The end use recommendations for Bethel Valley were approved on May 29, 1997. The signed recommendations and an end use map are presented on page page 20 and page 21.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) dominates the Bethel Valley watershed (see Figure 4.1). The ORNL began processing plutonium and fission products for the Manhattan Project during World War II and, after the war, it was established as a national laboratory. The ORNL conducts basic and applied research and development in physical, chemical, and materials sciences; biological, environmental, and social sciences; and computational sciences in order to advance the nation’s energy resources, environmental quality, and scientific knowledge and to contribute to educational foundations and national economic competitiveness. The Bethel Valley watershed is bounded to the south by the Melton Valley watershed and to the north by the Bear Creek Valley watershed.

Wastes in Bethel Valley resulted from nuclear reactors; radioisotope operations; particle accelerators; hot cell operations; physical, chemical and biological research; fuel chemical reprocessing research; and analytical laboratories. The end use recommendation addresses the three main areas of contamination within the watershed: the ORNL main plant area, the areas known as Waste Area Grouping 3, and Waste Area Grouping 17.

The ORNL Main Plant Area includes active and inactive facilities, four inactive research reactors, underground waste tanks, many miles of associated pipeline, surface impoundments and contaminated soils. Strontium-90 is a major contaminant associated with releases from the surface impoundments. Sediments in the impoundments are contaminated with cesium-137. Contaminated soils result from liquid waste transfer pipeline leaks or spills. Pipeline and tank leaks also have contributed to groundwater contamination. The Corehole 8 groundwater plume is contaminated with strontium-90 and uranium, which resulted from a broken pipe in the North Tank Farm. A major challenge for remediation of the Main Plant Area is the extensive underground network of tanks and pipelines used for radionuclide processing and waste treatment.

The area known as Waste Area Grouping 3, to the west of ORNL, includes:

• Solid Waste Storage Area 3, which was used for disposal of low-level and transuranic wastes. Seepage from this area flows into groundwater, which empties into the Northwest Tributary and Raccoon Creek;
• the Closed Scrap Metal Area, which was used for disposal of contaminated metal; and
• the Contractors Landfill, which was used for disposal of uncontaminated construction debris.

Contaminants of concern for Waste Area Grouping 3 include cesium and strontium.

The area known as Waste Area Grouping 17, to the east of ORNL, contains most of ORNL’s craft and machine shops, shipping and receiving activities, automobile service center and material storage areas. This area contains three sites subject to CERCLA investigations: waste oil storage tanks 7002A and 7002W and the tritium target preparation facility. Groundwater in this area is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In discussing overall end use for the Main Plant Area, four surface impoundments prompted the most debate because remediation objectives for the ponds were a current public discussion topic. Two end use categories were considered for the impoundments: controlled industrial/commercial, and restricted access. Cost estimates for a controlled industrial/commercial end use were between $15 to $23 million. Cost estimates for the restricted access option ranged from $10 to $14 million. Most members believed remediating the surface impoundments to allow for a controlled industrial end use would be worth the somewhat increased costs.

• the importance of maintaining ORNL as a viable resource;
• comparisons of costs, remediation activities, and waste volumes, for the two possible end uses;
• the importance of ensuring that all surface areas are safe for industrial workers; and
• the close proximity of Waste Area Grouping 3 to the ORNL Main Plant Area, which mandated a controlled industrial end use for this area.

A few members did not support the Bethel Valley end use recommendation because the EUWG did not present the detailed information necessary to address groundwater or surface water issues at that time. Groundwater and surface water issues were explored at a later date, and recommendations were incorporated into the Community Guidelines. A member believed the Bethel Valley end use recommendation was vague and could easily be misinterpreted. Another member believes a Sentinel Health Evaluation should be conducted at ORNL because of the possible impacts of contaminants on worker’s and public health.