A Large Decommissioning Project With Added Value

Abstract

The East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is a centerpiecefor the Department of Energy's Reindustrialization program, which seeks to convertformerly used facilities for broad, industrial purposes. BNFL and its partners have beencharged with the decommissioning and decontamination of three large gaseous diffusionbuildings. BNFL's prior experience with a similar site, Capenhurst, in the United Kingdomwas successful in reducing the quantities and costs of low level wastes for disposal. In thatprogram, over 99% of 160,000 tonnes of surface-contaminated materials were safely andcost-effectively treated. Resulting materials could thus be recycled for completeunrestricted re-use within the UK. Decommissioning and decontamination at the ETTP sitewill be informed by the prior experience and lessons learned. Specialized technologies andapproaches developed at Capenhurst will find expression at ETTP. The result will be safe,cost-effective techniques that permit maximum recycle and further use of presentlycontaminated buildings for industrial purposes.