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Draft SWEIS Dear Interested Party Letter Summary Table of Contents and Front Matter Chapter 1: Introduction and Purpose and Need for Action Chapter 2: Operations Overview of Y-12 National Security Complex Chapter 3: Alternatives Chapter 4: Affected Environment Chapter 5: Environmental Consequences Chapter 6: Cumulative Impacts Chapter 7: Regulatory Requirements Chapter 8: Short-Term Uses and Long-Term Productivity Chapter 9: Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources Chapter 10: References Chapter 11: Glossary Chapter 12: List of Preparers and Contributors Chapter 13: Index Chapter 14: Distribution List Appendix A: Y-12 Planning Process and Facility Information Appendix B: Notice of Intent Appendix C: Consultation Letters and Biological Assessment Appendix D: Human Health and Accidents Appendix E: Impact Methodology Appendix F: NEPA Disclosure Statement for Preparation of the Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Y-12 National Security Complex Reference Materials

Draft SWEIS Dear Interested Party Letter Summary Table of Contents and Front Matter Chapter 1: Introduction and Purpose and Need for Action Chapter 2: Operations Overview of Y-12 National Security Complex Chapter 3: Alternatives Chapter 4: Affected Environment Chapter 5: Environmental Consequences Chapter 6: Cumulative Impacts Chapter 7: Regulatory Requirements Chapter 8: Short-Term Uses and Long-Term Productivity Chapter 9: Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources Chapter 10: References Chapter 11: Glossary Chapter 12: List of Preparers and Contributors Chapter 13: Index Chapter 14: Distribution List Appendix A: Y-12 Planning Process and Facility Information Appendix B: Notice of Intent Appendix C: Consultation Letters and Biological Assessment Appendix D: Human Health and Accidents Appendix E: Impact Methodology Appendix F: NEPA Disclosure Statement for Preparation of the Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Y-12 National Security Complex Reference Materials

While Oak Ridge officials and their advocates in Washington push the multi-billion-dollar UPF for all it's worth, another proposed production facility at Y-12 has been put on the back burner for the foreseeable future. The would-be Y-12 project is called the Consolidated Manufacturing Complex, and apparently it's been shunted aside because of the huge budget considerations associated with the top-priority Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 and the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Project at Los Alamos in New Mexico. The CMC would house Y-12's lithium operations, general machining operations, depleted uranium operations and deuterium production. I haven't seen a price tag yet, but it obviously won't be cheap. According to Y-12 spokeswoman Ellen Boatner, the Oak Ridge contractor doesn't anticipate major progress on the CMC for the next couple of years.

A Monday morning fire at the Y-12 National Security Complex resulted in the evacuation of 95 employees, including two who were taken to Y-12 Occupational Health Services and released. "Emergency response personnel at the Y-12 National Security Complex are responding to a fire at the Oak Ridge facility," stated a 10:24 a.m. e-mail from the Y-12 Site Office.

The debate over nuclear weapons in the 21st century continued tonight with about 100 people in attendance. This time the forum was held at the New Hope Center, near the entrance to the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant, and the topic was modernization of Y-12 and the proposed construction of a new production facility with broad capabilities at the Oak Ridge plant. If there's a price tag for world peace and security, several speakers passionately argued, it's surely not between $1.4 billion and $3.5 billion. That's the estimated cost range of the Uranium Processing Facility, which the National Nuclear Security Administration wants to build at Y-12 to replace antiquated operations -- some of which date back to the World War II Manhattan Project -- for making and dismantling warhead parts.

The debate over nuclear weapons in the 21st century continued tonight with about 100 people in attendance. This time the forum was held at the New Hope Center, near the entrance to the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant, and the topic was modernization of Y-12 and the proposed construction of a new production facility with broad capabilities at the Oak Ridge plant. If there's a price tag for world peace and security, several speakers passionately argued, it's surely not between $1.4 billion and $3.5 billion. That's the estimated cost range of the Uranium Processing Facility, which the National Nuclear Security Administration wants to build at Y-12 to replace antiquated operations -- some of which date back to the World War II Manhattan Project -- for making and dismantling warhead parts.

I received an e-mail this afternoon from Jay Coghlan, executive director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, and he reported that the Energy and Water conference report contains $94 million for the Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12. The activist group, which is closely tracking UPF and other spending in the nuclear weapons program, has a similar report on its Web site. Here's what Coghlan wrote: Frank: Looks like Y-12 is being awarded far more than just environmental awards to hang on the wall. Buried in the budget numbers of the House/Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Conference Report is $94 million for a construction project designated as "06-D-141 Project Engineering and Design (PED), Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN."

I received an e-mail this afternoon from Jay Coghlan, executive director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, and he reported that the Energy and Water conference report contains $94 million for the Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12. The activist group, which is closely tracking UPF and other spending in the nuclear weapons program, has a similar report on its Web site. Here's what Coghlan wrote: Frank: Looks like Y-12 is being awarded far more than just environmental awards to hang on the wall. Buried in the budget numbers of the House/Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Conference Report is $94 million for a construction project designated as "06-D-141 Project Engineering and Design (PED), Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN."

After a decade in development, microwave casting is about to become part of the production capabilities at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge. Y-12 has contracted with a vendor, Microwave Synergy Inc., to complete the detailed design work and deliver the first production unit by unit July 2010. "Overall completion of installation, checkout and turn-over of the microwave caster to operations is scheduled for the end of FY 2011," B&W, the government's contractor at Y-12, said in response to questions. The Oak Ridge plant currently has five R&D microwave units and a "production-scale" prototype caster in the 9212 complex, where uranium is processed and fabricated into nuclear warhead parts. "The current prototype unit only has been used to cast enriched uranium into different shapes for evaluation purposes," B&W said via e-mail.

After a decade in development, microwave casting is about to become part of the production capabilities at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge. Y-12 has contracted with a vendor, Microwave Synergy Inc., to complete the detailed design work and deliver the first production unit by unit July 2010. "Overall completion of installation, checkout and turn-over of the microwave caster to operations is scheduled for the end of FY 2011," B&W, the government's contractor at Y-12, said in response to questions. The Oak Ridge plant currently has five R&D microwave units and a "production-scale" prototype caster in the 9212 complex, where uranium is processed and fabricated into nuclear warhead parts. "The current prototype unit only has been used to cast enriched uranium into different shapes for evaluation purposes," B&W said via e-mail.

It's woefully behind schedule -- about four years, in fact -- and almost forgotten, but a Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant may be published later this year. The big environmental document, known as the SWEIS, was under preparation years ago and reportedly nearing completion, but it got shunted aside and all but disappeared when a bigger project -- involving post-Cold War "transformation" of the entire U.S. nuclear weapons complex -- came on the scene. That, however, did not eliminate the legal obligations to do an environmental study of impacts at Y-12. Steven Wyatt, a spokesman for the National Nuclear Security Administration, said the Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Y-12 is still alive, still in preparation and "projected to be be published around the end of September 2009."

Here's a brief excerpt from the Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement on Y-12, the document that's setting the stage for construction of the proposed Uranium Processing Facility: "More than 200 sites have been identified at Y-12 that represent potential sources of contamination to the environment as a result of past waste management practices." That's from Page 4-34 of the massive document.

Here's a brief excerpt from the Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement on Y-12, the document that's setting the stage for construction of the proposed Uranium Processing Facility: "More than 200 sites have been identified at Y-12 that represent potential sources of contamination to the environment as a result of past waste management practices." That's from Page 4-34 of the massive document.

New study of Y-12 employees blames exposure, genetics OAK RIDGE - Results from a new study involving beryllium workers at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant reinforce what's long been conjectured about the cause of beryllium disease - it's likely a combination of a person's genetics and his or her exposures to the toxic metal. "Genetics loads the gun, but the environment pulls the trigger," Dr. Lisa Maier, a physician at National Jewish Health in Denver and leader of the project, said Monday at Y-12's New Hope Center.

Officials at the Y-12 National Security Complex confirmed Wednesday that they are assessing the cleanup of a World War II-era facility as a result of a major waterline break that occurred on Saturday. In response to a request for information on the incident, Y-12 spokeswoman Ellen Boatner provided The Oak Ridger with the following statement Wednesday afternoon: "While potable water did overflow into the East Fork Poplar Creek, no permit violations have been detected and there are no impacts to aquatic life."

Four security guards at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant were fired after testing positive for steroids, a spokeswoman for Wackenhut Services Inc., the government's security contractor, confirmed today. The guards union, however, is challenging two of the cases, claiming the positive readings were linked to use of over-the-counter supplements. Security police officers at Y-12 are subject to regular and random drug testing, but those tests are typically for Schedule I and II drugs - such as cocaine and marijuana. Courtney Henry of Wackenhut said the company began testing some guards for anabolic sterioids, a Schedule III drug, "for probable cause."

"March 22 and 23 Energy Secretary Steven Chu will make his first visit as Secretary to the Department of Energy's two sites in eastern Tennessee. During his two-day visit, Secretary Chu will meet with the staff of the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), participate in a dedication ceremony marking the completion of the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF) at Y-12, and tour the ORNL facility. On Monday, March 22, Secretary Chu and National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Tom D'Agostino will be joined by House Representatives Zach Wamp and Lincoln Davis at the Y-12 National Security Complex. They will take part in the dedication ceremony for the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF). "

"OAK RIDGE - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu was in town Monday to help celebrate a new $549 million storehouse for the nation's supply of bomb-grade uranium - a high-security facility so stout it reportedly could withstand the impact of a commercial aircraft. While Chu had words of praise for the massive structure - known officially as the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility - and those who designed and built it, the secretary's most welcome words at the ceremony were those supporting an even bigger project at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant."

"For the first time ever, Y-12 is opening its original Pilot Plant -- Building 9731 -- to public viewing this weekend as part of the Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge, and some media members and a few Y-12 retirees got a preview of the facility this morning. The tour included a look at the Pilot Plant's Alpha calutrons, the only ones left in the world, as well as a couple of the Beta calutrons. The calutrons were used during the wartime Manhattan Project to test the electromagnetic separation processes used to separate the U-235 needed for the atomic bomb -- Little Boy -- ultimately dropped on Hiroshima, Japan."

There's been a lot of megatons-to-megawatts activity in recent years, but some folks aren't too sure if that's going to continue to be a big factor in the downsizing of the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals. Of course, a lot of folks are skeptical, period, about a nuclear renaissance. Darrel Kohlhorst isn't one of them. I've had a couple of opportunities in recent weeks to talk to the general manager at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant. During a conversation at a hearing for Y-12's Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement, he offered some views on nuclear power. Here's what he said:

There's been a lot of megatons-to-megawatts activity in recent years, but some folks aren't too sure if that's going to continue to be a big factor in the downsizing of the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals. Of course, a lot of folks are skeptical, period, about a nuclear renaissance. Darrel Kohlhorst isn't one of them. I've had a couple of opportunities in recent weeks to talk to the general manager at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant. During a conversation at a hearing for Y-12's Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement, he offered some views on nuclear power. Here's what he said:

It turns out there was a leak of hydrogen fluoride Monday at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant. A spokeswoman confirmed today that a "small amount" of material did escape from a roof-top test line at the plant's 9212 production facility. "Further investigation into the potential hydrogen fluoride (HF) leak has found that a small amount of material, less than 100 grams (or less than a half cup) did escape from a small sampling line," Y-12 spokeswoman Ellen Boatner said.

A safety "curfew" was in effect at Y-12 for about an hour Monday afternoon after a worker reported a possible leak in a line carrying hydrogen fluoride. Ellen Boatner, a spokeswoman for Y-12 contractor B&W, said the curfew went into effect shortly after 4 p.m., requiring that all employees stay in place or, if outdoors, go into the nearest building until the order was lifted. Boatner said the event began after an employee working on the roof of 9212, the plant's main production facility, reported discoloration of a line carrying hydrogen fluoride. Discoloration can be a sign of a leak, she said.

In a couple of memos over the past couple of years, including one dated Jan. 9, staff of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Board have mentioned the Special Material Capability Project at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant. Federal and contractor officials at the Oak Ridge plant have been mum on details of the project, at least publicly, refusing to address what work will take place at the facility or what "special material" will be handled there. Last month's safety board report notes that project construction is about 80 percent complete and includes installation of major machines, including "a new negative-pressure glovebox in a Y-12 facility that provides additional worker protection."

Cleaning up the environment often creates waste, which in turn must be carefully handled, treated and/or disposed to make sure it doesn't hurt the environment again on the back end. Make sense? Anyway, there are seven cleanup projects under way at the Y-12 National Security Complex that are funded by the Recovery Act, and it's estimated those projects will generate something approaching 3 million cubic feet of waste (of various categories). Here's where the waste will be sent for disposal: * 803,708 cubic feet to Y-12's sanitary landfill. This waste is likely to be uncontaminated demolition rubble and the like. * 1,775,029 cubic feet to the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility. This is the CERCLA landfill just down the road from Y-12, and it's set up to receive low-level and mixed low-level radioactive wastes from Oak Ridge cleanup projects. * 222,376 cubic feet to Nevada Test Site. No details here, but the waste typically sent to Nevada is the hotter low-level waste that doesn't meant the waste-acceptance criteria at the Oak Ridge landfill.

One has to asssume it's not a good thing when there's notable degradation in a big concrete slab that's part of a floor/ceiling in a building where nuclear warhead parts are assembled, disassembled and inspected. Or, as they say on the street: You got that right, Daddy Rabbit! Anyway, that's the situation at Building 9204-2E (Beta-2E) at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge. A May 15 memo by staff of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board discussed the inspection plan for a concrete slab that "has been been subject to damage in prior years from leakage of liquid chloride liquid used in dehumidification equipment." According to Y-12 spokeswoman Ellen Boatner, the concrete slab is 84 feet wide, 210 feet long and 10 inches thick and forms part of the reinforced concrete floor of the third floor and ceiling of the second floor of Beta-2E. Even though actions were taken earlier to reduce leakage and repair the damage, spalling of concrete was observed on the underside of the slab in early 2008, the DNFSB staff wrote. Since then, following some core sampling, some spalling was identified on the top surface of the concete slab, the staff noted.