Past and Present DOE Missions on Display in Museum’s New Home in Oak Ridge; SRS Crews Complete Startup Testing on Project to Speed Tank Waste Removal; and much more!

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EM Update | Vol. 10, Issue 42 | Oct. 23, 2018

Past and Present DOE Missions on Display in Museum’s New Home in Oak Ridge
SRS Crews Complete Startup Testing on Project to Speed Tank Waste Removal
Workers Prep for Waste Retrieval in Hanford’s A and AX Tank Farms
More Than 3,000 SRS Employees Come Together for Safety at Annual Expo
Hanford Team Makes Progress Toward Moving Capsules to Dry Storage
Millennials, Nuclear Leaders Discuss Industry Growth, Energy Future in Oak Ridge
Savannah River Site Contractor Team Earns Cybersecurity Award

Past and Present DOE Missions on Display in Museum’s New Home in Oak Ridge

Participants in the Oct. 18 opening of the new American Museum of Science and Energy facility gather for the ribbon cutting.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – On Oct. 18, government officials and local residents opened the doors to the new home for the American Museum of Science and Energy, which explores Oak Ridge’s legacy in environmental cleanup, scientific and technical innovation, and national security since the Secret City’s start in the Manhattan Project 75 years ago.

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee and DOE Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar were among the officials attending the grand opening. Established in 1949, the museum provides educational programs focused on DOE’s past, present, and future missions. It also offers interactive curriculum-based education programs for school groups and the general public, hosts events and rotating exhibits, and provides live demonstrations.

Left to right, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thomas Zacharia, DOE Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar, and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann tour the new American Museum of Science and Energy facility with Julia Bussinger, museum director.

The 18,000-square-foot facility, which replaces an outdated building that had hosted the museum, has five main galleries named the Manhattan Project, National Security, Big Science, Energy Leadership, and Environmental Restoration — all reflecting Oak Ridge’s history, innovation, and work. The building also boasts new interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, a lecture hall, and classroom facilities.

EM staff members created the Environmental Restoration gallery, which focuses on the cleanup mission and vision for Oak Ridge. The exhibits show how leaders at the site began environmental cleanup before EM was formed and helped lay the groundwork for the current regulatory framework.

“We have a very interesting story to share in this new space,” said Oak Ridge Office of EM Manager Jay Mullis, who attended the event. “Environmental cleanup is unique because it is connected to both the site’s past and its future.”

Visitors are greeted by an interactive map of Oak Ridge and five exhibit areas when they enter the new American Museum of Science and Energy facility.

A family looks at an exhibit displaying equipment and suits that keep employees safe as they perform cleanup.

While scientists and engineers were on the cutting edge of discovery during the early years of operations, they were also unknowingly changing the local landscape. The exhibits demonstrate how the EM program addresses those environmental impacts, removes risks, and enables new opportunities for the community, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Y-12 National Security Complex.

“We are excited to have a space that educates visitors about the value and accomplishments of our cleanup, and how our program is helping advance current DOE missions and protect future generations,” Mullis said.

Oak Ridge’s EM program is nearing completion of cleanup of more than 500 facilities at the East Tennessee Technology Park that supported uranium enrichment activities for 40 years.

Next, crews will begin large-scale cleanup at ORNL and Y-12, removing environmental contaminants, taking down old reactor and enrichment facilities, and clearing the way for scientific and national security advancements.

National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office Manager Geoff Beausoleil, ORNL Site Office Manager Johnny Moore, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, state and local officials, residents, and students from the city’s seven public schools also attended the opening.

The museum’s new home is the starting point for a DOE public bus tour. The museum will also partner with the National Park Service to host programs for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

More photos of the event and facility are available here.

-Contributor: Ben Williams

SRS Crews Complete Startup Testing on Project to Speed Tank Waste Removal

Workers install an ion exchange column on the Tank Closure Cesium Removal process enclosure in the Savannah River Site’s H Tank Farm.

AIKEN, S.C. – Savannah River Site (SRS) crews recently completed onsite startup testing for an EM project designed to accelerate removal of radioactive waste from underground tanks.

The project, called Tank Closure Cesium Removal (TCCR), is being deployed by liquid waste contractor Savannah River Remediation (SRR). TCCR uses an innovative technology including prefilters, ion exchange columns, and a specially engineered resin to remove cesium — a radioactive chemical element — from the salt waste to accelerate waste removal and tank closure.

Completion of onsite testing means EM is another step closer to launching the TCCR demonstration, said Jim Folk, DOE-Savannah River assistant manager for waste disposition.

“Tank Closure Cesium Removal is important to the liquid waste mission because it has the potential to supplement our overall waste pre-treatment capability, ultimately accelerating the pace of waste removal and tank closure work,” Folk said.

The testing involved running water through the TCCR process, including the pre-filters and ion exchange columns; valve manipulation; pump tests; ventilation tests; and checks of alarms, interlocks, remote cameras, radiation monitors, and a computer that controls the automated process.

Initial factory acceptance testing of the TCCR process was conducted by the vendor, Westinghouse Electric Company, in Richland, Washington. After it passed all factory testing, the equipment was delivered to SRS on 10 tractor-trailers and assembled onsite by SRR workers.

Installation of the TCCR equipment began in April and was completed in July. The equipment includes upper and lower process enclosures, ion exchange columns inside the enclosures, and a ventilation skid. The modules are connected to the underground tanks via lead-shielded hose-in-hose waste transfer lines.

Post-testing and pre-commissioning activities, such as safety basis implementation, operational procedures, training, and readiness assessments are planned for completion by the end of this year. Crews would then begin processing the salt waste through TCCR.

-Contributor: Colleen Hart

Workers Prep for Waste Retrieval in Hanford’s A and AX Tank Farms

Waste retrieval preparations at Hanford’s AX tank farm will include installation of electrical infrastructure between tanks AX-102 and 104.

RICHLAND, Wash. – EM’s Office of River Protection (ORP) and tank farms contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) are navigating tight spaces in Hanford’s A and AX tank farms as preparations continue for waste retrievals set to start next summer.

“A tremendous amount of work has already been accomplished in A and AX farms under difficult conditions,” said Jeff Rambo, ORP tank retrieval program manager. “We look forward to continuing the pace WRPS has established to start retrieval operations.”

Crews are removing waste from older single-shell tanks and transferring it to newer, more robust double-shell tanks for safe storage until it can be treated in the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

Workers completed retrieval efforts last year for the 16 C farm tanks, the first of Hanford’s single-shell tank farms to be retrieved. The next set of retrievals will begin with the four tanks in AX farm before shifting to the six A farm tanks.

“It’s been a big challenge to remove old equipment while trying to install an entire waste retrieval system and doing it all in a very small footprint,” said Peggy Hamilton, WRPS project manager for A and AX retrieval. “But we’re making tremendous progress. We’ve got a talented team that demonstrates excellent teamwork and communication with a focus on doing the work safely.”

Crews are preparing Hanford’s AX tank farm for waste retrievals to begin next summer.

In the past two years, 15 long-length pieces of equipment were safely removed from AX-102 and 104. These include pumps, thermocouples, and sluicers, which are prepared for shipment to Hanford’s Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility. Thermocouples monitor the temperature of waste, and sluicers are used to mobilize the waste and move it to a central pump.

Workers also have cleaned 15 tank pits — eight associated with AX-102 and 104, and seven with AX-101 and 103. This involved removing equipment such as old leak detection tools and jumpers.

All the work allows for crews to install new retrieval equipment. AX-102 and 104 will use three extended-reach sluicers and a central pump. Workers also will install lighting, cameras, leak-detection components and two control trailers, and test the retrieval system.

Meanwhile, crews have dug trenches in AX farm to install electrical infrastructure to support the retrieval system.

To complete the installation, crews need to excavate more than 2,100 cubic yards of soil, install more than 38,000 linear feet of conduit, and pull more than 170,000 linear feet of wire.

-Contributor: Mark McKenna

More Than 3,000 SRS Employees Come Together for Safety at Annual Expo

Savannah River National Laboratory employees conducted virtual hands-on training at the expo.

AIKEN, S.C. – More than 3,000 federal and contractor employees visited nearly 70 informational booths focused on the Savannah River Site’s (SRS) safety culture during an annual expo at the Applied Research Center last week.

Led by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the SRS management and operations contractor, the safety expo drew participants from the site’s more than 12,000-person workforce, including EM liquid waste contractor Savannah River Remediation, Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, and the U.S. Forest Service. The expo covered topics ranging from cybersecurity and hand safety to school bus safety and care for seniors.

“The SRS Safety Expo is an important tool in the broader SRS engagement toolbox,” said Stuart MacVean, SRNS president and CEO. “Thanks to ongoing partnerships with employee-led local safety improvement teams, community organizations, SRS contractors, stakeholders, and the Department of Energy, employees are afforded time to learn about important topics that are applicable at work, at home, and in the community.”

Suppliers shared their latest glove technologies at the expo.

Vicky Bertagnolli, Clemson University home horticulture agent, provided information about home gardening, pesticide safety, and pest management.

For Susie Ferrara with SRNS Community Outreach, the expo is an opportunity for safety growth, reflecting pride in the workforce’s safety accomplishments.

“I am a second-generation SRS employee. I was raised to embody a safety-first mindset because my father brought it home with him every day from work. Thanks to him, I’ve benefited from seeing the world through a safety lens and now it’s my turn to pass those values on to the next generation of nuclear workers,” Ferrara said.

MacVean said the event showcased comradery within a workforce built on strong safety values.

“The information shared with employees in a fun and engaging environment strengthens our safety posture and most importantly, empowers them with information to improve their safety, personal security, environmental awareness, and personal health and wellness at home and in their communities,” MacVean said.

-Contributor: Angie Benfield

Hanford Team Makes Progress Toward Moving Capsules to Dry Storage

Workers recently finished the final draft design, which includes geotechnical information from soil samples, of the outdoor storage area for the large concrete casks that will contain cesium and strontium capsules.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Workers at the Hanford Site continue to make significant strides toward moving nearly 2,000 radioactive capsules to dry storage.

Currently, 1,936 cesium and strontium capsules are stored in 13 feet of water at the Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility (WESF). WESF is an aging facility, and moving the capsules to dry storage will reduce risk on the site.

“Moving the capsules to dry storage will protect workers, the public, and the environment, while allowing for the eventual deactivation of WESF,” said Al Farabee, EM’s Richland Operations Office (RL) project director for waste management.

At WESF, RL contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC) recently completed activities that include crane inspections to improve reliability and canyon lighting upgrades to improve visibility. Workers also upgraded lighting in the WESF hot cell where they will package capsules into sleeves for dry storage.

Workers at the Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility used long-reach tools to verify the 1,936 cesium and strontium capsules stored underwater meet the design criteria for the system that will transfer the capsules to safer dry storage.

A Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility (WESF) worker installs cooler and brighter lights inside a hot cell to support future packaging of the 1,936 cesium and strontium capsules currently stored underwater at WESF.

Workers recently finished verifying that all 1,936 capsules meet the dry storage design criteria.

A design review of the system that will load the cesium and strontium capsules in casks for storage in an outdoor area is underway. The team recently completed the final design for the storage area.

“I’m very proud of the WESF team and the progress made toward our mission of preparing the facility to safely remove and transport the capsules to safer interim storage,” said Kalli Shupe, vice president of CHPRC’s waste and fuels management project, which includes WESF. “A tremendous amount of coordination is necessary to make this happen and I couldn’t be more proud of the team.”

The next phase of work is finalizing the design, construction, mock-up testing, and readiness activities prior to moving the first set of capsules. The Tri-Party Agreement milestone is to have moved all capsules from wet to dry storage by 2025.

-Contributor: Jennifer Copeland

Millennials, Nuclear Leaders Discuss Industry Growth, Energy Future in Oak Ridge

DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Ed McGinnis addresses attendees at the Millennial Nuclear Caucus in Oak Ridge.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – More than 100 students and young professionals gathered with experts to discuss nuclear industry growth and America’s energy future as part of the Millennial Nuclear Caucus in Oak Ridge this month.

Launched last year by Energy Secretary Rick Perry, the caucus regularly brings together young innovators between the ages of 18 and 35 from across the country to share their thoughts on the future of nuclear energy.

The most recent event was hosted by EM, UCOR, the University of Tennessee, DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the East Tennessee Economic Council. It featured tours and workshops on nuclear-related topics and aligned with the region’s Nuclear Opportunities Week, which includes events such as a nuclear suppliers summit and business opportunities meeting.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee and DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Ed McGinnis addressed attendees, who listened to presentations and talked with government representatives and industry groups.

“With fresh, creative thinking and a shared commitment to clean energy sources, millennials play an invaluable role in helping to shape our nation’s energy portfolio,” McGinnis said. “And in turn, they too can benefit from exciting careers in nuclear that provide competitive salaries and vast career pathways.”

UCOR President and CEO Ken Rueter, left, and Oak Ridge Office of EM Manager Jay Mullis speak as part of a panel during the Millennial Nuclear Caucus.

Experts attending the event represented the full spectrum of the nuclear field, including those who support the existing fleet, design small modular and advanced reactors, and advocate for a thriving nuclear future.

“There are many career opportunities in the nuclear industry, and events like this caucus help us develop a steady pipeline of talent to take on the challenging positions we have now and that we anticipate in the future,” UCOR President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Rueter said.

Millennials moderated three panels that featured speakers from more than a dozen entities ranging from DOE and UCOR to the Tennessee Valley Authority, ORNL, Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the University of Tennessee.

Panel topics included advanced nuclear concepts such as small modular reactors, nuclear security, and environmental cleanup of nuclear facilities.

In recent months, caucus sessions have been held at locations throughout the U.S., including DOE’s Argonne and Idaho national laboratories, Texas A&M University, Atlanta, San Diego, and San Francisco.

-Contributor: Michael Butler

Savannah River Site Contractor Team Earns Cybersecurity Award

Savannah River Remediation Principal Cyber Specialist Sean Nixon, left, mentors high school student Colleen Harmon on cybersecurity applications.

AIKEN, S.C. – From offering lunch-and-learn programs to mentoring future professionals, the cybersecurity team at EM liquid waste contractor Savannah River Remediation (SRR) embodies the themes of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2018, earning SRR the title of NCSAM Champion for the fourth consecutive year.

The team promotes a NCSAM theme focusing on online safety by encouraging employees to maintain security measures at work and at home. SRR Principal Cyber Security Specialist Steve Lape said it’s important to educate employees with ways to stay safe while using the Internet.

“We believe our employees are taking cybersecurity awareness home to their families and personal lives, helping everyone stay safe online,” Lape said.

Another theme of NCSAM 2018 is the idea that it is everyone’s job to ensure online safety at work. SRR is furthering this idea throughout the company through weekly articles with cyber protection tips and monthly lunch-and-learn programs on topics such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, a digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency.

“We encourage our employees to be always be cyber-conscientious,” Lape said. “Users are the first line of defense when it comes to averting cyber scams, so when everyone is educated on how to spot potential scams and threats and how to mitigate those risks, everyone wins.”

The team also promotes educating students for careers in cybersecurity, another theme of NCSAM. The team has so far mentored three area high school students aspiring to enter the growing cybersecurity field.

“Mentoring our youth on the importance of securing our networks is how we pass the torch to the younger generation,” Lape said. “Guiding these students through this crucial turning point in their lives and seeing their innovative ideas come to life through projects at school makes me excited for the future of the cybersecurity industry.”

A fourth theme of NCSAM is safeguarding the nation’s critical infrastructure.

“A disruption to the cyber system could have a significant consequence on the SRS liquid waste mission,” Lape said. “It is our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Cybersecurity is critical to DOE missions, according to Lewann Belton, DOE cyber and information technology division manager.

“It is imperative for EM contractors to support the Department’s robust cybersecurity strategy,” Belton said. “Savannah River Remediation earning the champion status of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, among many other accolades, is further proof the contractor is committed to safeguarding DOE information systems.”

A collaboration of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, NCSAM is observed every October to educate Americans on safe and secure online practices. The NCSAM Champion program highlights companies dedicated to promoting a safer Internet.

-Contributor: Colleen Hart

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