Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

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The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant is located in south central Ohio, approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of Portsmouth, Ohio, and 112 kilometers (70 miles) south of Columbus, Ohio. The site is situated on a 1,483-hectare (3,708-acre) federal reservation approximately 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) south of the Village of Piketon.

FACILITY MISSION

Construction of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant began in late 1952 to expand the Federal Government's gaseous diffusion program already in place at Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Paducah, Kentucky. The facility was built to increase the production of enriched uranium at rates substantially above the other two facilities because highly-enriched uranium was required for use in nuclear submarine reactors, and low-enriched uranium was needed for commercial nuclear power plants. The first process cell went online in September 1954. A gas centrifuge uranium enrichment program was initiated in the early 1980s at Portsmouth. However, full operation was never implemented for the centrifuge process.

Currently, the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant has two primary missions. The first mission continues to be the enrichment of uranium by a gaseous diffusion process. Since 1991, the plant has produced only low-enriched uranium for use as fuel in commercial nuclear power plants. On July 1, 1993, the United States Enrichment Corporation, a government corporation formed under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, assumed operations of the production portion of the plant. The Department of Energy retained responsibility for environmental restoration and related waste management activities which comprise the second primary mission of the plant. These activities focus on environmental remediation efforts; environmental compliance; storage, treatment, and/or disposition of waste; and the decommissioning of inactive and surplus facilities.

This estimate for decommissioning the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion facilities assumes an approach for recycling process equipment and other radioactive metals into usable products and onsite disposal of low-level and mixed radiological waste from decommissioning activities. Although this estimate is preliminary, and not yet in the Environmental Restoration life-cycle baseline, it adopts a simpler and less restrictive approach to dealing with these radiologically contaminated facilities. This estimate assumes that the plant will discontinue production in FY 2005, and that decommissioning work can begin as early as FY 2007. However, the actual timing of the shutdown of operations has not been decided. This estimate assumes that the Department's Environmental Management program will assume landlord responsibilities at the site in FY 2005 and will continue in this capacity until decontamination and decommissioning activities are complete. All waste management activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant are included within the scope of the Environmental Restoration program.

Landlord activities are the responsibility of the Department of Energy's Uranium Enrichment program's. This report assumes that responsibility will continue until the shutdown of operations, when it will transfer to the Environmental Restoration program.

FUTURE USE

Future land use of the site will be determined at a later date. However, since long-term surveillance, maintenance, and institutional controls will continue indefinitely, limiting future uses, this report assumes that the Federal Government will use the site for some type of Industrial use.

The decommissioning estimate in this report assumes that all gaseous diffusion facilities will be removed to grade. The site landscape will be significantly changed; low disposal mounds will be located where former structures stood. To the extent practical, auxiliary building rubble will be placed in one of the process building mounds. An onsite disposal cell for decommissioning waste will undergo closure and will be under long-term monitoring. Other facilities (e.g., centrifuge facilities) will be reused for other restricted activities consistent with the stakeholders' land-use decision for the site.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

Corrective actions are being performed at the Portsmouth facility in compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The site has not been placed on the National Priorities List; therefore, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act is not the primary driver for cleanup actions.

The cleaning and changeout of process equipment at the Portsmouth Plant generated spent solvents and other contaminants that were disposed of in onsite landfills and surface impoundments. The contaminants include chlorinated solvents, such as trichloroethylene, chlorinated solvents mixed with radionuclides in low concentrations, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Additional sources of contamination are uranium deposits in process equipment and radionuclides in buildings, cooling towers, burial grounds, and wastewater ponds. Trichloroethylene is the main contaminant of concern in the ground-water systems at the Portsmouth site. To date, no ground-water contamination has migrated offsite.

To facilitate the remediation and restoration process, the site was divided into four quadrants, based in large part on ground-water flow. Quadrants with greater potential risk from ground-water contamination were designated as higher priority and were investigated first. Since the development of investigation and corrective measures, the regulatory agencies have begun to approach remediation on a unit-by-unit basis; therefore, the site will be described below as a whole.

The scope of the Environmental Restoration program incudes the costs associated with characterizing, packaging and shipping waste. The treatment, storage, and disposal of waste shipped offsite to commercial facilities is also included within the scope of the Environmental Restoration program at Portsmouth.

Quadrants I-IV

ASSESSMENT

All four quadrants at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant have been characterized through sampling from more than 550 ground-water monitoring wells and over 400 soil borings. A second, confirmatory phase of the investigation was completed at the plant in 1994. Other investigations have also been completed in conjunction with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act corrective action process. An extensive air quality investigation was conducted where a total of 15 ambient air samplers and 7 radionuclide samplers were installed at onsite and offsite locations to collect data on air quality. A baseline ecological risk assessment was conducted to study the creeks, aquatic life, surface waters and sediment toxicity, plants, animals, endangered species, and wetlands at and near the plant. A study to determine background levels of naturally occurring radionuclides and metals was conducted in FY 1994 to assess environmental conditions surrounding the plant. Samples were taken from 20 different locations that were pre-approved by the regulatory agencies, to provide information on radionuclides and metals and help determine background levels in establishing cleanup levels at the plant.

Sampling performed as part of the environmental restoration efforts has determined that soil and ground water underlying some areas of the plant have been contaminated with various solvents, such as trichloroethylene, that were commonly used to degrease equipment. To a lesser degree, uranium, technetium, and metals have also been detected in soils and ground water. Two aquifers beneath the plant store and supply ground water; one is shallow and one is deep. To date, studies indicate that ground-water contamination is limited to the shallow aquifer, which is not of sufficient volume to be used for drinking water. Offsite sampling has shown residual minor levels of radiological contamination in some stream sediments but not at concentrations that pose a health risk to the public. Risk assessors have determined that remediation of these low levels of contaminants would cause more negative impact to the ecosystems in the streams than would leaving the soils undisturbed. Offsite residential well sampling has not detected any contamination. The air study showed no unacceptable risks to humans or the environment.

A ground-water protection program has been established for the Portsmouth site. Its purpose is to coordinate and support environmental restoration projects concerned with or affecting the ground water. This program is also responsible for operating and maintaining the ground-water treatment facilities at the Portsmouth Plant. This program also manages any interim actions required to stop the migration of ground water offsite. Ground water is sampled at specific wells installed in and around the plant to determine the extent of any contamination, to identify the contaminants, and to determine their sources. The potential release site investigations performed for the environmental restoration activity helped the characterization effort. Additional ground-water sampling and modeling have also been performed to monitor the rate of contaminants and to determine the extent of contamination. A ground-water remediation project currently under construction will test different methods of passive contaminated ground-water treatment. Upon completion of the treatability tests, a plan for enhanced ground-water remediation will be prepared. This report assumes that all assessments for Quadrants I-IV will be completed by FY 2020.

REMEDIAL ACTION

Soon after environmental restoration started, five of the potential release sites were identified as requiring no further action. Since then, eight more sites (chromium sludge lagoons, a landfill for the disposal of contaminated materials, a landfill for the disposal of classified materials, an incinerator, chromium sludge monocells, a restricted waste storage facility, a waste oil tank, and a storage facility) have been certified for closure. Remedial actions have been completed at four other sites (an unrestricted waste storage facility, a chromic acid tank, a solid waste landfill, and an engineered cap over a landfill). Interim measures were implemented to contain contaminants, including construction of an in-ground slurry wall and a seep collection system.

Ten underground and above-ground storage tanks were within the scope of the environmental restoration activity at Portsmouth. Three of these tanks were never placed into service and were removed. One underground storage tank did not pass tightness tests and has been removed. Six abandoned above-ground storage tanks were also demolished. Surrounding soils were characterized and, where necessary, excavated and treated according to regulatory limits on petroleum contamination in soil.

Remedial actions are under way or are being planned for seven other potential release sites, including two holding ponds, a radiological storage yard, a neutralization pit, a waste neutralization pit, a waste oil tank and facility, and an oil biodegradation plot. Individual units that may require remediation in the future are as follows.

The X-120 Goodyear Training Facility was part of the original construction of the plant and included the training center, a paint shop, a welding shop, a sheet metal shop, and two warehouses. All the structures associated with this facility were demolished and removed during the Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant construction activities in the early 1980s. Contaminants identified in the investigation were arsenic and antimony in surface soil. If the regulatory agencies decide that remediation is needed, this report assumes that activities will be completed by FY 2025, and that soil will be excavated and moved to an onsite landfill.

The X-626 Recirculating Cooling Water Pump House and Cooling Tower consists of approximately 651-square meter (777 square yards) pump house and an eight-cell cooling tower with associated catch basin. Surface soil contamination of cadmium and beryllium was found in surface soil approximately 25 meters (33 yards) northwest of the pump house. This estimate assumes that the remedial action will include excavating soil, with disposal to an offsite Resource Conservation and Recovery Act landfill, solidification/stabilization and onsite disposal, or soil washing and disposal onsite.

The 5-Unit Investigative Area consists of an area of ground-water contamination under five solid waste management units in the central part of the plant located east and south of the X-326 Process Building. Contaminants included seven inorganics (antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, thallium, and vanadium) and five organics (acrolein, chloroform, 1,1-dichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and trichloroethene). A decision regarding a specific remedial action is not expected until FY 1996 or later. However, this estimate assumes that ground-water remediation will include some form of collection and treatment, with disposal through the plant water treatment system. Treatment may require additional facilities beyond those presently operating at the plant.

The X-747F Miscellaneous Materials Storage Yard is a 3.6-hectare (9.1-acre) area located south of the X-720 Maintenance Building. It consists primarily of open grassy areas, with some patches of asphalt and gravel. It is used to store miscellaneous equipment and material. Ground-water contamination from beryllium, cadmium, chromium, and vanadium was found during investigation. A decision regarding a specific remedial action is not expected until FY 1996 or later. However, this estimate assumes that the remedial action will include some form of ground-water extraction and treatment. This approach would require installing vertical or horizontal wells and might also require treatment equipment not already available onsite.

The X-633 RCW Pump House/Cooling Towers have operated since 1955 and are located northeast of the X-333 Process Building. Investigation found ground-water contamination from 10 inorganics: (arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, silver, thallium, vanadium, and zinc). A decision regarding a specific remedial action is not expected until FY 1996 or later. However, this estimate assumes that the remedial method will include some form of ground-water extraction and treatment. Installation of vertical or horizontal wells would be needed as well as treatment equipment not presently in service at the plant.

The X-744G Bulk Storage Building, which was built as a pipe yard, is located southeast of the X-333 Process Building. X-744G is an 8,184-square meter (9,768-square yard) building that has been in service since 1956. From 1957 to 1992, it warehoused uranium hexafluoride cylinders. From the late 1960s until 1981, part of the facility was used to melt aluminum parts into aluminum ingots. In 1992, all Resource Conservation and Recovery Act-hazardous waste was removed from the building, and it has most recently been used for a waste sorting project. Investigation showed ground-water contamination with seven inorganics (arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, thallium, and vanadium) and one volatile organic compound (trichloroethane). A decision regarding a specific remedial action is not expected until FY 1996 or later. However, this estimate assumes that remedial action will include some form of ground-water extraction and treatment. This approach would require installing vertical or horizontal wells and might also require treatment equipment not already available onsite.

The 7-Unit Area consists of seven facilities consolidated to investigate a plume of ground-water contamination. The area includes the X-700 Chemical Cleaning Facility, the X-700 TCE/TCA Outside Storage Tank, the X-700 Chemical and Petroleum Storage Containment Tanks, the X-701C Neutralization Pit, the X-705 Decontamination Building, the X-720 Maintenance Building, and Process Waste Lines from X-700 and X-705. These facilities have been used for over 30 years. The ground water in the 7-Unit Area is contaminated by the following substances: antimony, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,4-dioxane, lead, nickel, technetium-99, trichloroethane, and vanadium. A decision regarding a specific remedial action is not expected until FY 1996 or later. However, this estimate assumes that the remedial action will include some form of ground-water extraction and treatment. This approach would require installing vertical or horizontal wells and might also require treatment equipment not already available onsite.

The X-720 Maintenance and Storage Building was constructed in 1954. It is used for carpentry, repair, and maintenance work. In addition to the ground-water contamination noted in the previous paragraph, soil contamination by arsenic was discovered approximately 2 meters (3 yards) south of the building near the central portion of the building. A decision regarding a specific remedial action is not expected until FY 1996 or later. However, this estimate assumes that the remedial action will involve excavating soil and disposal in the onsite landfill. Remedial action might also involve in situ solidification/stabilization and deed restrictions.

The X-615 Abandoned Stationary Sewer Treatment Facility treated sewage from the plant from inception until deactivation in 1982. The investigation determined that potential contaminants associated with this unit include uranium and polychlorinated biphenyls. A decision regarding a specific remedial action is not expected until FY 1996 or later. However, this estimate assume that the remedial action will involve extracting soil that could be disposed of in an onsite landfill.

The Peter Kiewit Landfill, used from approximately 1953 to 1968, is located about 61 meters (66 yards) east of the XT-847 Gaseous Centrifuge Enrichment Plant Construction Warehouse and west of Big Run Creek. It was first used as a salvage yard and trash disposal area during initial construction of the plant, and subsequently as a sanitary landfill. The investigation determined the presence of potential contaminants in surface seeps along the southeastern boundary of the landfill. Interim remedial measures were undertaken at the landfill in FY 1994 to relocate a section of Big Run Creek away from the landfill and install a leachate collection system. Potential contaminants from the landfill include arsenic, vinyl chloride, Aroclor 1260, benzo, a, pyrene, and uranium in surface soil. No contaminants were identified in ground water outside of the landfill area. However, since ground-water modeling indicates potential ground-water interaction with the landfill material leading to the formation of seeps and a potential for ground-water contamination, remedial alternatives should consider the prevention of migration of contaminants into ground water. A decision on corrective action is not expected until late 1995 or 1996. However, this estimate assumes that the remedial action will include capping with possible vertical barriers to prevent ground-water flow through the landfill.

The X-701B Holding Pond and Retention Basins include one unlined holding pond and two unlined retention basins located southeast of the X-333 Process Building. The holding pond was used from 1954 to 1988 to neutralize solutions and wastewater containing acids, metals, and solvents. Beginning in 1972, the wastewater was treated using a lime mixture to neutralize the acids, causing sludges and solids to settle in the holding pond. When the holding pond reached capacity, sludges and solids were dredged and placed in two adjacent retention basins. The East Basin received waste from 1973 until 1980. The West Basin received waste from 1980 through 1985. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act closure of the unit began in FY 1989. Phase I was completed in FY 1991. It consisted of removing the sludge from each of the ponds and subsequently containerized. Phase II consists of constructing a ground-water pump and treatment facility and in situ treatment of the soils in the bottom of the holding pond. Soil treatment was not possible with the thermally enhanced vapor extraction method and another remediation method is being evaluated. After treatment, a permanent, multilayer clay cap is planned to cover the unit. Ground-water contaminants include 10 inorganics (antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, selenium, thallium, and vanadium) and one volatile organic compound (trichloroethane). A decision regarding a remedial action will not be made until FY 1996 or later. However, this report assumes that remedial action will include a combination of ground-water extraction and treatment, as well as soil treatment and capping.

The X-611A Lime Sludge Lagoons consist of three unlined sludge retention lagoons constructed in 1954 to receive waste lime sludge from the X-611 Water Treatment Plant. Located northeast of the main plant facility near Little Beaver Creek, the lagoons received sludge until 1960. For one to two years, the lagoons also received recirculating cooling water and chromium-contaminated lime sludge. Investigations indicated contaminants, including chromium, beryllium, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Currently, the site is awaiting a Preferred Plan (a pre-Record of Decision document issuing the recommended alternative) from the Ohio and U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies. However, this estimate assumes that the remedial action will involve filling the lagoons to establish a modified prairie environment.

Other units may be included in a list of remediation sites by regulatory direction. Decisions regarding other sites will not be made until FY 1996 or later. This report assumes that all remedial actions for Quadrants I-IV will be completed by FY 2035.

This baseline report assumes that approximately 3,914,589 cubic meters (5,128,112 cubic yards) of hazardous ground water will be left in the area of containment after the completion of remediation and surveillance and maintenance. This report also assumes that 8,548 cubic meters (11,198 cubic yards) of solid hazardous waste and 170 cubic meters (223 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste will be generated by these activities. However; approximately 51,500 cubic meters (67,465 cubic yards) of hazardous ground water will be removed and treated, along with 284 cubic meters (372 cubic yards) of other hazardous liquids and 10,685 cubic meters (13,997 cubic yards) of hazardous solids.

This report further assumes that 51,604 cubic meters (67,601 cubic yards) of low-level radioactive waste solids and 375 cubic meters (491 cubic yards) of low-level mixed waste solids will be removed, most of which is metal and debris, and that approximately 439 cubic meters (575 cubic yards) of sanitary waste will be generated as a part of the remedial action and surveillance and maintenance activities. All costs associated with the transporting and disposing of these materials is included within the scope of the Environmental Restoration program.

Decommissioning

This report assumes that when uranium enrichment processes are no longer needed, the Department of Energy will shut down and decommission the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Under the provisions in the United States Enrichment Corporation lease, stabilization and shutdown activities are the responsibility of the Enrichment Corporation, except for legacy contamination. During the transition phase, the Department of Energy's Environmental Management program will remove all polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated oils, lube oils, freon, and other hazardous materials and uranium deposits from the facilities.

The Department of Energy recently used several different scenarios to reevaluate the estimate for decommissioning the gaseous diffusion facilities. The scenario described in this report uses a new approach for recycling process equipment and other radioactive metals into usable products. It also includes the onsite disposal of low-level and mixed radiological waste.

The regulatory strategy for decommissioning is based on the May 22, 1995 joint Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency policy on decommissioning under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. This policy provided guidance that indicated a preferred method of conducting decommissioning actions at Department of Energy sites, namely that these activities would be conducted as nontime critical removal actions with the associated Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analyses and Action Memorandum prepared to document decisions. Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act actions, the analyses will have to incorporate National Environmental Policy Act values and comply with the substantive provisions of all applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, including public involvement.

As noted in the National Contingency Plan, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act process provides for compliance with the substantive provisions of "applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements" unless compliance waivers are obtained from the appropriate regulatory agencies. Onsite Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act actions are exempt from permits. In reference to decontamination and decommissioning, this would mean that permits would not be required for air emissions, wastewater dischargers, or similar activities. Instead, the substantive portions of the laws governing these resources would be applicable, and the removal process would not be delayed because of lengthy permit review and approval requirements.

The first major phase of decontamination will be the removal of the major components from the process buildings. These major components include motors; cell housing and structural framing; compressors and converters; piping and valves; instrumentation, instrument panels, and tubing; support equipment; electrical equipment; utilities systems and ventilation systems. In general, all equipment will be removed in one piece unless it is more efficient to section it for removal. The process piping and equipment will be cut loose so that it can be removed from the cell. This report assumes adequate purging and the use of portable high-efficiency particulate air ventilation systems to allow workers to perform without respirators.

Safeguards and security requirements, including nuclear material control and accountability practices, for enriched uranium are streamlined to the extent necessary to allow the equipment removal and recycle contractors to perform their work unimpeded. Contamination control will be adhered to so that the removal process does not cause trackout problems or additional cleanup work before the structure can be demolished.

Following the removal of equipment, the Department will remove loose contamination from the internal structure components (for example, walls, floors, roofs) with a water spray and/or steam cleaning. The wash water will be collected, recycled to the extent possible, treated, and discharged. The Department will dispose of sludges in the onsite disposal cell.

Buildings constructed with transite siding will require removal of these asbestos-containing materials prior to structural demolition. The transite siding and other building materials will be wrapped and placed in storage prior to the demolition of the above-grade structure.

All of the gaseous diffusion process buildings will be demolished down to their concrete slabs. Nonprocess buildings, buildings that contain nonradiologically contaminated equipment, and process buildings can be demolished by conventional methods that use heavy equipment such as wrecking balls. In most cases, segregation of structural steel for recycle will take place during or after demolition, using heavy equipment. Demolition rubble will be used for in-place backfill in cavities and/or will be left on the slabs-on-grade and covered with a vegetative layer. All below-grade structures remain with utility lines conduit, trenches, etc. capped off and left in-place. The demolition fill will not be placed in a manner that will provide an adequate foundation for future development. However, no free liquids will be left in the rubble. This report assumes that approximately 269,178 cubic meters (352,623 cubic yards) of low-level mixed waste metal and rubble/debris will be left in place.

The Department will transport metal materials removed from the buildings, including structural steel removed during building demolition, to Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed recyclers. The metal will be disassembled as necessary, sized, smelted, milled, recycled where economically feasible, rolled, and fabricated into use for products such as storage and disposal boxes, barrels, and pallets. Melt slag and any unused metals will be transported to back to Portsmouth for disposal. Radiologically contaminated metal waste from recycling will be disposed of in the onsite disposal cells.

Certain metals or components, such as structural steel and electrical system cables will be evaluated for release and recycle as not contaminated. Process system electrical motors will be processed by licensed recyclers for decontamination and released if deemed technically achievable and economically advisable.

If generation of containers/products from the recycling process exceeds the short-term demand, all excess inventory will be returned to the plant and managed until needed. This estimate assumes that all decontamination and decommissioning activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant will be completed by FY 2025.

This report assumes that decommissioning activities at the Portsmouth facilities will generate low-level mixed waste, low-level waste, hazardous waste, polychlorinated biphenyl waste, asbestos waste and sanitary waste.

Metals removed from the buildings will be smelted, and the resulting slag will be disposed of in the onsite cell. With proper metallurgical processes, radioactive contaminants migrate to the slag during smelting, with the exception of technetium-99 which migrates to the metal. Other materials and debris that cannot be recycled will also be disposed of in the cell. All waste that will be disposed of in the cell is either low-level waste and/or mixed waste.

Small levels of fixed radioactive contamination will remain on building structures (mainly concrete). An assessment of the amount of residual contamination left at the building sites will be performed in the Streamlined Risk Evaluation in the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis to ensure that contamination left onsite will not pose an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment.

Treatment, Storage, and Disposal

The Environmental Restoration program directs the safe, treatment, storage, and disposal of waste generated by past operations and current environmental restoration projects. The United States Enrichment Corporation has operated the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant since July 1993 and is responsible for waste from normal plant operations. Waste generated by operations prior to July 1993, as well as environmental restoration-generated waste, remain the responsibility of the Department of Energy.

All waste generated is characterized and labeled by type at the site of generation. All waste shipped offsite for disposal must be certified to meet the acceptance criteria for disposal at the particular disposal facility. Because of the nature of the work performed at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, the following waste types are generated and stored at the onsite: low-level radioactive waste, hazardous waste, low-level mixed waste, polychlorinated biphenyl waste, polychlorinated biphenyl-radioactive waste, asbestos waste, and conventional sanitary waste.

Waste minimization activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant consist primarily of recycling projects and segregation techniques. Current recycling projects involve cardboard, aluminum cans, waste office paper, and spent fluorescent light bulbs. Projects being prepared are recycling polychlorinated biphenyl materials, such as transformers and capacitors for the metal, and recycling the lead metal waste stream from lead-acid batteries. Other projects such as scrap metal recycling are still in the planning stages.

This report assumes that low-level waste and low-level mixed waste resulting from remedial actions and Waste Management program activities will be temporarily stored at Portsmouth until they can be transported to offsite commercial facilities. This report assumes that low-level and low-level mixed waste generated from the decommissioning of the gaseous diffusion facilities will to be disposed in the onsite disposal cell. This estimate assumes that approximately 88,904 cubic meters (116,464 cubic yards) of solid low-level waste, 222 cubic meters (291 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste and 14,507 cubic meters (19,004 cubic yards) of other unknown solids and liquids are either currently in storage, or will be generated and sent to the Waste Management program due to legacy and ongoing activities at Portsmouth awaiting shipment applicable to offsite facilities.

Low-level and mixed radiological waste from decommissioning the Portsmouth facilities will be disposed of in an engineered facility. The engineered disposal facility will be located onsite so that any resulting low-level waste or mixed waste generated from the recycle process can be placed in the cell. Instead of the traditional permitting process, a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study, followed by a Record of Decision will be performed as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act process. One of the goals of this process is to pre-qualify the waste for placement in the onsite disposal cell and to identify any waste streams that are not appropriate for onsite disposal. This report assumes that approximately 651,562 cubic meters (853,546 cubic yards) of low-level waste metal and other solid debris will be removed from the facilities.

Liquid hazardous waste is currently being sent to the K-25 Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where it is treated at the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator. Disposal of the treatment residue is being handled by K-25 Site personnel. Other hazardous waste will be shipped to permitted commercial treatment and disposal facilities.

Liquid polychlorinated biphenyl waste is currently being sent to the K-25 Site for treatment at the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator. Disposal of the treatment residue is being handled by K-25 Site personnel. Solid polychlorinated biphenyl waste is being stored onsite until it can be scheduled for treatment at the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator. This report assumes that approximately 24,921 cubic meters (32,647 cubic yards) of polychlorinated biphenyl waste will be generated during the life cycle of this estimate.

Asbestos waste will be contained but will not be treated and will be disposed of in the onsite solid waste landfill or in the construction spoils area.

Solid sanitary waste is basically refuse and is disposed of in the onsite solid waste landfill. Liquid sanitary waste includes sewage and industrial waste treated at the site sewage treatment plant. Metal, wood, and rubbish will also be disposed in the onsite solid waste landfill.

Long-Term Surveillance and Monitoring

All costs associated with long-term surveillance and monitoring are included as one line item in this estimate. Major operations that will be accomplished as a result of long-term surveillance and monitoring activities for Environmental Restoration program support facilities, decommissioning program facilities, and remedial action sites include: surveillance of facilities and remedial action sites to determine status per standards; maintenance of facilities and sites to retard degradation and correct deficiencies; post-remediation surveillance and monitoring at sites to comply with regulations and regulatory agreements; facility stabilization actions that improve operations or lower costs; and facility and program management to ensure efficient, safe operations. This report assumes that long-term surveillance and monitoring activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant will continue until FY 2035.

Direct Program Management/Support

Program management functions provide essential administrative and oversight assistance to the environmental restoration activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. This support focuses on ensuring proper identification, characterization, remediation and revitalization of the contaminated sites. Business management accounts for a large portion of the program management. It includes progress tracking, contract management, facility management, and financial management (budget preparation and control) for the Portsmouth projects. Project management personnel for the Lockheed Martin Energy System, Inc. and support groups provide project management support skills as well as coordination with the other sites in the Oak Ridge Operations Office.

Federal employees oversee the contractors for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Environmental Restoration program. However, their costs are included in the Oak Ridge Operations Office section of this report along with the Integrating Contractor Central Operations Office support.

LANDLORD ACTIVITIES

The Department of Energy's Uranium Enrichment Programs is the landlord for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Because there are no directly appropriated landlord costs at this site, funds for landlord activities are obtained through the budget process for ongoing Environmental Restoration, Waste Management, and Uranium Enrichment program activities or legacy activities at the plant. Each year, all programs supported by the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant landlord provide planned budget requests based on prioritization. Landlord activities include security, fire protection, emergency management, waste management, corrective actions, general plant maintenance, roads and ground, and decommissioning of property and facilities retained by the Department of Energy. In addition, the landlord leases portions of the land and facilities to the United States Enrichment Corporation for uranium enrichment production and a portion of the plant and facilities to other government agencies, including the Defense Logistics Agency and the Ohio Army National Guard.

This estimate assumes that, once production discontinues at the site. The Department of Energy's Environmental Management program will be the landlord of the facilities. The activities will involve surveillance and maintenance (e.g., fire protection and security) of the facilities until they can be decommissioned. This estimate assumes that the time between discontinued operations and start of decommissioning is two years.

DESCRIPTION OF PERSONNEL

Current Composition

As the managing contractor, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. employs personnel to support the Department's mission. In addition, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. is the integrating contractor for other Department of Energy prime contractors and subcontractors working on the Department's program at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Department of Energy prime contractors include Jacobs Engineering. Subcontractors working for Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. at the site include MK-Ferguson, Foster-Wheeler, CDM Federal Programs, Science Applications International Corporation, Theta Technologies, Lockwood Greene, Afftrex, AC Inc., and several "8a" subcontracting firms. The costs for the federal Full-Time Equivalents are included in the Oak Ridge Operations Office section of this report. The following table presents the contractor work force by skill mix.

Site Management Structure

Effective July 1, 1993, and in accordance with the Energy Policy Act, the Department of Energy leased the plant production operations at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant to the United States Enrichment Corporation for six years. The Department and the United States Enrichment Corporation negotiated the lease of specific plant facilities, outlined in a Memorandum of Agreement, which defines their respective roles under the lease, and developed the administrative program elements necessary to support their respective roles. Under these agreements, the Department of Energy retains the environmental restoration and waste management functions at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. currently manages these operations. The subsidiary corporation, Lockheed Martin Utility Services, Inc., currently manages plant production operations.

Lockheed Martin Energy Systems is the integrating contractor for the environmental restoration activities at Portsmouth for the Department of Energy. This contractor integrates its own work activities as well as those of the Department of Energy prime contractors for technical support, engineering, and construction, and its own subcontractors for site remedial investigation work.

The Lockheed Martin Energy Systems contract has recently been extended for two years. As a part of that contract, Lockheed Martin has committed to incentive contracting as a part of contract reform. An increasing number of the Lockheed Martin-managed activities will be task order contracts. The primary features of these task order projects are as follows: contracting companies function as a team, the Department of Energy and the team negotiate terms of the project, the team collects an incentive fee for finishing under budget but absorbs a percentage of any cost overrun, the Department of Energy shares the risk of cost overruns, and streamlined bid specifications simplify the process and reduce cost estimates.

This estimate assumes that a decommissioning project management contractor will manage the decommissioning of the plant. This contractor will perform the project management services necessary to execute the project and is the contractor responsible for the overall success of the project. The estimate assumes that the Department of Energy and the decommissioning project management contractor will use an incentive contracting approach with various subcontractors.

Future Full-Time Equivalent Needs

This baseline estimate assumes that the mix of needed Full-Time Equivalents supported by the Environmental Management program will remain fairly stable, even when operations are discontinued in FY 2005. At that time, remedial action and waste management activities will continue to support the Environmental Restoration program. However, in FY 2007, when decommissioning activities begin, the number of Full-Time Equivalents and mix should change substantially. The yearly budgets will be substantially higher and all areas of employment will rise. As the buildings are cleared and demolished, heavy equipment operators, laborers, health and safety personnel, and decontamination personnel will be needed. The construction of the onsite disposal cell will also require construction workers. According to this estimate, the permitting and reporting activities will be streamlined, and the numbers of technical and administrative personnel will not increase dramatically.

FUNDING ESTIMATE

The following tables present estimated funding information for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS ESTIMATE

The 1996 life-cycle estimate of $4.0 billion for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant represents a 54 percent decrease from the 1995 estimate of $8.7 billion.

The FY 1995 Baseline Environmental Management Report used an estimate for the decommissioning of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant that Ebasco Corporation prepared in 1991 for the Department of Energy. That estimate was for "clean closure" of the site. This included removing everything from the buildings, treating the contents at major support facilities (low- and high-assay decontamination facilities) and disposing of the waste offsite. The new estimate assumes that much of the metal in the buildings and process equipment will be recycled, and that waste will be disposed onsite. These assumptions significantly reduce the cost and schedule for decommissioning the facilities. The scope of the Environmental Restoration program now includes program management.

A major difference between the FY 1995 Baseline Environmental Management Report and this report is the period of time between the end of operations and the start of the decommissioning activities. The FY 1995 estimate assumed that there would be several decades of landlord activities and surveillance and monitoring before the funds became available for decommissioning. In this estimate, that duration is only two years. This change in schedule greatly reduces the costs for maintenance activities at the site.