According to occurrence reports filed by Y-12 National Security Complex contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security in the last couple years, there have been more than 50 “events” in which radioactive debris has been uncovered during site-preparation activities for the multibillion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility.
The radioactive discoveries are considered to be legacies of earlier operations at the Oak Ridge, Tenn., plant, which was built during the World War II Manhattan Project.
The most recent finding reportedly was a 4-foot-by-4-foot piece of radioactive metal that was unearthed on March 9 at the future UPF site on the west end of Y-12.
The National Nuclear Security Administration and CNS did not immediately respond to questions about the March finding at the UPF site, overall impacts of the findings, the history of the large metal piece, or the significance of radioactivity levels measured at the site.
“The item (found in March) was placed in a B-25 container and staged in a radioactive material area,” the occurrence report says.
Actual construction of the UPF won’t begin until the project design is 90 percent complete, which is projected to be at the end of 2017.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the pre-construction activities for UPF, but did not answer questions about the underground discoveries at the site. In an emailed statement, NNSA spokesman Steven Wyatt said Friday, “The contaminated debris was discovered … when the USACE was performing work in support the UPF Site Infrastructure and Services Subproject. The debris included two contaminated metal pallets. Encountering contaminated items is an anticipated project risk for the UPF work scope. The work remains on budget and schedule.”
Many of the radioactive findings at Y-12 were associated with the 2014 relocation of Bear Creek Road to prepare for the big project. During a site visit in 2014, Wyatt said most of the contaminated materials had been found several feet underground during excavation work. Asked why radioactive materials were buried at Y-12 sites that seemingly were not intended to be employed for waste disposal, Wyatt said, “I don’t think anyone really has an answer on that.”
The radioactive materials discovered during UPF preparations apparently have been shipped to the Nevada National Security Site because they are not eligible for disposal at the nearby CERCLA site in Oak Ridge.
