Argonne National Laboratory-East

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Argonne National Laboratory-East occupies a 680-hectare (1,700-acre) tract located approximately 20 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of metropolitan Chicago, Illinois.

FACILITY MISSION

The Argonne National Laboratory-East has been involved in research and development activities in support of the Department of Energy and its predecessors since 1943. Currently, it serves as a multidisciplinary research and development laboratory that conducts basic and applied research to support the development of energy-related technologies. Energy-related research projects include advanced reactor development, safety studies for light-water and breeder reactors, developing components and materials for fission and fusion reactors, superconductivity research, improvements in the use of coal for power production, synchrotron radiation accelerator design, developing electrochemical energy sources, and evaluating heat exchangers to recover waste heat from engines. Further areas of research include the use of superconducting magnets for improved nuclear particle accelerators, fundamental coal chemistry studies, immobilization of radioactive waste products for safe disposal, medical radioisotope technology, genetics research, materials engineering, ceramics, carcinogenesis, and the biological effects of low levels of radiation. Environmental research projects include investigations into the biological activity of energy-related mutagens and carcinogens, the chemistry of actinides in natural waters, the characterization and monitoring of energy-related pollutants, and the effect of acid rain on vegetation, soil, and water quality.

The mission of the Environmental Management program is to reduce environmental, health and safety risks by addressing radioactive waste and contamination resulting from energy-related research conducted at the Argonne National Laboratory-East. The program is also responsible for ongoing waste management support to the Department's Office of Energy Research.

The principal environmental media of concern at the Argonne National Laboratory-East are ground water and soils. Contamination has occurred as a result of accidental spills, past materials-management practices, and former waste disposal practices. Contaminants of concern include volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls compounds, and a variety of radioisotopes. Waste chemicals have penetrated deeply into the soil below the French drains and landfill sites. Contamination of soil and sediment is possible because of storm-water runoff flowing into nearby creeks and streams. Offsite ground-water contamination is suspected, but has not been confirmed.

There are no current or planned Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization projects at the Argonne National Laboratory-East. The Department's Office of Energy Research is the landlord at the Laboratory, and this report assumes that it will remain in this capacity for the duration of this estimate.

FUTURE USE

This estimate assumes that the Laboratory's current missions will continue for the duration of this estimate and the site will remain Industrial with restricted access. However, the future use site working group projects the ultimate land use for this site, after all Department of Energy missions are complete, will range from Residential to Controlled Access use.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

The soils and ground water at the Argonne National Laboratory-East have been contaminated as a result of accidental spills, past materials management practices, and former waste disposal practices. Contaminants of concern include volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls and a variety of radionuclides. At present, these contaminants do not pose an immediate threat to the work force or the general public.

Environmental restoration activities at Argonne National Laboratory-East are conducted under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Corrective Action guidelines. The activities will continue under the conditions of a Part B Permit, expected to be issued in FY 1996. These activities are organized by geographic area and/or project type as follows: treatment sites, solid waste storage/disposal, mixed waste storage/disposal, remedial support activities, facilities conversion, reactor facilities, support facilities.

The waste generated as a result of restoration activities include, hazardous, low-level mixed, low-level, and Illinois Special waste, which includes petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, and infectious waste. If waste treatment, storage and disposal are to be performed onsite, all associated activities and costs are included within the scope of the Waste Management program at Argonne National Laboratory-East. However, if waste is transported offsite for treatment, storage, and disposal, all associated activities and costs are included within the scope of the Environmental Restoration program.

Treatment Sites

Treatment Sites projects include areas where contamination is known or suspected in soils, ground water, and sediments as a result of former point source discharges. The point sources include a wastewater treatment system, coal storage yard, leaking sewer lines, a pond, cooling tower blowdown, and inadvertent air discharges and spills.

Contaminants currently under investigation include low concentrations of various radionuclides, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, chromium, and pesticides. The extent of contamination will not be known until investigations are completed. However, this estimates assumes that 70 percent of the sites will require No Further Action. Those sites for which remediation is required are assumed to involve the removal of approximately 16,820 cubic meters (22,034 cubic yards) of soil/sediment classified as hazardous waste and 7,650 cubic meters (10,022 cubic yards) of low-level waste. This baseline estimate also assumes that low-level waste will be disposed of at the Hanford (Washington State) facility and hazardous waste at an appropriate commercial facility. This estimate assumes that both assessment and remedial action activities will be completed by FY 2004.

Solid Waste Storage and Disposal

Solid Waste Storage and Disposal projects consist of the investigation and remediation of contamination, which may have resulted from a sanitary landfill, a solid waste landfill, chemical disposal wells, retired and active underground fuel product storage tanks, and a waste oil storage area.

Contaminants currently being investigated in soils and ground water include aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated benzene, heavy metals, laboratory waste, and general rubbish and construction debris. This report assumes that contaminants have migrated; however, the extent of migration will not be known until investigations have been completed in FY 1996. This baseline estimate expects that the remedial strategy for the landfill sites will involve constructing a cover and implementing long-term monitoring of the ground water. The Waste Management program will assume the responsibility for long-term ground-water monitoring at all of the solid waste storage and disposal sites after the Environmental Restoration program completes construction of the final remedy. Remediation of those sites for which action is required will involve the removal of approximately 114,690 cubic meters (130,244 cubic yards) of hazardous waste and 7,265 cubic meters (9,517 cubic yards) of Illinois Special waste. This estimate assumes that investigation activities will be completed by FY 1997 and remedial action by FY 2011.

Mixed Waste Storage and Disposal Sites (317/319 Project)

Mixed Waste Storage and Disposal Sites project consists of the characterization and potential remediation of a geographically contiguous area. The sources of contamination at these sites included two landfills, two French drains, and a radioactive staging area.

Contaminants involve volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, and low levels of radionuclides. Additional characterization is under way to define the extent of contamination. The remedial approach is assumed to involve the collection and onsite treatment of contaminated ground water. Soil contamination will be addressed by in situ containment and removal of contaminated soils. For those sites that require remediation, the approach is assumed to involve the removal of approximately 143,175 cubic meters (187,559 cubic yards) of Toxic Substances Control Act hazardous or mixed waste, as well as a small amount of low-level waste (rubble and debris). This estimate assumes that radioactive waste types will be disposed of at the Hanford facility (Washington State), except for ground water, which will first be treated onsite to remove hazardous substances. This estimate assumes that characterization activities will be completed by FY 1999 and remediation will be completed by FY 2035.

Remedial Support Activities

Remedial support activities include two site-wide projects that will be implemented in support of other major activity milestones. These projects include the site-wide hydrogeological assessment and the solid waste management units assessments. The hydrogeological assessment will collect data to delineate the extent of ground-water contamination at the Argonne National Laboratory-East. The solid waste management unit assessment will identify any additional sources of contamination that require investigation and remedial action. This report assumes that approximately 34,700 cubic meters (45,457 cubic yards) of Illinois Special waste will be generated during these activities. This estimate assumes that the site-wide assessments will be completed by FY 2050.

Decommissioning Area Actions

Decommissioning activities at the site include the Facilities Conversion Operable Unit, the Reactor Facilities Operable Unit, and the Support Facilities Operable Unit. The Experimental Boiling-Water Reactor underwent decommissioning and will be converted to a facility for storing transuranic waste. The shutdown reactor was contaminated with cobalt-60, iron-55, nickel-63, contaminated and activated lead, and trace quantities of other radionuclides. Most of the contamination was fixed on reactor components, piping, structures, and the like, but some loose contamination was present as well. This project will be completed in FY 1996 and transferred to the Waste Management program for use as a storage facility.

The focus of the Reactor Facilities project group is the decommissioning of six research reactors. The reactors include the CP-5, Juggernaut, Biological Research Reactor, Zero Power Reactor, Argonne Thermal Source Reactor, and the Fast-Neutron Generator. Contaminants currently present in the reactors include activation product, residual tritium, cobalt-60, trace amounts of uranium-235 and uranium-238, and activated and contaminated lead, beryllium, cadmium, and oxidized fuel. Contamination is confined to reactor areas. No soil or ground-water contamination is expected to be found. Approximately 76 cubic meters (100 cubic yards) of low-level radioactive waste is expected to be generated during decommissioning activities. This waste includes metals and rubble/debris that will be classified as radioactive low-level, low-level mixed, and transuranic waste. This estimate assumes that the decommissioning activities of this project group will be completed by FY 2003.

In addition, research reactor support facilities, such as hot cells, plutonium gloveboxes, surplus retention tanks for radioactive liquids, an ion exchange facility, and a cyclotron are currently scheduled for decommissioning. Contaminants include mixed fission products, plutonium-239, and americium-241. Contamination is confined to equipment and structures in individual facilities, and is not expected in environmental media outside the facilities. This estimate assumes that the waste will include metals and construction debris and be classified as radioactive low-level, low-level mixed, and transuranic. This baseline estimate assumes that the decommissioning activities for these facilities will be completed by FY 2020. See the Waste Management program map for the location of these decommissioning activities.

Direct Program Management/Support

Direct Environmental Restoration program management/support at Argonne National Laboratory-East is dedicated to program planning and direct project management. An important management function is to ensure compliance with all pertinent environmental regulations and laws. This includes guidance on regulations and policy. Another function is the integration, establishment and maintenance of performance expectations, measurements and reports, performance tracking, and the development of plans and procedures. The Laboratory does not fund any grants or Agreements-In-Principle at this time.

The Argonne National Laboratory-East participates in the Chicago Cost Savings program and has cost savings incentives in place in the contract with the Department of Energy. These cost savings are calculated quarterly and reported to Department of Energy Headquarters.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Argonne National Laboratory-East currently manages hazardous, low-level, low-level mixed, and transuranic waste. Although environmental restoration activities at the Laboratory will conclude by FY 2050, Laboratory operations will continue to generate waste. Continued waste management activities to support ongoing Energy Research programs are projected at a cost of approximately $10 million per year and are assumed to continue until FY 2070.

The Laboratory's Waste Management program is responsible for providing treatment, storage, and disposal for all waste generated at the Argonne National Laboratory-East in compliance with state and federal regulations at minimal cost. Waste Management also provides decontamination and operational support for facilities that generate radioactive, hazardous, and other special waste.

The Laboratory will continue to manage its waste in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws. The Waste Management program provides limited treatment of certain waste onsite prior to shipment to offsite facilities for disposal. This estimate assumes that this practice will continue as long as waste is generated by ongoing Energy Research program research and development activities. Although large-scale treatment trains are not planned at this time, small-scale treatment for onsite mixed waste is planned for the near future. All costs and activity associated with sanitary waste are the responsibility of the generator.

Transuranic Mixed and Transuranic Waste

Argonne National Laboratory-East stores transuranic mixed and transuranic waste onsite, and provides limited onsite treatment of these waste types. The Laboratory is currently using a neutralization/precipitation technology for onsite treatment of liquid waste. This report assumes that this particular treatment process will continue until FY 2000 for transuranic mixed and FY 2022 for transuranic waste. This estimate assumes that approximately 135 cubic meters (177 cubic yards) of Energy Research-generated liquid transuranic waste will be treated onsite until FY 2022.

The Laboratory currently plans to construct a transuranic waste storage facility to provide adequate space, and conform to present and anticipated waste storage regulations. This report assumes that this transuranic waste storage facility will be completed in FY 1996. This estimate also assumes that when all transuranic waste operations are complete in FY 2022, all transuranic waste will be transported to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, New Mexico for final disposal. This report assumes that 148 cubic meters (194 cubic yards) of transuranic waste will be generated over the life cycle.

All disposal costs for transuranic mixed and transuranic waste are included in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Program estimate. The costs included in this estimate are for managing transuranic mixed and transuranic waste and include retrieval, characterization, treatment, and packaging to meet the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant waste acceptance criteria.

Low-Level Mixed Waste

Argonne National Laboratory-East stores low-level mixed waste onsite, and provides limited onsite treatment of this waste. The Laboratory is currently using a neutralization/precipitation technology for onsite treatment of liquid inorganic mixed waste. This report assumes that this particular treatment process will continue through FY 2070.

The Laboratory currently plans to construct low-level mixed waste storage facilities by FY 1997 to provide adequate space, and conform to present and anticipated waste storage regulations. This report assumes that approximately 300 cubic meters (393 cubic yards) of low-level mixed waste will be generated at Argonne East over the life cycle.

Low-Level Waste

All low-level waste generated at the Laboratory is collected in satellite accumulation areas and is then transferred to a central staging area for packaging and certification for shipment and disposal.

Low-level waste at the Argonne National Laboratory-East is shipped offsite to the Department's Hanford facility (Washington State) for disposal. This report assumes that approximately 46,342 cubic meters (60,700 cubic yards) of low-level waste will be shipped to the Hanford facility over the life cycle.

Hazardous Waste

This estimate assumes that Argonne East will generate approximately 9,930 cubic meters (13,008 cubic yards) of hazardous waste over the life cycle.

The Argonne National Laboratory-East currently engages in limited onsite treatment of hazardous waste prior to shipment to appropriately permitted offsite facilities for disposal. The Laboratory is currently using a neutralization technology for onsite treatment of hazardous waste.

Direct Program Management/Support

Direct Waste Management program management/support consists of technical integration and contract management functions. These functions include essential technical support, administrative integration, and oversight to Environmental Management programs. This support is aimed at ensuring proper identification, characterization, remediation, and revitalization of contaminated sites. It also ensures a consistent and integrated waste management strategy across Chicago Operations Office installations. This support includes business management, technical programs, technical oversight, senior management, community relations, and environmental management integration.

Business management accounts for the greatest portion of program management. This includes progress tracking, contract management, facility management, and financial management (budget preparation and control) procedures and programmatic guidance, including integrating and reconciling plans and budgets with Area Offices and the nationwide Environmental Management program.

Program management also includes senior management personnel for the Environmental Management programs and the support groups that provide community relations and program integration support. These staffs provide for an integrated Environmental Management program for Chicago Operations Office installations and support such activities as preparing this report and assisting with stakeholder involvement. Also included are strategic planning, personnel management and training, stakeholder support/public participation, advisory boards, and administrative support.

DESCRIPTION OF PERSONNEL

Current Composition

The Department of Energy currently employs approximately 99 Full-Time Equivalents to support Environmental Management program activities at the Argonne National Laboratory-East. The Laboratory's work force consists of federal and contractor personnel, including engineers, scientists, managers, construction craftspeople, laborers and general workers, administrative professionals, and general administrative workers. The following table presents the current work force mix.

* The projections for Full-Time Equivalent employees are based on FY 1996 planning baselines (see Reader's Guide)

Site Management Structure

The University of Chicago is the contractor for the environmental restoration activities at the Argonne National Laboratory-East. The University of Chicago is currently operating under a performance-based management contract for five years through FY 2000. The Department of Energy's Area Office has the direct line responsibility for managing the contract with the Laboratory. The Chicago Operations Office is responsible for the program management and integration of all installations within the Chicago Operations Office.

Future Full-Time Equivalent Needs

This report assumes that the number of needed Full-Time Equivalents supported by the Environmental Management program in this estimate will remain stable but increase during peak periods of activity, including periods of remediation, and decontamination and decommissioning. During peak periods the personnel will be predominantly construction workers and engineers working on the remedial action and decontamination and decommissioning projects.

FUNDING ESTIMATE

The following tables present estimated funding information for the Argonne National Laboratory-East.

COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS ESTIMATE

Since the release of the FY 1995 Baseline Environmental Management Report, several interim remedial action projects have been initiated at the Argonne National Laboratory-East to address risk caused by ground-water contamination. The FY 1996 Report reveals rebaselined environmental restoration activities that reflect remedial project scope, technical approach modifications, and the costs associated with those adjustments. Waste management costs have increased slightly over $100 million for two principal reasons: (1) costs for applicable program management have been included in the Waste Management program estimate versus segregating them into an independent waste category, as was preferred in the FY 1995 Report; and (2) the duration of Waste Management support to the Office of Energy Research was extended 40 years (completion date of FY 2070 versus FY 2030). See the Comparison Table on the following page for additional life-cycle cost information.

Comparison Table

Activity	FY 1995 Life Cycle	FY 1995 Only 1	FY 1996 Life Cycle	Change in Dollars	Change in Percent
	Thousands of Dollars
Nuclear Mat. & Fac. Stab.	-	-	-	-	-
Environmental Restoration	131,440	8,650	169,602	46,812	38
Waste Management	590,740	161,135	677,821	103,216	18
Landlord	-	-	-	-	-
Program Management 2	28,653	996	-	-	-
Site Total	750,832	25,781	847,423	122,372	17
1 The FY 1995 life-cycle and annual costs are provided to determine the corrected FY 1995 cost. 2 Program Management was reported in an independent cost table last year, but is reported as a line item in the relevant program (Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization, Environmental Restoration, and Waste Management) activity cost estimate tables for the FY 1996 Baseline Report.