Says Department Hopes to Begin U-233
Shipments to Nevada ‘Later This Year’
Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
4/11/2014
Department of Energy cleanup chief David Huizenga this week defended DOE’s decision to seek a funding reduction for D&D activities at Oak Ridge in its Fiscal Year 2015 budget request. DOE is proposing to spend next year approximately $138 million for D&D efforts at Oak Ridge’s East Tennessee Technology Park, 22 percent below current funding levels. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) questioned the proposed cut during a House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, noting DOE’s completion late last year of demolition activities at the K-25 former uranium enrichment process building at ETTP. “Doesn’t it make sense … to level-fund the D&D work and have a major site completed? Won’t this save money in the long-run by reducing the overhead costs? Clearly if you short-fund it, and it takes longer to get done, ultimately the project is going to cost more,” Fleischmann asked Huizenga.
In response, Huizenga said the completion of work at K-25 allowed DOE to seek reduced funding for Oak Ridge, adding that the Department sought to take in its FY15 request a balanced approach to providing funding across cleanup sites. “We could reduce our lifecycle costs if we had some more additional funding, but we’ve got regulatory commitments and agreements across the complex. So with the resources that we have, we’re trying to make an equitable distribution to make sure we’re making steady progress at all of our sites,” he said. Huizenga also pointed out that with work completed at K-25, Oak Ridge cleanup contractor URS-CH2M Oak Ridge, LLC, is gearing up to begin D&D activities at the K-31 Building at ETTP, which will then be followed by work at the K-27 Building. “We … will work with the contractor and recognize that we can make a smooth transition of workers from K-25 into K-31 and ultimately onto the bigger facility of K-27 perhaps later on in ‘15 or early on in ‘16,” he said.
Fleischmann ‘Disappointed’ With U-233 Hurdles
Fleischmann also said he is “disappointed” with the delays DOE has experienced in its effort to disposition the Department’s stockpile of uranium-233 currently stored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Building 3019. DOE plans to ship a portion of the inventory, known as the Consolidated Edison Uranium Solidification Project (CEUSP) material, to the Nevada National Security Site for direct disposal. However, those plans have been put on hold in the face of concerns from Nevada state officials. “It’s been frustrating to have a clear path forward for Building 3019 and then see those plans disintegrate,” Fleischmann said.
Huizenga said DOE has been making “steady progress” in discussions with Nevada officials to resolve the state’s concerns over the CEUSP material disposal. “We’re working with them to help them understand that we do know how to transport materials. We’ve been transporting these materials safely for decades, and we intend to transport this material in a similarly safe fashion,“ he said. “So there’s a number of things they’ve asked for to have them become more comfortable with our proposal, and we’re working through one by one each one of these activities. We’re going to have continued discussions with them so we can hopefully reach resolution and start shipping later this year.”
