OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Crews in Oak Ridge are making progress on a project meant to make room for debris from old buildings set to be destroyed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex.
They are starting the second phase of construction for the Environmental Management Disposal Facility, a building that would effectively replace the current disposal facility on the site of the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management. That facility is almost full after around 20 years of operations, according to a release from United Cleanup Oak Ridge.
As the current facility nears capacity, hundreds of buildings on the ORNL and Y-12 campuses are expected to be destroyed in the coming years as part of cleanup projects. Debris from those projects need to be kept somewhere isolated from the rest of the environment.
The second phase of construction will focus on conducting a groundwater field demonstration study, which involves felling trees as well as monitoring earthwork and groundwater for "two wet seasons." By conducting this subproject, OREM will be able to confirm its models and provide real data on how groundwater levels would adjust when full construction begins.
OREM and contractor crews will also use the data to adjust the final plans for the full facility, if necessary.
The first phase of construction started in August, preparing the site for additional work. Crews are expected to finish the first phase this spring, and current work will involve moving Bear Creek Road and Haul Road.
The final phase of the project will include building the new facility's first two disposal cells. In total, the facility is expected to have four disposal cells.
As demolition projects continue, debris that has been contaminated by radioactive material will continue to be sent out of state for disposal, according to the release.
