UCOR has installed new structural screens at the White Oak Embayment Sediment Retention Structure (SRS), a significant effort to provide a long-term solution following repairs made over last Thanksgiving and early January timeframes.
The SRS was built in the early 1990s as a CERCLA Time Critical Action along the White Oak Creek near the mouth of the Clinch River. This structure minimizes surging, potential erosion, and controls the discharge of contaminated sediments in water from ORNL.
Over four months, Environmental Services ensured there were no environmental impacts and supported communication with regulators until the long-term solution was in place. The team completed 360 water samples, managed shipping and transport of the samples, and created a new analytical laboratory contract to facilitate faster turnaround of results. These efforts were accomplished safely, often during holidays and weekend overtime.
Critical Projects led a cross-functional team with support from Nuclear Operations, Construction Management, Engineering and Technology Development, and subcontractor crews to design, fabricate, mobilize, and install these key structural screens to extend the life of the SRS by another two to three decades. This work was done in coordination with TVA River Operations to ensure crews could safely and efficiently work before Clinch River water levels rise to normal summer pool elevations in early April.
Congratulations to the extensive team for this achievement!
