Oak Ridge, Tennessee is historically known now as “The Secret City.” The location was one of three sites for the Manhattan Project back in the forties. Oak Ridge was created as the building site for the Y-12 Uranium Enrichment Facility. This facility was vital for research and development during war time. The employees at Y-12 researched and processed bomb grade uranium for use in the gun-type bomb named “Little Boy” that was detonated over Hiroshima in 1945. Manhattan Project engineers quickly built a town of 30,00 workers and a complex plant. Unfortunately, the town and the Y-12 facility were built too quickly. Developers failed to fully execute proper research and planning was not fully executed. This resulted in chemical exposure and mercury contamination.
The Y-12 buildings are deteriorating rapidly due to improper upkeep and typical aging. Many think the decaying facility will continue to expose workers and the public to dangerous radiation and chemical exposure. One analyst describes Y-12 as “the poster child for much of what ails the weapons complex. It is a massive, decaying empire that in many cases does its work poorly or dangerously, or both.”
Concrete and plaster ceilings seep stagnant water. Moisture from the water leaks is creating an overgrowth of mold on the interior of the buildings. Corroding pipes cause chemical leaks, and asbestos is exposed throughout the facility. The aging and neglect of the area has led to multiple health issues, contamination issues and chemical exposures. Demolishing the once historic facility and properly disposing all contaminated materials is the only way to keep the hazardous contents of these buildings contained. The Y-12 infrastructure is well over seventy years old. It needs either a major modernized overhaul or a full-blown demolition of all the unsafe buildings.
One of the largest problems is the deterioration and crumbling of the original buildings. A lot of this is due to the outdated building supplies that were used in the forties. According to the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA), a Department of Energy Safety Survey shows that critical facilities wouldn’t survive a design-basis earthquake or tornado. Fire hazards are also a huge issue. The area that surrounds the Y-12 compound is heavily treed and very remote. These problems leave the facilities and its contents vulnerable to natural disasters, improper containment and the risk of radioactive contamination if one of these buildings were to collapse or catch fire.
Groundwater and soil contamination are equally concerning. From 1950-1963, about 3% of the Mercury Hg contaminated the air, soil, and rock under facilities and East Fork Poplar Creek. Mercury contamination has been a long-standing problem at the facility. Many of the deteriorating buildings having some form of mercury contamination. Though the mercury is considered a legacy waste problem now, there are still ongoing health concerns such as cancer, kidney issues and radiation exposure.
Uranium leaks are also an ongoing concern at Y-12. In fact, forty-seven new or previously identified leaks await repair inside Building 9212. These leaks have caused workers inside the facility to be exposed to radioactive contamination. Apparently, the leaks are a common occurrence and a rigorous maintenance schedule is required to keep the facility and its workers out of harm’s way. OREPA rightfully notes that “Y-12 has deteriorated past the point of safe operation.” By allowing these buildings to still be operational, the Department of Energy and the Y-12 National Security Complex is risking the health and well-being of its employees, neighboring citizens, wildlife and the environment.
Many concerned citizens and groups oppose Y-12. For instance, the OREPA website states, “their focus is stopping nuclear weapons production at the Y12 Nuclear Weapons Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and protecting the environment threatened by legacy and ongoing activities at the Oak Ridge Nuclear Reservation.” This movement was established in 1989 to keep the public informed on restoration activities. The movement also aims to dismantle nuclear weapons and dispose of highly enriched uranium. They will continue to educate and inform the public on the environmental issues that threaten Oak Ridge and its citizens.
The only way to properly contain any further health risks to Oak Ridge and its surrounding cities is to remove all stored radioactive materials, mitigate, demolish and properly dispose of all contaminated building materials. The materials used back in the 1940s to build the Y-12 facility did not have the same quality and safety standards that today’s modern materials have. Aging wood, concrete ceilings and asbestos are only part of the outdated materials in question. The structural integrity of the buildings was not designed to withstand the lack of upkeep that has occurred over the years. The responsible thing to do is remove all stored radioactive and nuclear materials and demolish the compound. By properly removing and disposing of all contaminated materials, the risk of catastrophic nuclear or radioactive contamination is decreased exponentially.
Once the area has been deemed decontaminated and safe, a new advanced and modernized facility should be built to house and store the nuclear and radioactive materials. The facility should be built with the most advanced materials and should consist of a fully contained structure that would last well into the future. It would need to have the capacity to withstand natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes and forest fires. The building materials would need to be water and fire resistant to ensure that the materials stored inside stayed protected and secure always.
The main storage facility would need to be built underground or into the side of the mountain to fully contain it from foreign and domesticated terrorist threats. It should be equipped with the most advanced technology that would fully contain the compound in case of malfunction or accidental contamination. The systems in place would be able to secure the materials, close off any area that has been contaminated and send the contamination through an emergency containment system. This would ensure that no harmful materials could seep into the air and expose the public.
Proper containment of all nuclear and radioactive materials is also necessary. Much of the equipment that houses these materials is highly outdated and will need to be updated. Nuclear, safety, and environmental engineers would need to come together to create the most efficient, secure. and highly advanced nuclear containment system. The World Nuclear Association says the system should be made from high-quality design and construction. The equipment would have to be impervious to human failure. Comprehensive monitoring and regular testing would detect equipment or operator failures. Likewise, redundant and diverse systems would control damage to the fuel and prevent significant radioactive releases. This includes confining the effects of severe fuel damage (or any other problem) to the plant itself.
Two other key components should be part of the design. First, designers should install a highly sensitive climate controlled system that would help keep all radioactive materials cool and lower the risk of potential over-heating. Second, they should add a state-of-the-art ventilation system that would contain all harmful particles automatically before they could be expelled into the environment. These design elements together would create a safer containment system. We should have zero tolerance for future leaks and chemical exposures.
The security system would be designed with the most advanced encrypted technology. Think of this as the standard in safely guarding our communities from accidental exposure, contamination, and threat. The system would encompass a highly sensitive detection system that monitors air flow and air purity. Security measures would need to be rigorous. This means guarded personnel, laser eye technology for entry in and out of buildings, and an advanced voice recognition system. A high-tech surveillance system should be added as well. Planners would include cameras equipped with infrared and heat seeking capabilities in the event of an attack or a black out.
It is vital that all the surrounding soil and waterways be consistently tested and rigorously mitigated for Mercury exposure. According to a Y-12 National Security Complex report, the immediate goal is “to remove legacy materials from contaminated facilities, isolate the structures from the rest of the plant before they are dismantled and demolished, and then remediate the underlying soil.” Y-12 executives are fully aware that there is still an issue with Mercury contamination and rigorous steps need to be taken to clean up the problem. The contaminated areas need to have all soil that tests positive for Mercury removed, mitigated and placed in a hazardous waste containment area to minimize risk of future exposure.
A water treatment system would need to be installed that would treat all water that flows in and out of the facility. Treating the water before it goes through the public water system or into outlying natural waterways will help ensure that the legacy waste from post Mercury exposure continues to be monitored. It will also allow for the monitoring of all waste products that might accidently exit through the water system. If proper precautions are taken in advance, there is a better chance of not exposing the public to any further contamination. Without proper clean up, mitigation, ongoing testing and the installation of a water treatment facility, Mercury in the soil and water system will continue to pose health risk to workers and citizens for years to come.
The Department of Energy and the Y-12 National Security Complex need to come together. Then, engineers, contractors, scientists and the public must make an informed decision and create a solution. They must create a cost-effective method to deconstruct, demolish, and rebuild the historical site of the “Manhattan Project.” The facility is now in the stages of disrepair and dilapidation. The idle, eroding Y-12 site is a ticking time bomb headed for nuclear disaster. Those who live in Oak Ridge will be some of the most affected if something catastrophic ever occurs at this facility or one of its nuclear storage buildings. Natural disasters or a terror attack could destroy Y-12 in an instant. This woudl suddenly affect thousands of lives. Action needs to be taken now to ensure everyone’s health and safety.
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Susanne Estep lives on a small horse farm in Colorado with her husband and many animals. She plans to use equine assisted psychotherapy to help veterans with post traumatic stress disorder and individuals with drug and alcohol addiction once she completes her college degree.
