Contents
Acronyms L. V. Hamilton, L. W. McMahon, and L. G. Shipe
The Department of Energy currently oversees activities on the Oak Ridge Reservation, a government-owned, contractor-operated facility. The three sites that compose the reservation (the Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the K-25 Site) were established in the early 1940s as part of the Manhattan Project, a secret undertaking that produced the materials for the first atomic bombs. The reservation's role has evolved over the years, and it continues to adapt to meet the changing defense and energy needs of the United States. Both the work carried out for the war effort and subsequent research, development, and production activities have produced (and continue to produce) radiological and hazardous wastes.
This document contains a summary of environmental monitoring activities on the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) and its surroundings and is required for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. The monitoring and documentation criteria are described within the requirements of DOE Order 5400.1, General Environmental Protection Program. The results summarized in this report are based on the data collected during 1995 and compiled in Environmental Monitoring on the ORR: 1995 Results (Energy Systems 1995 ). Both books are available on request from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Laboratory Records, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6285. Some of the data are also available on the Oak Ridge Environmental Information System (OREIS) to those who have a Lockheed Martin Energy Systems user identification. For more information, visit the OREIS home page on the World-Wide Web (http://www-internal.ornl.gov/ is similar to oreis/oreishome.html).
To the extent possible, this document follows the Environmental Monitoring Plan for the Oak Ridge Reservation (EMP) (DOE 1995 ), the authorization and requirement for which are also contained in DOE Order 5400.1. The plan outlines the goals of environmental monitoring for the reservation and its facilities. The plan has been approved by the manager of the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Operations Office (DOE-ORO).
Environmental monitoring on the ORR consists of two major activities: effluent monitoring and environmental surveillance.
Effluent monitoring is the collection and analysis of samples or measurements of liquid, gaseous, or airborne effluents to characterize and quantify contaminants and process stream characteristics; assess radiation and chemical exposures to members of the public; and demonstrate compliance with applicable standards.
Environmental surveillance is the collection and analysis of samples of air, water, soil, foodstuffs, biota, and other media from the site and its environs and the measurement of external radiation to demonstrate compliance with applicable standards, assessing radiation and chemical exposures to members of the public, and assessing effects (if any) on the local environment.
1.2 DESCRIPTION OF SITE LOCALE
The city of Oak Ridge lies in a valley between the Cumberland and Blue Ridge mountain ranges and is bordered on two sides by the Clinch River. The Cumberland Mountains are 16 km (10 miles) to the northwest; the Blue Ridge Mountains, which include the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, are 51 km (32 miles) to the southeast (Fig. 1.1).
The ORR lies within the corporate limits of the city of Oak Ridge and encompasses all of the contiguous land owned by DOE in the Oak Ridge area. The residential section of Oak Ridge forms the northern boundary of the reservation. The Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA's) Melton Hill and Watts Bar reservoirs on the Clinch and Tennessee rivers form the southern and western boundaries (Fig. 1.2).
The population of the ten-county region is 717,880, with 5% of its labor force employed on the ORR (Fig. 1.3). Other towns in close proximity to the reservation are Oliver Springs, Clinton, Lenoir City, Farragut, Kingston, and Harriman (Fig. 1.4). Knoxville, the major metropolitan area nearest Oak Ridge, is located about 40 km (25 miles) to the east and has a population of about 165,000 (1990 census). Except for the city of Oak Ridge, the land within 8 km of the ORR is predominantly rural and is used primarily for residences, small farms, and cattle pasture. Fishing, boating, water skiing, and swimming are popular recreational activities in the area.
The climate of the region may be broadly classified as humid continental. The Cumberland Mountains to the northwest help to shield the region from cold air masses that frequently penetrate far south over the plains and prairies in the central United States during the winter months. During the summer, tropical air masses from the south provide warm and humid conditions that often produce thunderstorms; however, anticyclonic circulation around high-pressure systems centered in the western Gulf of Mexico can bring dry air from the southwestern United States into the region, leading to occasional periods of drought.
1.3.1 Temperature
The mean annual temperature for the Oak Ridge area is 14.4�C (58�F)
(Webster and
Bradley 1988
). The coldest month is usually January, with temperatures averaging
about 3.3�C (38�F) but occasionally dipping as low as -31�C (-24�F).
July is typically the hottest month of the year, with temperatures averaging 25�C (77�F) but occasionally peaking at over 37.8�C (100�F). In the course of a year, the difference between maximum and minimum daily temperatures averages 12�C (22�F).
1.3.2 Winds
Winds in the Oak Ridge area are controlled in large part by the
valley-and-ridge topography. Prevailing winds are either up-valley
(northeasterly) daytime winds or down-valley (southwesterly) nighttime
winds. Wind speeds are less than 11.9 km/hour (7.4 mph)
75% of the time; tornadoes and winds exceeding 30 km/hour
(18.5 mph) are rare.
Air stagnation is relatively common in eastern Tennessee (about twice as common as in western Tennessee, for example). An average of about two multiple-day air stagnation episodes occurs annually in eastern Tennessee, to cover an average of about 8 days per year. August, September, and October are the most likely months for air stagnation episodes.
1.3.3 Precipitation
The 40-year annual average precipitation is 137 cm (53.9 in.),
including about 26 cm (10.4 in.) of snowfall. Precipitation in
1995 was 116.9 cm (48.7 in.), about 12.9 cm
(5.1 in.) below the annual average. Precipitation in the region is
greatest in the summer months (June through August), largely because of
thunderstorm activity. The driest periods generally occur during the
fall months, when high-pressure systems are most frequent.
1.3.4 Evapotranspiration
Regionally, annual evapotranspiration has been estimated to range from
81 to 89 cm (32 to 35 in.), or 60 to 65% of rainfall
(Farnsworth et
al. 1982
). Evapotranspiration in the Oak Ridge area is 74 to 76 cm (29 to
30 in.), or 55 to 56% of annual precipitation
(TVA 1972
, Moore 1988
, and Hatcher et
al. 1989
). Evapotranspiration is greatest in association with the growing
season, which in the vicinity of the
ORR is 220 days, from
mid-March through mid-October. During this period, evapotranspiration
often exceeds the rate of precipitation, resulting in soil moisture
deficits.
1.4 DESCRIPTION OF SITE, FACILITIES, AND OPERATIONS
The facilities on the ORR began operating in 1943 as part of the secret World War II Manhattan Project, producing components for the first nuclear weapons. The ORR continues to be a government-owned, contractor-operated facility, although the nature of the work has changed. The primary missions of the three sites have evolved during the past 50 years and continue to adapt to meet the changing defense and energy needs of the United States.
The reservation contains three major DOE installations: the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12 Plant), ORNL, and the Oak Ridge K-25 Site (K-25 Site). The DOE buildings and structures located on the reservation but outside the major sites consist of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Scarboro Operations Site, Clark Center Recreational Park, the Central Training Facility, and the Transportation Safeguards maintenance facility.
The off-reservation DOE buildings and structures consist of the Federal Office Building, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, most of the ORISE offices and laboratories, the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division of the Air Resources Laboratory [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)], the American Museum of Science and Energy, the Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (formerly Martin Marietta Energy Systems) administrative support office buildings, and the former museum building. In addition to government-owned property, there are numerous leased buildings housing about 7% of the government and contractor work force.
1.4.1 Lockheed Martin Energy Systems
On March 15, 1995, Lockheed and Martin Marietta completed a merger
to create the Lockheed Martin Corporation. Following the merger, Martin
Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., the prime contractor for the ORR, was
renamed Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.,
(Energy Systems).
In late 1995 Lockheed Martin Corporation organized into several business
sectors, each of which focused on a particular aspect of the company's
business. As a result the Energy and Environment Sector was formed. All
of the company's DOE business became part of the sector.
On August 15, 1995, Lockheed Martin Corporation announced that ORNL would no longer be operated as part of the contract with the Y-12 Plant and the K-25 Site under Energy Systems. Instead, Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation (LMER) would be formed with the sole mission of operating ORNL for DOE. On December 6, 1995, a contract was signed with DOE, effective January 1, 1996, that transferred the responsibility for operating ORNL from Energy Systems to the newly formed Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation.
During 1995 Energy Systems managed the Y-12 Plant, ORNL, and the K-25 Site as well as most of the other properties on the 14,049-ha (34,700-acre) reservation. In addition, it manages programs at both the Paducah, Kentucky, facility and the Portsmouth plant in Piketon, Ohio. Energy Systems carries out energy research and development (R&D), production of enriched uranium and weapons components, and other goals of national importance.
For more information, visit the Energy Systems home page on the World-Wide Web (http://www.ornl.gov/mmes.html).
1.4.2 Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant
Until 1992 the primary mission of the Y-12 Plant was the production
and fabrication of nuclear weapon components (Fig. 1.5 ). Activities associated with these functions included production of
lithium compounds, recovery of enriched uranium from scrap material, and
fabrication of uranium and other materials into finished parts.
Fabrication operations included vacuum casting, arc melting, powder
compaction, rolling, forming, heat treating, machining, inspection, and
testing.
Current assignments in the Y-12 Plant Defense Programs include dismantling nuclear weapon components returned from the national arsenal, serving as the nation's storehouse of special nuclear materials, and providing special production support to DOE programs. Another mission of long standing is the support of other federal agencies through the Work for Others Program. The technology transfer mission has as its goals to apply unique expertise, initially developed for highly specialized military purposes, to a wide range of manufacturing problems to support the capabilities of the U.S. industrial base. The all-inclusive expertise at the Y-12 Plant includes proceeding from concept, through detailed design and specification, to building prototypes and configuring integrated manufacturing processes.
The Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology, located on the Y-12 Plant site, applies skills, capabilities, and facilities developed during the 50-year history of the Oak Ridge complex to a variety of peacetime missions. Major programs exist at the Y-12 Plant in metrology (measurement science), machine tool technology, technology applications, manufacturing operations, and gear and thread technology. Manufacturers nationwide can access information and services at the Y-12 Plant through a toll-free telephone service (1-800-356-4USA) that is a direct link to scientists, engineers, and other technical experts in the full range of manufacturing technologies.
For more information, visit the Y-12 Plant home page on the World-Wide Web (http://www.ornl.gov/mmes-www/general/OverviewY12.html).
1.4.3 Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORNL, located toward the west end of Melton and Bethel valleys, is a
large, multipurpose research laboratory, the primary mission of which is
to expand knowledge, both basic and applied, in areas related to energy
and the environment (Fig. 1.6). ORNL's facilities include a high-flux nuclear research reactor,
chemical pilot plants, research laboratories, radioisotope production
laboratories, accelerators, fusion test devices, and support facilities.
In addition to the main ORNL complex, the Oak Ridge National
Environmental Research Park is managed by ORNL.
For more information, visit the ORNL home page on the World-Wide Web (http://www.ornl.gov).
1.4.4 Oak Ridge K-25 Site
The K-25 Site, formerly known as the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion
Plant, began operations in 1945 as part of the Manhattan Project
(Fig. 1.7). The original mission was to separate the uranium-235 isotope for
use in atomic weapons. In December 1987, DOE permanently shut down
the gaseous diffusion processes, and the site was placed on the list of
facilities slated for decontamination and decommissioning
(D&D).
Specific missions include management of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator, which treats waste through thermal destruction, using a rotary kiln. In 1991, it became the first PCB-mixed-waste incinerator in the United States. Other missions include support of risk-based cleanup programs for all contaminated facilities and natural resources, safe and compliant waste management, development and demonstration of innovative environmental technologies, support of the Hazardous Waste Remedial Action Program (HAZWRAP), and provision of cost-effective support and services to K-25 Site users.
The K-25 Site serves as home of DOE's centers for demonstration of advanced environmental technologies, D&D, and waste management. The Demonstration Center for Environment and Waste Management Technology is bringing industry to a significant portion of the ORR by defederalizing the K-25 Site. This privitization of land and facilities for economic development will attract new technical companies to the area for demonstration and certification of their effectiveness and access to the Oak Ridge scientific, technical, and manufacturing expertise. Several of the uniquely equipped laboratories and fabrication facilities at the K-25 Site will be leased by private companies.
For more information, visit the K-25 Site home page on the World-Wide Web (http://www.ornl.gov/mmes-www/ERWM/erwmout.html).
1.4.5 Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
ORISE is managed for DOE by Oak Ridge Associated Universities
(ORAU), a nonprofit
consortium of 89 colleges and universities. ORISE includes 65 ha
(162 acres) on the southeastern border of the ORR that from the
late 1940s to the mid-1980s was part of an agricultural experiment
station owned by the federal government and, until 1981, was operated by
The University of Tennessee.
The ORISE Scarboro Operations Site (formerly the South Campus) currently occupies about 65 ha (162 acres) and lies immediately southeast of the intersection of Bethel Valley Road and Pumphouse Road. It houses some of the offices and laboratories of one of ORISE's operating divisions, the Chemical Safety Building, and other support structures, and the site is being developed for other productive uses. ORISE received the DOE Pollution Prevention Award in 1994 for work in transforming three lagoons on the Scarboro Site into functional wetlands for the degradation of hazardous wastes into harmless constituents.
The Freels Bend tract, about 101 ha (250 acres) on the northeastern edge of Freels Bend abutting Melton Hill Lake, was transferred from ORISE to ORNL in late 1995 after removal of the six cobalt-60 sources (total of 2200 Ci) from the Variable Dose Rate Irradiation Facility (VDRIF) by a private contractor for recycling.
For more information, visit the ORAU/ORISE home page on the World-Wide Web (http://www.orau.gov).