UCOR’s Y-12 deactivation and demolition (D&D) crews have made a critical advancement in the upcoming demolition of the former uranium enrichment facility Beta-1. They have shipped mercury removed from over 820 linear feet of filled drainpipe out of the facility, one of the final steps to reaching condemnation in the upcoming weeks.
After being characterized and removed from piping within the basement of Beta-1, the mercury was then packaged in B-12 boxes and shipped to Energy Solutions in Clive, Utah. Intensive cleaning of the interior of mercury-contaminated pipes and coordinated packaging and shipment plans led to the successful removal of mercury off the footprint.
This mercury removal effort is the latest achievement at Beta-1. To prepare for early fall demolition, crews have completed filling the Beta-1 basement with controlled low-strength material (CLSM) to stabilize the foundation for future demolition. This step earned UCOR’s Y-12 Flowable Fill project team a prestigious Tennessee Concrete Association (TCA) award, recognizing their excellence in handling over 26,500 cubic yards of CLSM.
The 210,000-square-feet facility also required the removal of over 17 million gallons of groundwater to successfully fill the basement with CLSM.
The successful mercury shipment and past achievements highlight the operational experts of multiple disciplines, including D&D, water treatment, radiation protection, industrial hygiene, safety, environmental, sampling, engineering, planning, and NDA teams. Their commitment to excellence while maintaining safe operations is paramount as UCOR progresses toward Beta-1’s condemnation and subsequent demolition.
