basin, near the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The equalization basin on Scarboro Lane, near the intersection of Scarboro Road and South Illinois Avenue, will service wastewater coming out of the federal reservation, city officials said. Wastewater flows from DOE facilities are estimated to be 67 percent of the total wastewater flow coming into that equalization basin, which will replace a now-demolished car wash near the intersection.

Assuming a 67 percent-33 percent split between DOE and the city, DOE’s share of the cost for construction of the Scarboro Lane equalization basin is estimated at $1.4 million, city officials said. DOE could pay another $24,190 per month as part of its wastewater bill for 60 months starting in July, Oak Ridge Finance Director Janice E. McGinnis said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Alexander Inn, Broadway Apartments, DOE, East Madison Road, economic development, equalization basin, Janice E. McGinnis, Kentucky Avenue, lobbying, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Ray Evans, Scarboro Lane, sewer system overflows, Steve Jones, The Ferguson Group, U.S. Department of Energy, wastewater, Y-12 National Security Complex

Oak Ridge receives $3 million state wastewater loan

Posted at 11:32 am May 7, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

City of Oak Ridge Seal

Tennessee awards more than $8.2 million in low-interest water, wastewater construction loans

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau on Tuesday announced that one community and one utility district have been approved to receive more than $8.2 million in low-interest loans for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Oak Ridge received a $3 million state wastewater loan.

“It’s great to see local governments using this important program to help address critical drinking water and wastewater needs,” Haslam said in a press release. “Making these infrastructure improvements will benefit the health of these communities and economic growth.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oak Ridge, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Haslam, Bob Martineau, drinking water, EPA, loans, SRF, State Revolving Fund Loan Program, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, wastewater, wastewater loan

Temporary road closures on Georgia, Delaware avenues for sewer work

Posted at 6:15 pm December 8, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge gravity wastewater collection system will be under construction during the week of Dec. 9. Georgia Avenue and Delaware Avenue will be closed for the duration of the work. Hurst Excavating will be working under contract with the city to complete rehabilitation work.

Georgia Avenue between Tennessee Avenue and Outer Drive will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to through traffic to allow the contractor to replace an existing sanitary sewer main line located at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Gorgus Lane. The closure is expected to take two days. Local traffic may access residences in the area. Kentucky Avenue to the east of Georgia Avenue or Florida Avenue located to the east may be used as detours.

Delaware Avenue will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 10, for approximately eight hours. A gravity sewer line will be repaired located on Delaware Avenue at its intersection with Dixie Lane. Local traffic may access their residences; however, California Avenue is recommended as a detour for through traffic. The schedule is subject to change in case of bad weather. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Delaware Avenue, Georgia Avenue, Hurst Excavating, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, road closures, wastewater, wastewater collection system

Council to consider utility rate increases, sewer tanks, new fire trucks

Posted at 1:58 pm August 29, 2013
By John Huotari 23 Comments

Emory Valley Road Sewer System Holding Tank

A draft image of what a sewer system holding tank could look like on Emory Valley Road east of the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center. The proposal could change based upon input from Oak Ridge City Council members. (Images courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge officials are considering utility rate increases that could cost many residents another $6.87 per month, and they have also proposed building three large sewer system holding tanks, including two near busy roadways, in response to a federal order requiring the city to stop all sewer system overflows by September 2015.

Council could consider those proposals, as well as a request to buy three new fire trucks, during its Sept. 9 meeting. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: automated meters, Cairo Road, cash, Charlie Hensley, Chris Mitchell, Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center, Darryl Kerley, East Plant Pump Station, electricity, Emory Valley Road, EPA, fire engines, fire trucks, Gary Cinder, Jack Suggs, Lamar Dunn, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Electric Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Public Library, rate increases, Scarboro Road, sewer system holding tanks, sewer system overflows, South Illinois Avenue, substation controls, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, utility billing, utility modernization, utility rate increases, wastewater, water, water plant

State approves city’s application for $18 million in low-interest loans for sewer repairs

Posted at 6:09 pm June 27, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

In February, the Oak Ridge City Council approved the borrowing of $18 million in low-interest state loans to help pay for a $23 million project to fix the municipal sewer system.

On Wednesday, Tennessee officials announced that the loans had been approved. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oak Ridge, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Haslam, Bob Martineau, Department of Environment and Conservation, equalization basins, infrastructure improvements, low-interest state loans, Oak Ridge City Council, sewer repairs, sewer system, sewer system rehabilitation, SRF Program, State Revolving Fund Loans, traditional wastewater loan, wastewater, wastewater loan, water

Report: Oak Ridge officials discuss wastewater issues with EPA in Atlanta

Posted at 10:05 pm February 10, 2013
By Chuck Hope Leave a Comment

Editor’s note: The Oak Ridge City Council recently established an ad hoc subcommittee to focus on issues related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrative order on inflow and infiltration of the city’s wastewater system. Councilman Chuck Hope, who is chairman of the subcommittee, provided the following report on its recent meeting with the EPA in Atlanta.

The subcommittee of City Council that was formed to address our EPA Administrative Order concerns, went to Atlanta, Ga., on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, to meet with staff from the Southeast Regional (Region 4) EPA office.

The meeting was attended by four EPA staff members: Denisse Diaz, clean water enforcement branch chief; Maurice Horsey, municipal and industrial enforcement section chief; Michele Whetherington, assistant regional counsel; and Dennis Sayre, our assigned contact in municipal and industrial enforcement.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Uncategorized Tagged With: administrative order, Anne Garcia Garland, Charlie Hensley, Chuck Hope, City of Oak Ridge, David Mosby, Denisse Diaz, Dennis Sayre, Ellen Smith, EPA, Gary Cinder, Ken Krushenski, Lamar Dunn, Mark Watson, Maurice Horsey, Michele Whetherington, Oak Ridge City Council, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, wastewater, wastewater rates

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

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

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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