Oak Ridge K-25

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The Oak Ridge K-25 Site occupies 600 hectares (1,500 acres) within the Oak Ridge Reservation adjacent to the Clinch River, approximately 21 kilometers (13 miles) west of downtown Oak Ridge, Tennessee. To view the Locality Map for the K-25 Site, see the Oak Ridge Associated Universities site summary.

Estimated Site Total

(Thousands of Current Year Dollars)
	FY 1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Environmental Restoration	107,656	98,221	412,510	425,822	440,369	Grey shaded area reflects annual cost estimates for the first five years of the site BEMR Base Case (as of October 1995) and includes 3% annual inflation, see Readers' Guide.
Waste Management	69,598	69,544	95,016	101,239	108,617
Directly Appropriated Landlord	17,969	17,953	21,691	21,649	32,690
Total	195,223	185,717	529,217	548,710	581,676
1996 Appropriation	177,699			These levels reflect the current estimates for compliance with applicable statutes and agreements (as of March 1996), see Readers' Guide.
1997 Congressional Request		131,275
(Five-Year Averages, Thousands of Constant 1996 Dollars)
	FY 1996-2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	2025	2030
Environmental Restoration	274,559	352,454	75,687	19,883	18,829	55,683	39,690
Waste Management	83,166	72,376	58,487	60,057	56,129	8,013
Directly Appropriated Landlord	20,940	28,221	27,242	27,242	27,242	27,242	27,242
Total	378,666	453,051	161,416	107,182	102,199	90,937	66,932
	FY 2035	2040	2045	2050	2055	2060	2065	Life Cycle*
Environmental Restoration	36,782	15,329	4,222					4,465,584
Waste Management								1,691,141
Directly Appropriated Landlord	20,254	13,503	6,751					1,129,395
Total	57,036	28,832	10,973					7,286,120
* Total Life Cycle is the sum of the annual costs in constant FY 1996 dollars.

FACILITY MISSION

The K-25 plant was built as part of the Manhattan Project during World War II to supply enriched uranium for nuclear weapons production. Construction of the K-25 Site started in 1943 with the K-25 Building, the first diffusion facility for large-scale separation of uranium-235. The K-25 Building was fully operable by August 1945. Additional buildings involved in the enrichment process were operable by 1956. Through 1964, the site was used primarily for the production of highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons. In response to the national postwar emphasis on nuclear power, plant operations were modified to include the production of uranium compatible with reactors used to generate electric power. From 1959 to 1969, the focus shifted to the production of commercial-grade, low-enrichment uranium. Because of the declining demand for enriched uranium, the enrichment process was placed on standby in 1985 and shut down permanently in 1987. The site was also a host for centrifuge facilities constructed as part of a program to develop and demonstrate uranium-enrichment technology. These facilities have also been shut down.

The current multipurpose mission of the K-25 Site includes environmental restoration, waste management, technology development and demonstration, education and training, and technology transfer for the Department of Energy, other agencies, and the public through innovative leadership and cost-effective management. In support of this mission, the K-25 Site was designated the Center for Environmental Technology and the Center for Waste Management in May 1993. The pursuit and planning for industrial reuse of the site by parties other than the Department of Energy has become an important mission at the site.

Waste management facilities are operated onsite to treat or store waste generated by ongoing operations at K-25 and other sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation, including waste from environmental cleanup. Waste is also prepared for transfer offsite for treatment or disposal. The most notable facility at the K-25 Site is the incinerator built to comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act. It is the world's only operating, permitted mixed waste incinerator. The site conducts waste management according to the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Department of Energy Orders, and other federal and state laws.

A primary mission of the K-25 Site is to carry out ongoing environmental remediation activities so that the site can be reused. Activities are continuing to assess the condition and contamination of K-25 Site areas and facilities and to decide how contamination can be contained or cleaned up. Containment and cleanup are progressing as funding becomes available according to priorities set by evaluations of risk to the public and the environment. Placement of the former gaseous diffusion facilities in a safe shutdown condition has allowed a shift to full-scale decommissioning of some structures. Initial decommissioning has focused on demolition of cooling towers and a large powerhouse structure. The K-25 Site has been placed on the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List as a part of the Oak Ridge Reservation. A Federal Facilities Agreement signed by the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency Region IV, and the State of Tennessee provides a framework for environmental restoration.

The estimate for decommissioning the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Facilities in this report takes into account an approach for recycling process equipment and other radioactive metals into usable products and onsite disposal of low-level and mixed radiological waste. Although this estimate is still preliminary, and not yet in the environmental restoration life-cycle baseline, it adopts a much simpler and less restrictive approach for dealing with these radiologically contaminated facilities. To take advantage of the need for the usable products that are expected to be produced in this scenario, this estimate assumes that the work can begin as early as FY 1998.

The K-25 Site currently has no Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization program activity. It is an Environmental Management program site with stabilization work (for example, uranium deposit removal) described in a later decommissioning section. This estimate assumes that the Environmental Management program will remain the landlord at the site for the life cycle of this estimate.

FUTURE USE

The Department of Energy has been using the Common Ground Process to make strategic plans regarding the ultimate future use of the Oak Ridge Reservation and the K-25 Site. It is a stakeholder-driven process to determine preferred land-use options for the Oak Ridge Reservation so that cleanup operations can be based on the most likely and acceptable land uses. The land uses recommended by the Department of Energy as a result of the Common Ground Process are used for planning facility use and reuse for the next 25 years. The Department of Energy will revise land-use plans at the Oak Ridge Reservation regularly to reflect recommended changes and new information.

The land-use assumptions discussed reflect established agreements (that is, approved by Feasibility Studies and Records of Decisions) reached with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy. Land-use recommendations are based on the decisions reached by the Department, using input from the Common Ground report, which included recommendations to consider a range of feasible future land-use options; identify national needs and goals, evaluate the opportunities and constraints of alternative uses; take into account legal, physical, socioeconomic, technological, and cost considerations; and consider the perspectives of the Department of Energy and all interested parties.

For the next 25 years, the land use for most of the K-25 Site is proposed as Industrial, with restricted access. This category was chosen because the infrastructure and proximity to utilities and transportation of the K-25 Site are expected to attract industry to the site. Because the K-25 Site no longer has a national mission, industrial reuse of this site will contribute to the development of future economic opportunities for this region. This estimate assumes that long-term (greater than 25 years) uses of the K-25 Site will remain Industrial. See the Future Use Map located in the Oak Ridge Associated Universities site summary.

The Department of Energy is investigating the reuse of the gaseous diffusion process buildings. However, the decommissioning estimate in this report assumes that all gaseous diffusion process buildings will eventually be removed to grade. The site landscape will be significantly changed, with low disposal mounds 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 will undergo closure and will be under long-term monitoring by the Department of Energy. Other facilities (for example, centrifuge facilities) will be reused for other Industrial activities consistent with the stakeholders' land-use decision for the site.

The Department of Energy will maintain control of approximately 20 hectares (50 acres) of the waste disposal areas indefinitely. These areas, which were used for subsurface disposal of classified material from the gaseous diffusion and centrifuge processes, will retain access controls appropriate for the classification levels of the buried materials.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

Most of the K-25 Site's process facilities were constructed in the 1940s and 1950s. The waste that was generated at the time, as well as much of the construction material, process fluids, and auxiliary materials used in the gaseous diffusion process, are now considered hazardous and are regulated under today's standards. Most past operations generated plating waste, waste solutions, trash contaminated with radioactivity, debris, and other materials capable of polluting the environment. Environmental pollution resulted from accidental leaks, spills, and discharges of radionuclides or chemicals into the environment. It also resulted from the migration or deposition of contaminants from the K-25 Site during gaseous diffusion operations or from storage and burial grounds once deemed acceptable under standards in existence at that time.

These facilities currently shutdown at the K-25 Site contain large quantities of asbestos; oils; and equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls, coolants, lubricating oils, and radioactive materials. The Department will manage these materials in place until they can be removed and treated, stored, or disposed. In many of the facilities, contamination has become fixed on equipment and structures, and these must be handled as hazardous or low-level radioactive waste. The facilities also hold special nuclear material, residual radionuclides (mainly uranium), and classified hardware and materials to be managed in place until appropriately dispositioned. Waste liquids in the shutdown K-25 facilities have been removed.

Remedial action is addressing contamination in soils, ground water, surface waters, and old waste sites. Unless there is an immediate threat to the environment, safety, and/or health, these contaminants will be managed in place until remediation can be completed. After remediation, the site will still require institutional controls. Some areas, such as old waste disposal grounds, will not be available for other uses in the future. This report assumes that other areas will be used for Industrial purposes in the future.

Operable units consisting of solid waste management units have been identified for environmental restoration at the K-25 Site. Most operable units will proceed through the formal remediation process of a remedial investigation, feasibility study, remedial design, remedial action, and verification. Some units may encompass areas requiring interim actions as new information becomes available.

Pollution control activities are managed under the surveillance and maintenance programs for both decommissioning facilities and remedial action facilities. These programs monitor and control releases from managed environmental restoration sites to prevent further pollution of the environment.

Remedial action activities are discussed under Main Plant, External Plant Area, and Ground Water sections. This report assumes that, in the area surrounding the gaseous diffusion facilities, the program will also perform remedial action activities for the soil, support structures, and utilities around the large process buildings. This area is known as the Process Plant Area. The Pond Waste Management Project is defined as a distinct remedial activity and is discussed separately. Surveillance and maintenance of remedial action sites is a combined activity for the entire plant and is also discussed separately. Decommissioning activities include all projects managed under that program, including surveillance and maintenance of facilities in the decommissioning program. Remedial action activities are specific to separate areas of the plant, whereas decommissioning and surveillance and maintenance activities pertain to the entire plant site.

Although the Environmental Restoration program's primary mission is to remediate contaminated sites and decommission facilities, it may also be responsible for some of the associated costs for treatment, storage, and disposal for some of its activities. To manage the waste associated with environmental restoration activities, onsite and commercial options are evaluated. Evaluations are based on the activities conducted and the risk associated with those activities, and the cost of onsite versus commercial capability. In performing these option evaluations, the Environmental Restoration program, with the support of the Waste Management program, prepares waste management plans, and develops project specifications and waste management documentation.

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. Because offsite treatment, storage, and disposal costs can appear in either Environmental Restoration or Waste Management program estimates, each of the area discussions below will identify the organization responsible for associated costs.

Major Environmental Restoration Activity Milestones

TASK	COMPLETION DATE Fiscal Year
Main Plant Area
Assessment	2035
Remedial Action	2045
External Plant Area
Assessment	2025
Remedial Action	2045
Process Plant Area
Assessment	2030
Remedial Action	2045
Pond Waste Management Project
Remedial Action	2001
Ground Water
Assessment	2040
Remedial Action	2045
Decommissioning Area Actions
Assessment	2005
Facility Decommissioning	2040
Long-Term Surveillance and Monitoring	2045

Main Plant Area

The Main Plant area includes the Main Plant laboratory at the K-25 Site, centrifuge enrichment facilities, administrative areas, several ponds, waste accumulation areas, cooling towers, acid pits, and burial grounds. The area is contaminated with a variety of hazardous and mixed waste resulting from operations at the gaseous diffusion facilities and laboratories in the Main Plant. Major remedial action projects in the Main Plant are the K­1407 B and C Ponds, the K­1070 C/D Burial Grounds, and the SW­31 Seep.

ASSESSMENT

The K­1407 B and C Ponds were assessed under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act closure process. Pond closure was completed in FY 1995 under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; however, remaining assessment activities include post-closure monitoring primarily for volatile organic compounds and technetium-99. This estimate assumes that these activities will be completed by FY 2001. The ground-water operable unit is addressing ground-water assessment (SW-31 Seep).

The K­1070 C/D Burial Grounds are being assessed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study process. Remedial Investigation activities were completed prior to FY 1995. These included sampling of soil, surface water, sediment, and ground water and the installation of unconsolidated zone and bedrock zone ground-water monitoring wells. Results of the Remedial Investigation indicated contamination due to organics and radionuclides in soil and ground water. Removal actions are planned to address two specific areas of contamination within the unit: (1) radiological contamination (principally uranium and technetium) and organic contamination (including chlorinated solvents, hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls) surrounding the Concrete Pad; and (2) organic contamination (primarily chlorinated solvents) migrating from the G-Pit. The draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study report has been submitted to

the regulators for review, and completion is anticipated in FY 1996. This report assumes that assessments for the K-1070 C/D Operable Unit will be completed by FY 2004.

The K-1004-J Vaults Remedial Site Evaluation assessed direct radiation exposure due to residual radiological contamination beneath the building floor and within the shallow vaults. No near-term remedial actions are assumed to be required in this estimate. However, this report assumes that removal of some hazardous soil and debris will be required in the long-term future. This estimate assumes that all assessments for the Main Plan Area will be completed by FY 2035.

Future assessments will include investigations of tanks, other small contaminated units, and containment structures in locations with larger areas of contamination. This estimate assumes that all assessments for the Main Plant Area will be completed by FY 2035.

REMEDIAL ACTION

The K­1407 B and C Ponds are currently undergoing post-closure activities. Operation of the K­1407 area has been transferred to the Inactive Waste Sites Surveillance and Maintenance program, which will post the former ponds as underground radioactive contamination areas. This report assumes that remedial actions for the K-1407 B and C Ponds will be completed by FY 1996.

Removal actions are currently being considered for the G-Pit and Concrete Pad portions of the K­1070 C/D Burial Grounds. Removal of the Concrete Pad is planned to include concrete and contaminated soil, which will be disposed of offsite. Remedial action for the G-Pit is planned to include in situ vitrification of waste within the pit and secondary contaminated soil source surrounding the pit. Development of a proposed plan and Record of Decision for the operable unit will begin in FY 1996 and remedial design/remedial action procurement activities will begin in FY 1997. Deliverables will be part of the Federal Facilities Agreement prioritization for each year. The assumed remedial action for the remaining trenches and pits is capping, ground-water monitoring, and institutional controls. This estimate assumes that remedial actions will be completed by FY 2030. This estimate also assumes that any solid waste from the K-1070 C/D Burial Grounds will be shipped offsite for commercial treatment and disposal. The associated costs for this activity are included within the scope of remedial action.

Construction of a contaminated ground-water intercept and truck loading station at the SW­31 Seep was completed in FY 1994 as an interim remedial measure under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. Ground water contaminated primarily with chlorinated solvents discharges at the SW-31 Seep at a rate of approximately 18,950 liters (5,000 gallons) per day. A Remedial Action Report will be prepared as part of the Federal Facilities Agreement prioritization. Operation of the intercept, including interim collection, transport, and treatment of approximately 18,950 liters (5,000 gallons) per day, will continue. Construction of the Central Neutralization Facility upgrades will be completed in FY 1996 for treatment of the collected ground water.

Other future remedial actions will include removal of tanks, other smaller contaminated units, and containment structures in locations with larger areas of contamination. This estimate assumes that all remedial actions for the Main Plant Area will be completed by FY 2045.

This report assumes that approximately 375 cubic meters (491 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste (mostly soil) and 5 cubic meters (6.6 cubic yards) of hazardous solid waste generated by remedial actions at the Main Plant Area will be left in place. The remaining quantities of waste generated by remedial actions will be transferred to the K-25 Site Waste Management program. These include 1,304 cubic meters (1,708 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste (mostly soil), 485 cubic meters (635 cubic yards) of low-level mixed liquids/wastewater, 8 cubic meters (10.5 cubic yards) of solid hazardous waste, 10 cubic meters (13.1 cubic yards) of liquid hazardous waste, and 38 cubic meters (49.8 cubic yards) of sanitary waste.

External Plant Area

The external plant area includes two operable units west of the K-25 Site and outside the perimeter fence. The K-901 Operable Unit contains the following release units: a burial ground, a landfarm, the north disposal area, the south disposal area, and a holding pond. The K-770 Operable Unit contains the following release sites: the beryllium building, contaminated debris, the scrap-metal yard, a switchyard, the property sales building, sludge beds and Imhoff tanks, and the storage building for waste regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The coal and bottom-ash pile listed as an early action is also present. Five study areas have single release sites; one study area has three release sites.

ASSESSMENT

Focused Remedial Investigations continued in FY 1995 for the K­901 Holding Pond and the K­1070­A Burial Ground. A Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study process is addressing the two focus sites in accordance with the Oak Ridge Federal Facilities Agreement. A screening-level risk evaluation has been drafted for the K­901 Holding Pond and is under review by the regulators. The Remedial Site Evaluation for the K-901-A holding pond assessed existing data and results of surface-water, sediment, and ecological toxicity testing to screen human health and ecological risks. The results of the Remedial Site Evaluation concluded that the holding pond currently poses unacceptable risks to human and ecological receptors, primarily because of polychlorinated biphenyls in fish. Additional Remedial Investigation activities are planned in FY 1996 for the K-901­A holding pond and a related K-1007-P Pond. This estimate assumes that characterization activities will include testing surface water, sediment, and ecological samples.

In FY 1995, the re-evaluation of data quality objectives for the K­1070­A Burial Grounds changed the course of the investigation. Because of the presence of large voids in the karstic bedrock beneath the site, the focus of the investigation shifted from ground-water control to source control. The focused Remedial Investigation of the K-1070-A Burial Ground collected soil, ecological, and ground-water samples, installed unconsolidated zone and bedrock zone ground-water monitoring wells, and completed geological characterization (for example, microgravity) data. Additional Remedial Investigation activities planned for FY 1996 include a dye tracer study and additional source-term sampling of trench leachate, soil, and ground water. Preliminary results confirm contamination in soil and ground water due to organics, metals, and radionuclides. A focused Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study report will be produced in late FY 1996 summarizing the results of the focused investigation, apparent risks, and alternative remedial actions for source control. The deliverables will be part of the Federal Facilities Agreement prioritized activities. This report assumes that assessments for the K-1070-A Operable Unit will be completed by FY 1997.

Remedial Investigations for the remaining areas within the K­901 Operable Unit and for areas within the K-770 Operable Unit are scheduled after FY 2000. Former disposal areas within the K-901 Operable Unit will be investigated in addition to the nature and extent of ground water contaminated with volatile organic compounds. The K-770 Remedial Investigation will target soils in the former scrap yard and powerhouse area contaminated primarily with radionuclides and metals. However, this estimate assumes that all assessments for the K-901 Operable Unit and the K-770 Operable Unit will be completed in FY 2025 and FY 2015, respectively.

The K-25 Site Contractor Spoil Area Remedial Site Evaluation reviewed waste inventory records and results of ground-water seep analyses to check for potential contamination. The results of the Remedial Site Evaluation concluded that contamination is not observed and No Further Action is planned.

Future assessments will include investigations of the K-1515-F Land Treatment Study Area; the Area 8 Study Area; the K-1085 Firehouse Study Area; K-1099 Blair Quarry Study Area; the Flannigan's Loop Study Area; the K-1654-A Waste Tank Study Area; and the K-725 Beryllium Building Removal. This report assumes that assessments for these areas will be completed by FY 2003.

This report assumes that all assessment activities for the External Plant Areas will be completed by FY 2025.

REMEDIAL ACTION

Based on results of the draft screening risk evaluation for the K­901-A Holding Pond, remedial actions are being planned for near-term protection of human and ecological receptors from ingestion of fish contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and from contact with contaminated sediment. The assumed remedial action for the holding pond is to place a geotextile fabric over the contaminated sediments, install a fence, and replace the fish population with uncontaminated individuals. Alternative removal actions will be assessed in an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for the pond. This estimate assumes that some source control will be required involving the removal of both hazardous waste and low-level mixed waste, and it will be complete in FY 1996.

This report assumes that the Department will initiate remedial actions such as containment or in-place treatment for the K­1070­A Burial Grounds to address near-term risks. Stakeholders have not considered specific actions at this time. Long-term remedial actions will be considered following completion of the full Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study for the K­901 Operable Unit. However, for the purpose of this estimate, remedial actions at the K-901 Operable Unit will be completed by FY 2045.

Remedial action assumptions for the K-770 Operable Unit are No Further Action for the contaminated debris and Imhoff Tanks. A plastic geomembrane will be placed over the contaminated soils in the K-770 Scrap Yard, covering a pile of soil 15 feet high and one acre in extent. For the K-709 Switchyard, polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soils will be excavated to a depth of about 3 meters (ten feet). This estimate assumes that remedial actions at the K-770 Operable Unit will be completed by FY 2025.

These activities will involve coordination with the Waste Management program, particularly if source control for the K­1070-A Burial Grounds includes excavation with offsite disposal of the waste, and the K-709 Switchyard remedial action includes excavation of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soils, as assumed in this estimate. This report assumes that any solid waste will be shipped offsite for commercial treatment and disposal.

This report assumes that all remedial action activities for the External Plant Area will be completed by FY 2045.

This report assumes that approximately 91 cubic meters (119 cubic yards) of low-level mixed radioactive soil and 44 cubic meters (57.6 cubic yards) of hazardous waste soil generated by remedial actions at the External Plant Area will be left in place. The remaining quantities of waste generated by remedial actions will be transferred to the K-25 Site Waste Management program. These include approximately 238 cubic meters (312 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste, 300 cubic meters (393 cubic yards) of low-level mixed liquids/wastewater, 6 cubic meters (7.9 cubic yards) of solid low-level radioactive waste, 9 cubic meters (11.8 cubic yards) of liquid low-level radioactive waste, 622 cubic meters (815 cubic yards) of solid hazardous waste (mostly soil), 229 cubic meters (300 cubic yards) of liquid hazardous waste, and 61 cubic meters (80 cubic yards) of sanitary waste.

Process Plant Area

While the K-25 Site Environmental Restoration program performs decommissioning of the plant facilities, it will also investigate and clean up the contaminated areas, utilities, and small support structures around the facilities such as tanks, spill sites, and underground piping, which comprise the Process Plant Area.

ASSESSMENT

This report assumes that investigation of the areas will follow the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act with the required Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study and Record of Decision. This report assumes that these assessments will be completed in FY 2030. Assessments to date have been very limited. This area is under the overall ground-water monitoring program.

REMEDIAL ACTION

Because contamination in this area is assumed to be minimal, the anticipated remedial approach will include leaving contamination in place and covering the area with a wide area cap, or including it as a part of the decommissioning rubble caps. In addition, this report anticipates that most of the underground utilities will be grouted and that some tanks will be removed. This estimate assumes that there will be some soil consolidation under the cap and that some contaminated soil will be sent to the K-25 Site Waste Management program. It also assumes that all remedial action activities at the Process Plant Area will be completed by FY 2045.

This report assumes that approximately 96 cubic meters (126 cubic yards) of hazardous soil generated by remedial actions will be left in place. The remaining quantities of waste generated by remedial actions will be transferred to the K-25 Site Waste Management program. These include approximately 50 cubic meters (65.5 cubic yards) of hazardous waste, 322 cubic meters (422 cubic yards) of low-level mixed radioactive soil, 106 cubic meters (139 cubic yards) of hazardous sludges, 437 cubic meters (572 cubic yards) of hazardous paper/cloth, 570 cubic meters (747 cubic yards) of hazardous liquids/wastewaters, 6 cubic meters (7.9 cubic yards) of low-level mixed sludge, 23 cubic meters (30.1 cubic yards) of low-level mixed paper/cloth and 94 cubic meters (123 cubic yards) of low-level mixed liquids and wastewater, and 156 cubic meters (204 cubic meters) of sanitary waste.

Pond Waste Management Project

This project includes dewatering, repacking, and disposing of more than 70,000 drums of partially solidified and raw sludge stored on external pads at the K-25 Site (the K­1417 Concrete Block Casting and Storage Yard and the K­1419 Sludge Fixation Facility). It also includes cleanup of the associated facilities.

REMEDIAL ACTION

The assessment of the drum contents (both solidified and raw sludge) was completed prior to FY 1995 and indicated contamination by metals, organics, and radionuclides in the containerized sludge. Future assessment activities are planned only in conjunction with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act closure of the pad and equipment. This report assumes that these assessments will include radiological surveys of the asphalt pad, radiological statistical sampling of metal components for potential release of the equipment, and soil sampling beneath the pad once it is removed. Data assessments have been used to support storage, offsite treatment, and ultimate disposal of the waste. Assessment of soil contamination remaining at the facilities following removal of the asphalt pad will be done under future Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act action.

Remediation of soil contamination around the K­1417 and K­1419 facilities is deferred to future Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act action. The K­1417 and K­1419 facilities will not be released for future use until decommissioning is complete and soil contamination is assessed. This estimate assumes No Further Action will be needed. This report also assumes that remedial actions for the Pond Waste Management Project will be completed by FY 2001.

Crushed drums remaining from the repackaging process will be transported to a commercial vendor, Scientific Ecology Group in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for smelting. The solidified waste is currently stored in drums inside various K­25 buildings and is being shipped to commercial disposal facilities at Envirocare of Utah.

The raw sludge is currently stored in containers in the K­1065 Building. During FY 1995, waste sludges from the Pond Waste Management Project were repackaged into polymer bulk storage containers and transported from the process plant area for temporary compliant storage within the K­1065 buildings. A subcontract for offsite treatment and disposal of the raw sludge has been procured. The subcontractors' proof-of-process for treatment of the raw sludge was completed in FY 1995. Shipment of the drums offsite for treatment and disposal is scheduled to begin in FY 1996. The State of Tennessee Commissioner's Order implementing the requirements of the Federal Facilities

Compliance Agreement drives the schedules for completion of treatment and disposal of this waste. These activities will involve coordination with the Waste Management program.

This report assumes that approximately 3,664 cubic meters (4,800 cubic yards) of low-level radioactive media generated by remedial actions will be disposed of offsite by the Environmental Restoration program (including the crushed drums). The remaining waste generated by remedial actions will be transferred to the K-25 Site Waste Management program. These include approximately 124 cubic meters (162 cubic yards) of solid low-level radioactive waste and 136 cubic meters (178 cubic yards) of low-level radioactive mixed wastewaters.

Ground Water

Ground water at the K-25 Site is treated as one operable unit. Broad characterization activities of the geology and hydrogeology are used to establish a baseline to support risk ranking and identification of contamination sources.

ASSESSMENT

The ground-water program is in the process of establishing a site-wide baseline for future assessments. The sampling of several monitoring wells is required by state and federal regulators under underground storage tank regulations, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act post-closure monitoring, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. In FY 1995, two rounds of sampling were conducted on over 200 wells. Analytical results from this sampling were used to reduce the list for a third sampling round, which is now completed. Data quality objectives established prior to the initiation of the monitoring program are suitable for performing screening-level human health risk assessments.

In addition to sampling, water level measurements are in progress to assist in assessing the hydrogeologic connection between the ground-water systems (unconsolidated and bedrock zones), surface infiltration, and river influences. Slug tests were completed for evaluating hydrogeologic properties of the ground-water system. Microgravity surveys of several potential karst areas were completed. The U.S. Geological Survey completed the second portion of a spring and seep survey of the site.

Historical ground-water data for the years 1985 to 1993 were entered into the Oak Ridge Environmental Information System. Annual ground-water monitoring progress reports are prepared for submittal to the regulatory agencies. No other Federal Facilities Agreement milestones have been established. This report assumes that assessments for the Ground-Water Operable Unit will be completed by FY 2040.

The current assessment approach includes using the results and data collected during the Ground-Water Remedial Site Evaluation to develop a K-25 Site site-wide Record of Decision for remedial action requirements and priorities. This approach would eliminate the need for many of the further investigations and assessments that are included in this estimate. However, the costs associated with this approach are not included in this estimate.

REMEDIAL ACTION

This estimate assumes that the Department will conduct a two-phase Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. Ground water is not currently used as a source of drinking water; therefore, future ground-water use assumptions have not yet been established. A minimum level of cleanup may be considered appropriate for the next 25 years to control the release of contaminants and to prevent contaminated ground-water plumes from expanding. These activities could include pumping and treating water or capping sources of contamination. Appropriate monitoring will be conducted to ensure that offsite migration of contaminants does not occur. This estimate assumes that ground-water monitoring will continue until FY 2045.

This report assumes that over 456,000 cubic meters (597,360 cubic yards) of hazardous waste and 488,000 cubic meters (639,280 cubic yards) of low-level mixed radioactive ground water will be treated by the Environmental Restoration program.

Decommissioning

The K-25 Facilities Decommissioning program comprises surveillance and maintenance activities and decommissioning projects at the K-25 Site. Surveillance and maintenance activities include performing periodic building/facility inspections and correcting identified deficiencies that would otherwise result in an insult to the environment, jeopardize the public and/or site's health and safety, or adversely affect national security through the loss of classified technology or special nuclear material. Surveillance and maintenance activities encompass 1.2 million square meters (13 million square feet) in 82 facilities at the K-25 Site. Decommissioning includes projects to remove hazards left in the gaseous diffusion facilities at shutdown, ensuring the protection of worker health and safety, regulatory compliance, and demolition or preparation for reuse of facilities. The Department is conducting all decommissioning activities at the K-25 Site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act regulatory process. All deliverables will be part of Federal Facilities Agreement prioritization.

Projects included in this activity include uranium hexafluoride cylinders inspection and integrity assessment, uranium deposit removal, planning for the cleanup of several site areas, safety documentation updates, and surplus material management. The Department is using task order contracting and special integrated project management teams to implement key projects.

ASSESSMENT

In FY 1996, overall assessment of the demolition of auxiliary buildings will involve an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis and an action memorandum under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The K-1410 Plating Facility Remedial Site Evaluation provided assessment of existing radiological data for the building and grounds and the results of shallow soil analyses to screen human health risks. The results of the Remedial Site Evaluation concluded that current direct radiation exposure levels posed an unacceptable risk to onsite workers. To address this conclusion, a removal action is planned under the Decommissioning program.

Also in FY 1996, the K­1131 Feed and Withdrawal Building, the K­1410 Plating Facility, the K-725 Beryllium Building, and the K-724 Warehouse Building will be addressed under a separate Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis and associated action memorandum. Demolition of these building superstructures is planned for FY 1997

and beyond. Remediation of subgrade contamination will be addressed on a site-wide basis under a site-wide Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study. Deliverables will be part of Federal Facilities Agreement prioritization.

Assessment of the K­31 Roof is complete. Award of a demolition subcontract for the roof replacement was completed in FY 1995.

DECOMMISSIONING

Stabilization activities for decommissioning facilities include, but are not limited to, deactivation of surplus facilities to bring them to a safe shutdown condition to allow minimal surveillance and maintenance. Stabilization activities may include limited demolition of internal structures and management and disposition of surplus materials to reduce hazards. Uranium deposits with criticality concerns are being removed from process equipment and piping. In FY 1996, work will be completed on pipe sections in the K­25 Building. Uranium removal will continue through FY 1999. All costs associated with the stabilization of facilities are included within the facility decommissioning line item.

The estimate for the decommissioning of the gaseous diffusion facilities has recently been reevaluated using several different scenarios. 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 in a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act disposal unit. The schedule for the decommissioning assumes that there will be two years of planning in FY 1996 and FY 1997 and that the removal of the major components will begin in FY 1998.

The regulatory strategy for the decommissioning is based on the May 22, 1995 joint Department of Energy-Environmental Protection Agency Policy on decommissioning under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The policy provided guidance that indicated a preferred method for conducting decommissioning and decontamination actions at the Department of Energy sites, namely that decommissioning and decontamination activities would be conducted as nontime-critical removal actions with the associated Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis and Action Memorandums prepared to document the decisions. As 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. This process also provides for 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 also are exempt from permits. With regard to decommissioning, this means that permits would not be required for air emissions, wastewater discharges, or similar activities. Instead, the substantive portions of the laws governing these resources would be applicable, and lengthy permit reviews and approval requirements would not delay the removal process.

The first major phase of decommissioning will be removing 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 the work 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. This estimate assumes that all decommissioning activities for the gaseous diffusion facilities will be completed in FY 2006 and that all remaining decommissioning activities, including the centrifuge buildings, will be completed by FY 2040.

Following the removal of the equipment, the Department will remove loose contamination from internal structural 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, with all sludges disposed of in the onsite disposal cell.

This estimate assumes that all of the gaseous diffusion process buildings will be demolished to show a complete decommissioning cost to the Department of Energy. However, the Department is pursuing Industrial reuse of the facilities and has not made final decisions as to which facilities, if any, will remain and which will be demolished. The K-31 and K-33 Buildings are assumed to have equipment removed, but their structures will remain until they are no longer needed to support Environmental Management activities, and then they will be demolished. Buildings K-1401 and K-1423, the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator, the Central Neutralization Facility, the K-1515 Water Plant, the K-1203 Sewage Plant, the K-802 Fire Water Supply System, and the K-731 Substation, along with their distribution systems, will remain for Industrial reuse or ongoing program functions.

Buildings constructed with transite siding will require removal of asbestos-containing material prior to structural demolition. This report assumes that the transite siding and other building materials will be properly wrapped and placed in the K-25 or K-27 vaults, as appropriate, prior to demolition of the above-grade structure.

Nonprocess buildings, buildings that contain nonradiologically contaminated equipment, and process buildings can be demolished by conventional means (that is, heavy equipment such as wrecking balls). In most cases, segregation of structural steel for recycle will take place during demolition or from demolition rubble using heavy equipment. Demolition rubble will be used for in-place backfill in cavities and/or 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.

Metal materials removed from the buildings, including structural steel removed during building demolition, will be transported 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 back to K-25 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 attractive. If generation of containers/products from the recycling process exceeds the short-term demand, the excess inventory will be returned to the plant and managed until needed.

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. 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.

Decommissioning projects to be completed in the near future include the cooling towers demolition, the powerhouse demolition, and the K-31 Roof Replacement.

The superstructures of six cooling towers have been demolished. In addition to the wood and incidental metals (such as bolts, nails, and brackets), other materials in the superstructures (process and sprinkler piping, asbestos-containing Munters fill and transite siding, fan shrouds and blades, electrical conduit, and gearboxes) were removed. The wood, incidental metals, and materials that contain asbestos will be disposed of in the Y-12 Plant Landfill, and the remaining metal components will be segregated and transferred to the K-770 Scrap Metal program for recycle.

Approximately 1,500 cubic meters (1,965 cubic yards) of the sediment contained in the tower basins will be removed for disposal. The sediment will be dewatered, solids containerized and transported to Envirocare of Utah for disposal, and about 4.5 million liters (1.2 million gallons) of water will be treated at the Central Neutralization Facility at the K-25 Site. The above-ground concrete basins of towers D-892-G and K-892-H will be cleaned, demolished, left in place, and covered with soil and vegetation. The K-892-J basin will be cleaned, filled with construction rubble, and covered with soil and vegetation. A portion of the west wall of the center basin between the G and H towers will remain as the east wall of K-892 Pumphouse, which the K-25 Site will continue to use. The inground basins of towers K-861 and K-861-J will remain in place and will be cleaned and used as earthen fill areas. Tower K-1004-N has no separate concrete basin. A total of 29 facilities associated with the six cooling towers will be demolished. The cooling tower superstructures were demolished in FY 1995. The cooling tower basin sludge removal and demolition of 29 related structures will continue in FY 1996, with completion scheduled in FY 2000.

The Powerhouse Area encompasses approximately 16 hectares (40 acres) of land located along the Clinch River within the K-770 Operable Unit. These facilities comprise the main power production facilities built by the Manhattan Project in 1944. In the Powerhouse Area, 14 structures will be demolished. The power production equipment was housed in the K-701, K-702, and K-703 facilities, which are physically connected to one another. Separate from the three main facilities are the K-705-A and -B and K-706 Water Intake and Pumping Facilities and the K-707 Switch House. This large structure was used until 1994 to supply power to the other facilities at the site. All other facilities included in this project are small auxiliary support structures. Each of the facilities included in this project, with the exception of K-707, has been stripped of most equipment, leaving only the basic building structures. This project was initiated to address those facilities in the area that, on the basis of process knowledge, are not believed to have housed processes that involved radiological materials and are believed to have minimal radioactive surface contamination. Radiological surveys will be used to verify this assumption. Building K-702 is the only facility where extensive amounts of stored materials have been found. All materials stored in this facility were removed and surveyed. Ten of the 14 structures were demolished in FY 1995. The Powerhouse Area Project will be completed in FY 1997.

Water damage has caused the K-31 Roof to deteriorate. This project will repair and/or replace various sections of the existing seven-hectare (17-acre) roof. Only sections of the roof that cannot be repaired will be removed and replaced. Sections of the roof that can be salvaged will have the wetted roofing materials removed and the entire section over-roofed. As a result, the project will provide a new cover for the 69,750 square meters (750,000 square feet) of roof associated with the K-31 process building. The K­31 Roof will be replaced in FY 1996 and FY 1997.

The Department will initiate also decommissioning of the K-725 Beryllium Building in FY 1996. This report assumes that these actions will be conducted as nontime critical removal actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, according to the decommissioning policy approved by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency in 1995.

This report assumes that approximately 843,861 cubic meters (1.1 million cubic yards) of low-level radioactive metals and 29,535 cubic meters (38,691 cubic yards) of solid low-level waste will be generated by decommissioning activities. It is also assumed that the low-level radioactive metals will be recycled and the residuals sent to the onsite disposal cell, and that the solid low-level waste will be directly sent to the onsite disposal cell. This report also assumes that approximately 263 cubic meters (345 cubic yards) of solid hazardous waste, 8,898 cubic meters (11,656 cubic yards) of solid low-level radioactive waste, 413,627 cubic meters (541,851 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste (mostly rubble), 200 cubic meters (262 cubic yards) of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated waste, 4,742 cubic meters (6,212 cubic yards) of sanitary waste and 60 cubic meters (78.6 cubic yards) of asbestos will be left in place at the building sites.

It is also assumed that the K-25 Site Waste Management program will receive approximately 631 cubic meters (827 cubic yards) of low-level radioactive sludges, 55 cubic meters (72 cubic yards) of solid low-level radioactive waste, 12 cubic meters (15.7 cubic yards) of asbestos, 6,312 cubic meters (8,269 cubic yards) of sanitary waste, and 30 cubic meters (39.3 cubic yards) of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated waste.

Treatment, Storage, and Disposal

Low-level and mixed radiological waste from the decommissioning of the K-25 facilities will be disposed of in an engineered facility. An engineered disposal cell will be located onsite, allowing low-level waste or mixed waste generated from the recycle process to 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 used to determine the acceptability for siting the onsite disposal cell. An assessment of the risk of the onsite disposal cell will be performed as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act process. One intent of this process is to pre-qualify the waste for placement in the waste disposal cell and to identify any waste streams that are not appropriate for onsite disposal. This waste will be treated, as required, and disposed of at offsite commercial facilities or other Department of Energy facilities.

Long-Term Surveillance and Monitoring

All costs associated with long-term surveillance and monitoring are included as one line item in this estimate. Routine surveillance and monitoring of inactive waste sites prior to and following Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act remedial actions are conducted to maintain the sites in a safe condition. Accomplishments in FY 1995 included erecting fencing around contaminated areas within the K­901 Operable Unit and installing radiation signs for all fenced inactive waste sites. This report does not anticipate any Federal Facilities Agreement deliverables under this activity level, although an annual summary report of surveillance and monitoring activities will be prepared.

Long-term surveillance and monitoring of environmental management facilities is focused on controlling degradation of facilities and migrating of contaminants to limit risks to human health, the environment, and future financial liability to the Department of Energy. Routine surveillance of facilities is conducted as deemed technically necessary to identify areas of concern or deficiencies for correction prior to final decommissioning. The facilities are maintained in a condition that will contain radiological and hazardous contamination, prevent future release of hazardous materials to the environment, ensure adequate protection for the health and safety of workers, and provide safeguards and security for classified technology and special nuclear material. Facility management includes routine management of the facilities, as well as business management and site services coordination. Routine building management involves upkeep of fire protection systems, polychlorinated biphenyls-contaminated items, auxiliary support systems, alarm systems, building structures, roofs, access control, and replacement or removal of asbestos. Other activities include business management of the surveillance and monitoring program, health and safety, environmental compliance, waste management, security, fire protection, emergency management, nuclear materials control and accountability, nondestructive assay, analytical services, quality, criticality safety alarms, power, and utilities.

In FY 1995, surveillance and monitoring activities included the uranium hexafluoride cylinders; however, management of these facilities is being transferred from the Department's Environmental Management program to the Nuclear Energy program in FY 1996. Such support has also included removing combustible materials and cleaning out buildings to reduce the cost of long-term surveillance and monitoring. This estimate assumes that long-term surveillance and monitoring will be completed by FY 2045.

Environmental Restoration Activities Cost Estimate

(Five-Year Averages, Thousands of Constant 1996 Dollars)
	FY 1996-2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	2025	2030
Main Plant Area
Assessment	75	1,007	942	10,549	493	3,703	4,024
Remedial Action	2,523	681	2,033	414	11,007	2,617	349
External Plant Area
Assessment	1,372	208	121	1,276		39
Remedial Action	21			417	1,316	14,153	3,336
Process Plant Area
Assessment	145	27	46		142	15,369	4,909
Remedial Action						5	9,426
Pond Waste Management Project
Remedial Action	7,815	1,897
Ground Water
Assessment	1,240					4,555	5,619
Remedial Action
Decommissioning Area Actions
Assessment	5,778	77
Facility Decommissioning	113,275	116,360	19,617		88	11,690	10,251
Treatment, Storage and Disposal	134,929	224,882	44,976
Long-Term Surveil. and Monitoring	1,871	1,802	1,844	1,901	1,521
Direct Program Management/Support	5,514	5,514	6,106	5,326	4,262	3,552	1,776
Total	274,559	352,454	75,687	19,883	18,829	55,683	39,690
	FY 2035	2040	2045	2050	2055	2060	2065	Life Cycle*
Main Plant Area
Assessment	1,229							110,112
Remedial Action	1,859	1,398	801					118,413
External Plant Area
Assessment								15,081
Remedial Action	5,899	950	46					130,690
Process Plant Area
Assessment								103,193
Remedial Action	12,713	2,155	131					122,150
Pond Waste Management Project
Remedial Action								48,561
Ground Water
Assessment	5,910	3,333						103,285
Remedial Action		1,576	2,356					19,660
Decommissioning Area Actions
Assessment								29,273
Facility Decommissioning	7,396	5,621						1,421,489
Treatment, Storage and Disposal								2,023,938
Long-Term Surveil. and Monitoring								44,694
Direct Program Management/Support	1,776	296	888					175,045
Total	36,782	15,329	4,222					4,465,584
* Total Life Cycle is the sum of the annual costs in constant FY 1996 dollars.

Direct Program Management/Support

Program management functions provide essential administration and oversight to the environmental restoration activities at the K-25 Site. This support is aimed at ensuring proper identification, characterization, remediation and revitalization of the contaminated sites. Business management accounts for a large portion of the program management. This includes the progress tracking, contract management, facility management, and financial management (budget preparation and control) for the K-25 Site 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 K-25 Site 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."

There has been a concentrated effort to reduce program management costs. Areas of overlap of management and activities have been eliminated, and business systems that required extensive personnel hours have been replaced by electronic data bases and reporting systems.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste management activities at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site provide for operation of the Department of Energy's only permitted low-level mixed and polychlorinated biphenyl waste incinerator, consolidated storage of low-level and low-level mixed waste for the Oak Ridge Reservation, operation of onsite wastewater treatment facilities, and support activities for the above. K-25 Site waste management activities uniquely provide consolidated storage and treatment for legacy and newly generated waste from across Oak Ridge Operations. These consolidated storage and treatment activities serve Department of Energy waste generators including Defense Programs, Energy Research, Nuclear Energy, and Environmental Management (Environmental Restoration, Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization, and Waste Management programs). The objective of waste management activities at the K-25 Site is to support the ongoing missions of the waste generators. This is accomplished by maintaining and expanding current capabilities to manage waste; emphasizing safe and compliant operations; reducing legacy waste inventory; overseeing implementation of pollution prevention programs, including waste reduction; and increasing efficiency in all phases of operations. Liquid and solid waste managed at the K-25 Site include low-level, low-level mixed, hazardous, and sanitary waste.

Waste streams at the K-25 Site have been prioritized, considering risk of continued management, availability of treatment technology and capability, volume of waste in storage, volume of waste generated annually, and, more generally, the ability to show tangible progress in meeting the objectives of the Federal Facility Compliance Act. In general order of priority, the wastestreams at the K-25 Site are (1) mixed waste liquids to be treated in the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator; (2) combustible solids also to be treated in the Incinerator; (3) compressed gases; (4) aqueous liquids to be treated in existing facilities; (5) unstabilized Pond Waste Management Project sludges; (6) waste covered under existing treatment variances (that is, toxicity-characteristic waste); and (7) Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator residues. Remaining wastestreams, including contact- and remote-handled transuranic solids, inorganic solids and debris, no-radioactivity-added waste, and other waste targeted for treatment via the broad spectrum procurement and the transportable vitrification system, were assigned lower priorities and are not rank-ordered.

In recognition of its commitment to pollution prevention, the Oak Ridge Operations is piloting a charge-back program where generators are assessed fees based on type and quantity of waste generated. The funds accrued through the fee system will be set aside and made available for the implementation of waste minimization and pollution prevention projects. This incentive will allow sites to pinpoint the major sources of waste generation and will focus attention and resources to minimize future waste generation and associated costs.

A revised cost estimate for decommissioning the three gaseous diffusion facilities, including the K-25 Site, was issued in November 1995. The revised cost estimate assumes large-scale metal recycling, rather than disposal, and the construction of a low-level waste disposal cell on the Oak Ridge Reservation. These two facets eliminate a large portion of the equipment decontamination and offsite waste disposal previously assumed. As a result, this report assumes that K-25 Site newly generated waste coming to the Waste Management program for disposition will be significantly reduced beginning in FY 1998, offsite disposition of Waste Management-owned inventory stored in K-25 process buildings will be accelerated to a five-year workoff period, and the Waste Management program will assume ownership of the K-1065 ancillary storage facilities.

This report assumes that the K-1065 facilities will be available to the Waste Management program for continued onsite waste storage through FY 2020. It also assumes that the Environmental Restoration program is responsible for costs associated with construction and operation of the onsite low-level/low-level mixed waste disposal cell; commercial sector treatment of legacy polychlorinated biphenyl waste from decommissioning of all three gaseous diffusion plants; processing secondary liquids in existing onsite waste management facilities; and disposing of sludges.

The K-25 Site manages low-level mixed waste in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the September 1995 Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner's Order. This Order specifies treatment technologies and schedules for the treatment of all low-level mixed and transuranic waste is based on information provided by the Department of Energy in the Site Treatment Plan.

Consideration of transportation issues must be addressed prior to or during the National Environmental Policy Act planning process. Costs for waste transportation are budgeted in collection and transport activities by waste type for onsite movement of waste and intersite movement (that is, between the Y-12 Plant, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the K-25 Site). Costs for shipment to offsite Department of Energy and commercial sector facilities for treatment and/or disposal are included in treatment and/or disposal budgets, as applicable.

Low-Level Mixed Waste

Low-level mixed waste stored and generated at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site is managed according to the terms and conditions in the September 1995 State Order and modified Site Treatment Plan. This order specifies treatment technologies and schedules for the treatment of all low-level mixed waste based on information provided by the Department of Energy in the Site Treatment Plan.

The feasibility of a low-level mixed waste and low-level waste disposal unit located on the Oak Ridge Reservation and regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act is currently being evaluated.

GENERATION AND HANDLING

The primary generator of low-level mixed waste at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site is the Department of Energy's Environmental Management program (environmental restoration activities); however, Defense Program activities also generate some low-level mixed waste at the site. This report assumes that all costs associated with characterization and certification are the responsibility of the generator. However, costs associated with the classification, packaging, collection and tracking of low-level mixed waste are included within the scope of the Waste Management program.

This baseline report assumes that a total of 16,000 cubic meters (20,960 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste will transfer to the Waste Management program over the life cycle of this estimate. This report assumes that environmental restoration activities will generate approximately 3,700 cubic meters (4,847 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste through FY 2045. The annual generation rate will vary with the project schedules.

This report also assumes that Defense Programs activities will generate approximately 12,300 cubic meters (16,113 cubic yards) of solid low-level mixed waste, with volumes of approximately 2,400 cubic meters (3,144 cubic yards) per year moved to the K-25 Site between FY 1998 and FY 2002 for storage.

TREATMENT

The current treatment strategy relies on a combination of approaches: (1) treatment in existing facilities, (2) private sector treatment, (3) disposal in lieu of treatment for waste with treatment variances, (4) development of limited new onsite facilities, and (5) treatment at other Department of Energy facilities, if required. The modified Site Treatment Plan calls for treatment of the following mixed waste generated and/or stored at the K-25 Site by FY 2007 or earlier: mixed waste liquids, combustible solids, explosive waste, compressed gases, aqueous liquids, unstabilized Pond Waste Management sludges, waste covered under existing variances, and Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator residues. Schedules for treating the remaining mixed waste streams are extended to about FY 2020.

The September 1995 State Order and the modified Site Treatment Plan govern this strategy. The Site Treatment Plan delineates how the Department of Energy will treat the site's mixed waste or develop technologies when they do not exist or when existing technologies need to be modified. For some waste streams, plans and schedules for characterizing waste for treatment, for undertaking technology assessments, and for providing the required plans and schedules for developing capacities and technologies, as appropriate, are provided. The Site Treatment Plan applies specifically to mixed waste streams on the Oak Ridge Reservation. The Site Treatment Plan serves multiple purposes including: fulfilling requirements of the Federal Facility Compliance Act; establishing an enforceable framework from which the Department of Energy will develop methods to treat all land-disposal- restricted mixed waste currently in storage and to be generated/received during the term of the Site Treatment Plan; allowing compliant storage of waste pending treatment and disposal; and fulfilling the requirement for a treatment methods plan for the June 1992 Federal Facility Compliance Agreement between Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency Region IV.

The untreated mixed waste inventory generated and/or stored at the K-25 Site consists solely of low-level mixed waste. All transuranic waste is located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and management of this waste is discussed in that section of the Baseline Environmental Management Report. All low-level mixed waste that is not subject to an exemption or variance will be treated to meet the applicable concentration- or technology-based treatment standard. Also, low-level mixed waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls or halogenated organic compounds must be treated using specified technologies. Treatment planning can be categorized as follows: (1) mixed waste streams for which treatment technology exists; (2) mixed waste requiring further characterization or technology adaptation; and (3) other mixed waste. The objective of treatment is to produce a final waste form that can be disposed.

Treatment options use existing or modified onsite facilities and private sector capabilities to treat those waste streams for which technology exists. Five technology-based waste groups have been identified: incineration, stabilization, neutralization, precipitation, and chemical oxidation. Aqueous waste streams will be treated in existing, onsite wastewater treatment facilities and may require some nominal pre-treatment, supplemental characterization, and/or additional handling/bulking. Neutralization will be used to treat corrosive waste. Precipitation will be used to treat aqueous waste containing metals. Chemical oxidation will be used to treat cyanide-bearing waste. Incineration is the required treatment technology for approximately 40 waste streams on the Oak Ridge Reservation, including bulked organic liquids, organically contaminated aqueous waste, scintillation fluids, organic homogeneous solids, and organic debris. Several large and small volume sludge streams are targeted for treatment through the private sector.

Waste is adequately characterized for continued safe storage; however, some waste may require further characterization before treatment or disposal can be determined. A broad spectrum contract with the private sector is planned to further characterize and/or treat this waste. Bulk soils, containerized soils, inorganic homogeneous solids (for example, wastewater treatment sludges), inorganic debris (for example, filter elements, crushed light bulbs and ballasts, lab packs, elemental mercury and other hazardous metals, batteries, reactive metals, explosives, and compressed gases) comprise the majority of waste in this category.

The Central Neutralization Facility and the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator are the two mixed waste treatment facilities currently in operation that are vital to the execution of the Commissioner's Order. The Central Neutralization Facility and its associated piping, pumps, valves, and chemical feed systems consist of the following major treatment equipment: two treatment tanks with a working volume of approximately 66,325 liters (17,500 gallons) each, one 227,400-liter (60,000-gallon) clarifier, two settling tanks with a working volume of approximately 379,000 liters (100,000 gallons) each, and two pressure filters. The current system provides pH adjustment, chemical precipitation, sedimentation, and filtration for incoming waste streams. A project is currently under way to add an air stripper, two carbon columns, and an additional pressure filter. In addition, a centrifuge is used for the dewatering of sludge produced by the treatment process. At the current time, the primary waste streams treated are scrubber effluent from the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator and K-1501 Steam Plant wastewaters.

The Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator is currently only burning liquid waste and limited amounts of solid waste. The waste feed system can handle organic liquids, aqueous liquids, sludges, and solids. Organic liquids can be fed to the rotary kiln or the secondary combustion chamber from several agitated-feed tanks. Aqueous waste is also fed to the rotary kiln. Liquid waste can be atomized with air or steam. The Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator will initiate limited treatment of combustible solids in FY 1996. Modification of the off-gas and feed systems may be required and are being evaluated.

The K-1232 Treatment Facility was used to process significant flows of Y-12 Plant wastewater prior to startup of the West End Treatment Facility and the Central Pollution Control Facility. At present, the treatment portion of K-1232 is not in use. This facility is currently being transferred to the Decommissioning program.

STORAGE

There are approximately 19,000 cubic meters (24,890 cubic yards) of mixed waste inventoried and stored at the K-25 Site. The total quantity of containerized and bulk Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator storage units is roughly 105 cubic meters (138 cubic yards). Waste storage facilities consist of modified portions of former uranium

enrichment process buildings. Vaults used to store hazardous, mixed, and polychlorinated biphenyl waste are constructed of reinforced concrete, interim diking, and floors coated with chemical resistant sealant.

Low-level mixed waste will continue to be sent to the K-25 Site for storage until the existing capacity is depleted. Consistent with the K-25 decommissioning estimate, processing and disposal of environmental restoration pond sludges will be accelerated to provide K-1065 storage facilities to waste management in FY 1996. In addition to allowing stored waste to be removed from the K-25, K-31, and K-33 Buildings on the required schedule, it will also save approximately $30 million by avoiding construction and operation of new mixed waste storage facilities to replace the K-25 vault storage units and by reducing the costs of operations from the K-25 vault storage units. The mixed waste Site Treatment Plan schedule assumes all low-level mixed waste inventory will be disposed by FY 2010 with no follow-on storage costs. This report assumes that the K-1065 Building decommissioning cost will remain with the Environmental Restoration program.

The types of waste that will be accepted for mixed waste storage at the K-25 Site include waste oils and petroleum-related products from general maintenance activities, spent halogenated solvents from garages or electrical cleaning activities, spent halogenated solvents used in degreasing operations at garages, and spent nonhalogenated solvents from maintenance activities. They also include discarded paints and related materials from maintenance activities, aqueous and water-contaminated waste from general maintenance activities, and acutely toxic and toxic commercial chemical products discarded from laboratory activities. Cyanide- or sulfide-bearing reactive waste, and corrosive and toxic waste from laboratory processes will also be accepted.

DISPOSAL

Commercial disposal is the planned option for disposing of mixed low-level waste treatment residues and mixed low-level waste that have treatment variances or that meet treatment standards. This estimate assumes that toxicity-characteristic hazardous waste and residues from the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator will be shipped to Envirocare of Utah under the current land disposal regulations until FY 2020.

Low-Level Waste

Strategies for managing solid low-level waste at the K-25 Site have changed in response to program influences. Three recent events have affected the strategy: decline in disposal capacity, waste minimization, and changes in regulatory and operational conditions. The current strategy for managing K-25 Site solid waste includes: minimized generation through segregation, process control and reuse/recycle; use of commercial vendors where cost-effective; waste volume reduction and treatment prior to long-term storage or disposal; storage on the Oak Ridge Reservation; and offsite disposal of stored inventory and future generation.

This report expects the annual low-level waste generation volume for the K-25 Site to decrease significantly beginning in FY 1998, because all onsite low-level waste generation results from the Environmental Restoration program. Depending on availability of storage space, low-level waste from the Y-12 Plant and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory may be moved to the K-25 Site for consolidated storage. This estimate assumes that there will be no cost associated with storage of low-level waste by FY 2002. This report also assumes that all radioactive scrap metal generated on the Oak Ridge Reservation will be recycled and managed by the Environmental Restoration program.

GENERATION AND HANDLING

The primary generator of low-level waste at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site is the Department of Energy's Office of Defense Programs; however, environmental restoration activities also generate some low-level waste at the K-25 Site. This estimate assumes that all costs associated with characterization and certification are the responsibility of the generator. However, costs associated with classifying, packaging, collecting, transporting, and tracking low-level waste are the responsibility of the Waste Management program.

This baseline report assumes that a total of 28,000 cubic meters (36,680 cubic yards) of solid low-level waste will transfer to the Waste Management program over the life cycle of this estimate. This report assumes that environmental restoration activities will generate approximately 800 cubic meters (1,048 cubic yards) of solid low-level waste through FY 2045. The annual generation rate will vary with the project schedules.

This report also assumes that Defense Programs activities will generate approximately 27,200 cubic meters (35,632 cubic yards) of solid low-level waste, with volumes of approximately 5,500 cubic meters (7,205 cubic yards) per year moved to the K-25 Site between FY 1998 and FY 2002 for storage.

TREATMENT

Commercial volume reduction of low-level waste is used to reduce storage and disposal requirements.

STORAGE

The K-25 Site low-level waste storage facilities consist of modified portions of former uranium enrichment process buildings. Commercial volume reduction services mitigate the shortage of low-level waste storage capacity. Waste in storage is nondestructively assayed to certify that it meets the acceptance criteria at the receiving facilities.

The low-level waste in storage will be disposed of at a rate of 20 percent of the storage volume per year until FY 2002, when all the K-25 Site inventory is disposed. Storage costs at the K-25 Site will be significantly reduced by FY 2002. Continuation of the K-25 Site for consolidated storage of Waste Management-owned low-level waste would be an option after FY 2002.

DISPOSAL

The current strategy for disposal at the K-25 Site varies according to isotopic content and radionuclide concentration of the waste and the specific disposal facility and technology. The strategy to ensure disposal capability for all low-level waste generated at the K-25 Site relies on a combination of onsite and offsite facilities. Onsite disposal of low-level waste is primarily limited to mixed fission product waste generated at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Although the Department is currently pursuing plans for a disposal facility, this report assumes that the long-range disposal strategy for low-level waste will be offsite disposal at the Nevada Test Site.

The option of an onsite disposal facility for legacy low-level mixed waste and legacy low-level waste to be regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act is being pursued. This facility could be used to dispose of the K-25 Site stored inventories and waste generated by the Environmental Restoration program at the K-25 Site.

Hazardous Waste

The strategy for managing hazardous waste at the K-25 Site involves reducing waste generation; obtaining no-added-radioactivity determinations to disposition current inventories and newly generated hazardous waste using commercial sector treatment; and continued treatment in existing onsite facilities. Management of hazardous waste relies on commercial treatment and disposal of the waste. All hazardous waste certified to be nonradioactively contaminated will be shipped to a commercial treatment, storage, disposal, or recycle facility for final dispositioning. In accordance with the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and its implementing regulations, the waste will be treated and disposed of within one year of generation. No long-term storage is required for this waste and storage is limited to accumulation of sufficient quantities to facilitate treatment.

GENERATION AND HANDLING

The primary generator of hazardous waste at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site is the Department's Environmental Management program (environmental restoration activities); however, Defense Programs activities also generate some hazardous waste at the K-25 Site. This estimate assumes that all costs associated with characterization and certification are the responsibility of the generator. However, costs associated with the classification, packaging, collection, transport and tracking of hazardous waste are the responsibility of the Waste Management program.

This baseline report assumes that a total of 55,000 cubic meters (72,050 cubic yards) of solid hazardous waste will transfer to the Waste Management program over the life cycle of this estimate. This report also assumes that environmental restoration activities will generate approximately almost all of this waste, with 53,000 cubic meters (69,430 cubic yards) of solid hazardous waste generated by the Oak Ridge Reservation Offsite Programs. The annual generation rate will vary with the project schedules.

TREATMENT

Limited onsite liquid hazardous waste treatment capability exists at the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator and the Central Neutralization Facility. Commercial offsite treatment with disposal is planned to treat the remaining solid waste.

STORAGE

Storage facilities at the K-25 Site are used to store bulk waste chemicals that have been packaged in accordance with Department of Transportation requirements, small containers of laboratory chemicals and related waste, and polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated waste.

DISPOSAL

No onsite hazardous waste disposal capability exists. Hazardous waste is disposed of in conjunction with commercial treatment contracts.

Sanitary Waste

The strategy for managing sanitary waste at the K-25 Site involves the use of both onsite and offsite commercial facilities including the Anderson County Landfill and the Y-12 Sanitary Landfill. Waste recycle opportunities will also continue to be pursued to reduce the quantity of waste requiring disposal and to extend the life of the disposal facilities. The Waste Management program has no current or planned activities associated with the storage of solid sanitary waste at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site.

GENERATION AND HANDLING

The primary generators of sanitary waste at the K-25 Site are the Department's Office of Defense Programs and Landlord activities; however, Environmental Management program activities (environmental restoration) also generate some sanitary waste at the Laboratory.

This baseline report assumes that a total of 37,000 cubic meters (48,470 cubic yards) of solid sanitary waste will transfer to the Waste Management program over the life cycle of this estimate. This report assumes that environmental restoration activities will generate approximately 7,000 cubic meters (9,170 cubic yards) of solid sanitary waste through FY 2045. The annual generation rate will vary with the project schedules.

This report also assumes that Defense Programs and landlord activities will generate approximately 30,000 cubic meters (39,300 cubic yards) of solid sanitary waste, with volumes of approximately 1,200 cubic meters (1,572 cubic yards) until FY 2023.

TREATMENT

This report assumes that upgrades will be initiated for the Central Neutralization Facility so that the types and quantities of waste projected for the future can be treated. The upgrade will ensure compliance with increasingly restrictive regulations, and will meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements.

DISPOSAL

Industrial solid waste generated at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site, and waste containing less than 35 picocuries per gram of radioactivity (total uranium) are transported and disposed of at the Y-12 Industrial Landfill in accordance with the state operating permit. At current generation rates, the existing landfill has a life expectancy of greater than 50 years.

Offsite disposal is limited to specific waste streams that are generated in areas known to be noncontaminated. This waste is disposed of in the Anderson County Landfill.

Direct Program Management/Support

Program support activities for the Waste Management program encompass activities that are necessary for, but not directly a part of, treatment, storage, disposal, or related operations (for example, waste characterization, collection, and transport). Program support activities include Department of Energy and managing and operating contractor program management; oversight of pollution prevention programs; general safety, health and environmental compliance oversight; utilities for general support facilities; taxes; procurement for general support activities; and establishment and maintenance of waste information systems. The level of general program support is proportional to treatment, storage, disposal, and related activities.

LANDLORD ACTIVITIES

The Department of Energy's Environmental Management program became the landlord for the Oak Ridge K-25 Site in FY 1989. The Department of Energy's Uranium Enrichment Program was the landlord before diffusion and centrifuge activities were permanently shut down in 1987.

Landlord activities are segregated into two major components at the K-25 Site. The site's landlord program is responsible for managing capital construction and capital equipment projects to support the K-25 Site infrastructure and general purpose or multiprogram facilities. These projects are funded directly by the Environmental Restoration program. The second component of landlord is the site overhead functions, which include such activities as security, fire protection, roads and grounds, and general plant maintenance. The landlord activities are expected to continue to be the responsibility of the Environmental Management program. Although the K-25 Site's decommissioning activities are expected to be completed by FY 2007, waste management (including the Toxic Substances Control Act Incinerator) and remedial action activities will continue after that time. Major infrastructures such as roads and water and power systems will remain in place and will require periodic upgrades and maintenance.

DESCRIPTION OF PERSONNEL

Current Composition

The employees of Lockheed Martin Energy Systems are engineers, scientists, technicians, managers, construction crafts personnel, operators, laborers, general workers, administrative professionals, general administrators, and managers. Because several waste operations facilities are located at the K-25 Site, there is a larger percentage of operators than at other facilities. This work force is expected to remain relatively stable over the next two years. In addition, the Department of Energy contracts to Jacobs Engineering and Foster Wheeler. Both companies predominantly employ scientists and engineers. MK-Ferguson is the construction contractor. Lockheed Martin subcontracts to a variety of engineering, consulting, and site investigation firms, including several small disadvantaged businesses under the Small Business Administration "8a" set aside program. The federal Full-Time Equivalents who provide support and oversee the environmental management work at the K-25 Site are included in the Oak Ridge Operations Office section of this report. The table below presents the contractor work force by skill mix.

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

Site Management Structure

Lockheed Martin Energy Systems is the integrating contractor for the environmental restoration activities at the K-25 Site for the Department of Energy as well as the managing and operating contractor. They integrate their own work activities as well as those of the Department of Energy prime contractors for technical support, engineering and construction, and their own subcontractors for site remedial investigation work.

The Lockheed Martin contract has recently been extended for an additional two years, through March 1998. The new performance-based contract includes objective performance measures, greater use of incentive contract provisions, and increased accountability. Under the new contract, Lockheed Martin's earnings will be based on a combination of performance metrics, cost reductions, incentive projects, and award fees. It is expected that these activities will result in significant streamlining and reduction of costly and excessive administrative activities for both Lockheed Martin and the Department of Energy. As a part of that contract, Lockheed Martin has committed to incentive contracting as a part of contract reform. An increasing number of the activities managed by Lockheed Martin 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 risk of cost overruns; and streamlined bid specifications simplify the process and reduce cost estimates.

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

Future Full-Time Equivalent Needs

The mix of needed Full-Time Equivalents supported by Environmental Management in this estimate for the K-25 Site is assumed to remain fairly stable until FY 1998. However, when decommissioning activities begin, the number of Full-Time Equivalents and the 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 require construction workers. This report assumes that the permitting and reporting activities will be streamlined to prevent a dramatic increase in the numbers of technical and administrative personnel.

FUNDING ESTIMATE

The following tables present estimated funding information for the Oak Ridge K-25 Site.

COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS ESTIMATE

The 1996 life-cycle cost estimate for the K-25 Site is 64 percent lower ($12.9 billion) than the 1995 estimate, after taking 1995 expenditures into account.

The FY 1995 Baseline Environmental Management Report used an estimate for the decommissioning of the gaseous diffusion plants that was prepared in 1991 by Ebasco Corporation for the Department of Energy. The estimate was for a "clean closure" of the site. This included removing everything from the buildings, treating the contents at major support facilities (low assay decontamination facilities), and disposal 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 dramatically reduce the cost and schedule for decommissioning the facilities. Direct program management/support is now included in this activity.

The incorporation of decommissioning into the Environmental Restoration program has resulted in a change in the way that eventual cleanup of the K-25 Site is accomplished. Because this is not reflected in the existing program baseline estimate, discrepancies exist between projects listed in this report (and therefore milestones) and those on the prioritization schedule. The costs and schedules of implementation in the baseline are being revised to reflect the latest program guidelines and planning, but the changes were not available in time to be shown in this report.

The FY 1996 Baseline Environmental Management Report estimates for Waste Management program activities at K-25 Site now include: proportionate shares of centralized mixed waste program costs (previously all reported under K-25 Site, reflecting how funds are managed); decommissioning costs for currently operating and planned Waste Management-owned facilities; increased use of offsite facilities for low-level waste and low-level mixed waste disposal; and reduced waste projections from the Environmental Restoration program. Collectively, these changes reduced estimated Waste Management program costs by almost 75 percent.

The major difference between the FY 1995 Baseline Environmental Management Report and this report in regard to landlord costs is the timing of the start of the decommissioning activities. The FY 1995 estimate assumed that there would be several decades of landlord activities and surveillance and maintenance before funds became available for decommissioning. In this estimate, the work is scheduled to begin in FY 1998. This greatly reduces the costs for landlord activities at the site.

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	8,812,471	116,700	4,465,584	­4,230,187	­49
Waste Management	6,565,825	104,600	1,691,141	­4,770,084	­74
Landlord	1,735,864	19,100	1,129,395	­587,369	­34
Program Management 2	3,362,200	13,600	-	-	-
Site Total	20,476,360	254,000	7,286,120	­12,936,240	­64
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.