Readying Alpha-2 for spring demolition

The Oak Ridger
·2 min read
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Environmental management crews have completed major deactivation efforts on a Manhattan Project-era facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The building, Alpha-2, is scheduled for demolition next spring.

Alpha-2 is a former uranium enrichment facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex that dates back to the Manhattan Project era.
Alpha-2 is a former uranium enrichment facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex that dates back to the Manhattan Project era.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and contractor UCOR completed the efforts this month at the multi-story former uranium enrichment facility, which spans nearly 325,000 square feet. The work had started in 2020.

Environmental management's deactivation and demolition (D&D) work at Oak Ridge presents unique challenges amid ongoing missions at Y-12, according to a UCOR news release. Alpha-2 is co-located with other active facilities at Y-12, requiring utilities to be rerouted prior to demolition. UCOR has been working closely with Y-12 management and operations contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) on that task.“Our close collaboration with CNS has allowed us to move our D&D mission forward while they continue their operating missions in close proximity to one another,” said UCOR Project Manager William Lloyd. “The result is a strengthened partnership and continued mission success for both.”

A precursor to demolition, deactivation is the process of placing an excess facility into a stable condition to minimize existing risks and protect workers, the public and the environment.

Asbestos-contaminated piping, floor and ceiling tiles removed for safety

Before the Alpha-2 demolition begins next year, workers must deactivate the basement and reroute nearby utilities. UCOR is helping CNS create a design for the rerouting, which will also enable demolition of the Old Steam Plant at Y-12. EM crews finished preparing the plant for teardown in 2021.

Oak Ridge workers remove asbestos piping from inside Alpha-2. Efforts to date have removed nearly 3,000 cubic yards of waste from the facility.
Oak Ridge workers remove asbestos piping from inside Alpha-2. Efforts to date have removed nearly 3,000 cubic yards of waste from the facility.

Deactivation at Alpha-2 included clearing asbestos-contaminated piping, removing floor and ceiling tiles and draining oil from equipment. To date, crews have disposed of nearly 3,000 cubic yards of waste and removed 280,000 pounds of lead-shielding blocks.

UCOR is on schedule to complete the basement deactivation work later this year and begin demolition in the spring.

Tearing down Alpha-2 will eliminate a hazard from Oak Ridge and provide land for reuse at Y-12.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Readying Alpha-2 for spring demolition at Y-12