google.com, pub-5488405175282287, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 The Department of Energy�s

 

The Department of Energy�s

Legacy at K-25

Volume

Documentation Analysis

� 2003 Oak Ridge Communities Allied

Permission to copy and distribute freely with attribution.

One: Documentation

See the full PDF Version Here

Building K-1220 � Tenant: Performance Development Corporation (PDC)

 

 

Also of interest is DOE/OR-2223

K-29 Building Demolished

 

 

An enlarged PDF file of the East Tennessee Technology Park

 

 

Chapter 4: K-1200 Complex

The K-1220 Complex includes K-1200, K-1200 Laydown Area, and K-1220 as well as other facilities near these buildings. This area was a gas centrifuge plant and storage space. We will examine those portions that are targeted for reindustrialization and have public DOE documentation regarding contamination and safety issues. (Please note that K-1201 is not in this complex

and will be discussed in Chapter 5.)

Contamination

K-1200 and Parking Lots

The Department of Energy proposed to lease approximately 37,250 square feet of parking area adjacent to K-1220 to Perma-Fix. Perma-Fix will use the property for the storage of equipment and other material used in their operations. Perma-Fix will also use the property for vehicle parking in support of their lease of adjacent buildings, K-1200, K-1052, and K-1052-B.

The East Tennessee Technology Park�s (ETTP) Environmental Compliance Organization (ECO) performed a review of government records and an inspection of the property in accordance with Section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).1 The organization performed this review to identify any areas on the K-1200 property where hazardous substances and petroleum products were stored for one year or more, areas where hazardous substances were released,

or areas where hazardous substances were disposed.

ECO concluded that there was no evidence that hazardous substances were stored in quantities above the reporting threshold of 1000 kilograms (kg) in the areas to be leased for more than one year. There was also no evidence of releases above the reporting requirements of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations.

In addition, ECO reports that the area was not radiologically contaminated and that dose rates were representative of background data at ETTP.

A visual inspection of the area identified asbestos-containing materials in poor repair, transformers containing PCB�s, and a ladder leading to the roof of K-798. The roof of K-798 is roped off as a radiological buffer area. Also, radiological data was not available for all areas to be leased.

ECO assumes that radiological data for this facility will be similar to radiological data of adjacent areas. However, ECO conducted no additional

sampling in the area.

 

K-1220

In February 1995, the Tiger Team summarized data on K-1220 Centrifuge Plant Demonstration Facility at K-25. Its report states that the building was in operation from 1981-1985 and was used primarily to test operations on equipment designs including the P1 cascade and supporting processes (see figure 8). The report noted that waste characteristics of the building include uranium, hydrocarbon oils, and fluorocarbon oils. However, there were no known releases to the environment.

The report also detailed problems with the K-1220 facility. Most notably, though it is part ofthe Decontamination and Decommissioning Program, much of it remains classified, as do possible contaminants. The Tiger Team was concerned with the possibility of contamination in the building interior and equipment; however, this information is unavailable to the public. One must also assume that contamination information is not available to the possible occupiers of K-1220. Any cleanup is therefore also classified, so it could be difficult for lessees to be assured their space is safe.

In 1997, the Oil, Chemical, Atomic Workers (OCAW) International Union also studied the K-25 Centrifuge complex, which included K-1200, K-1210, K-1220, and K-1052 as well as K-1004-J.2 They found that these buildings included �Epoxy Resins (and dust from the resins), 4-Methylenedianiline (MDA), m-Phenylenediamine (mPDA), bis (2, 3-Epoxycyclopentyl) ether (BECPE), Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA), fibers (type of fiber is classified), alcohol, TCE, Freon, UF6, radiation, and noise. The levels of radiation and UF6 were reported as low to medium.� (Please see Appendix B for OCAW maps indicating contaminated buildings.)

 

When DOE leased the front half of K-1220 to Applied Technology Division, the Environmental Management Division (EMD) of LMES created a CERCLA Assessment of the area. EMD did not perform any sampling in conjunction with this assessment, yet concluded that there are no chemicals or radiological hazards identified with the leased portions of the building other than possible asbestos and PCB�s. In addition, all areas surrounding the leased portions of K-1220 are considered radiologically contaminated. The Federal Facilities Agreement between the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), DOE, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering possible removal action in these areas.

As DOE prepared to lease other areas of K-1220, Bechtel Jacobs Company produced a Baseline Environmental Analysis Report (BEAR) in December 1998.4 The report identified former buildings T-27/T-5 and T-7 as two potentially contaminated areas within the K-1220 area. These buildings contained a pipe weld shop and a paint shop.

However, no nonradiological sampling was conducted as part of this assessment. Radiological sampling identified posted contamination areas inmuch of the building. This report did not identify any contamination areas above the 10 CFR 835/DOE 5400.5 contamination limits in unposted areas.

Past investigations found contamination in a large portion of the Centrifuge Cascade, Feed Station Area, Withdrawal Area, Machine Recycle Development, and second floor Control Room� areas adjacent to the property being leased. However, these areas are classified so no information on their safety or contaminants is available.

 

Health Risks

In December 1998, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) performed a Screening-Level Human Health Risk Assessment5 at K-1220. The goal of this evaluation was to identify potential radiological and chemical hazards for workers at K-1220. DOE contractors used existing soil data and radiation measurements collected during past projects. These data include surveys by the Radiological Control Organization

(RADCON) and soil sampling in support of the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) site-wide

assessment.

Radiological risks were calculated for each area sampled including levels 1 and 3, the cascade area, and the roof. The highest calculated risk level for an individual area within Building K-1220 was room 2E-4 on the 3rd level. The 3rd level was the only area that measured effective radiation doses greater than background levels. Risks fromingestion and inhalation for Building K-1220 are well below EPA�s acceptable risk range. The total

risk to a worker moving throughout the building was also below the acceptable risk range.

Processes inside Building K-1220 were considered unlikely to result in chemical contamination; therefore, no data was collected, and an assessment of chemical risks was not conducted.

In a letter from Camilla Warren, Chief of DOE Remedial Section of EPA to Margaret Wilson, Project Manager, Oak Ridge Remediation Branch (DOE) in February 1997,6 the EPA concludes that the information provided by DOE does not establish an adequate basis for determining the safety and protection of public health and environment.

EPA does not concur with the DOE�s recommendations for leasing K-1036 and K-1220.

 

Analysis: Is the K-1200

Complex Safe?

From a review of these documents, there are questions throughout the complex. Radiological data was lacking for someareas of K-1200, and ECO did not perform further tests to ensure worker safety. ECO also did not provide details about decontamination of radioactive areas of K-1201, yet assures workers that the building is safe. EPA does not believe that K-1220 is safe for leasing due to classification of adjoining areas. In addition, DOE made assumptions of risk rather than taking samples and testing to be sure. Though DOE has leased out much of the 1200 complex, there seems to be insufficient evidence to assure current workers that these areas are safe.

Notes

1 Environmental Compliance Organization, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

 

 

The building complex where I worked intermittently - 1991-1997

The Centrifuge's that were in those buildings dwarfed the Iranian pictures. OMG...

DOE OAK RIDGE OPERATIONS - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Windshield Tour Script - Industry Week
May 5, 2010
Point out parking area (on left) for Building Tours on Thursday and Friday.
We are now entering the Centrifuge Facilities Area. This area is composed of laboratories and equipment testing facilities that supported the development and pilot testing of the gas centrifuge process for enriching uranium. Currently there are 16 facilities associated with the D&D scope. Some of the 16 buildings have had equipment removed from the structures. (During my time working in the buildings our center if the facility was ever fully operational, was to be the control room for a huge enrichment centrifuge. It had 20 or so 100 ft. tubes about 10 ft. in diameter. Reminded me of a Frankinstine movie set. - Joe Payne) Approximately half of the centrifuge machines from the development facility have been disposed while the remainder has been processed for burial. The remaining facilities encompass outbuildings and trailers as well as structures used for a variety of processes including electrical supply, water cooling towers, small water pre-treatment systems, and office space.

(Stop and pick up Oglesby at Portal 3)
We are proceeding past building K-1220
On the right is the K-1220 Centrifuge Plant Demonstration Facility, which was used from 1981 to 1985 primarily to test production centrifuges to be used in the Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant and includes high, intermediate and low bay areas. The facility is a steel frame structure on a concrete slab with insulated metal siding enclosing approximately 86,000 ft2 of floor space.

Behind K-1220 is K-1210-A, Advanced Equipment Test Facility. This facility was used from 1978 to 1985 to test the reliability of production centrifuges and includes high, intermediate and low bay areas. The facility is a steel frame structure on a concrete slab with insulated metal siding enclosing approximately 24,000 ft2 of floor space.

WM2009 Conference, March 1-5, 2009, Phoenix, AZ - East Tennessee Materials & Energy Corporation (M&EC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., has constructed a mixed-waste treatment facility within the former experimental centrifuge building complex (Fig. 3). M&EC has removed old centrifuge equipment, decontaminated much of the space, and constructed a clean "building within a building" to house its waste-treatment facilities, an investment of $45 million.
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