FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                  May 3, 1996

Pollution prevention involves the reduction of pollution at the source, efficient use of energy, and reuse of materials to minimize or stop the generation of waste. Innovative projects in pollution prevention, waste reduction, and conservation of raw materials enabled DOE's Oak Ridge Operations (ORO) to avoid $10 million in costs in FY 1995.

Nominations were received from Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Lockheed Martin Energy Research, MK Ferguson of Oak Ridge Company, MK Ferguson at Weldon Spring Site, and Bechtel National Incorporated. James C. Hall, ORO Manager, presented the awards in ceremonies held recently at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site.

The awards are grouped under the following categories: Return on Investment; Integrated Planning & Design; Information Sharing; Radioactive/Hazardous Waste Recycling; Solid Waste Recycling; Public Outreach & Partnership; and Source Reduction/Zero Generation. Awards are presented to individuals, organizations, and companies on the basis of applicability, originality, measurability, and potential for broader application.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Walter Perry or Frank Juan, (423) 576-0885

Project: Solvent Recycling at MK Ferguson Paint Shop
The installation of a solvent recycling unit at the MK Ferguson (MK-F) paint shop has helped to reduce the amount of waste generated from this operation. The amount of paint thinner used by MK-F is on the order of 1,000 gallons per year. The unit can recycle 90% of this amount - achieving a cost savings in excess of $90,000 per year. Furthermore, this recycling reduces the need for new product ten fold. Because the unit was purchased late in 1995 (after the main construction and painting season was past) the actual amount of solvent recycled for the year was about 100 gallons. This represents a savings of approximately $9,000 and thus the original cost of the solvent unit ($1,995) was recovered several times over. Expected Return on Investment = 4501%
Award Recipients: Al Fail, Matthew Hatfield, Jack O'Hearn, Gerald Potter, Mike Sparks.

Project: ORNL Metals & Ceramics Division, BUS AREA, Maximizing the use of R&D Chemicals
Through an in-depth study, this team determined the costs of Research & Development waste directly related to the number of individual chemicals in the waste stream. The team conceptualized a project to ensure that individual chemicals received maximum-use, after their initial-use in research. Chemicals were held in a safely maintained, Between-Use-Storage (BUS) Area. The support for the pilot project came from DOE Energy Research and ORNL Metals & Ceramics Division. During eight months of operation in 1995, the BUS Area saved 708 chemicals from premature disposal and recirculated 93 chemicals into use. The project cost $32,000, but yielded a total benefit of $136,000 in direct savings (procurement of chemicals) and cost avoidance.
Award Recipients: Jamie Bain, Susan Michaud, Randall Ogle, Anne Ostergaard, Hurley Upton.

Award Category: Integrated Planning & Design
Honoring the best example of planning of a DOE-funded activity, project, or technology to include pollution prevention concepts and principles. Nominations could include broad subjects such as project planning or be narrowly focused on best technical design of a product, process, system, or technology to reflect pollution prevention principles.

Project: Up Front Planning and Design Provide Savings at GM Site
A cost effective program for integrated planning, hazard assessment, waste management, and use of an innovative technology was implemented at the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) General Motors (GM) site resulting in savings of over $1.6 million. By aggressively looking for opportunities in a number of key areas in the remediation process, waste volumes were reduced from 1500 cubic yards to 175 cubic yards, wastewater was disposed at a savings of over $20 per gallon, and the impact of the cleanup on ongoing plant operations at the site was minimized.
Award Recipients: FUSRAP GM Team (Debbie Browning, Gil Drexel, Don Dunning, Marty Keller, James Kopotic, Gerry Palau, George Stephens, Alexander Williams, Joe Wood).

Project: High Quality, Complex-Shaped Ceramic Parts with Improved Safety & No Hazardous Waste
Improved ceramics processing methodology was first investigated to improve production of complex-shaped parts such as turbine rotors. Gelcasting unites techniques from ceramics with polymer chemistry to allow for formation of complex shapes that require little if any machining and as a result produce little waste. The nominated team of researchers integrated industrial hygiene and pollution prevention into their project, as they chose to substitute relatively non-toxic monomers and reagents for previously used highly toxic chemicals. The result has been a superior, award winning process (e.g., in 1995 it received a R&D 100 Award) that has maximized safety and pollution prevention.
Award Recipients: Mark Janney, Steven Nunn, Ogbemi Omatete, Claudia Walls.

Award Category: Information Sharing
Honoring the outstanding achievement in pollution prevention or recycling education, training, or technology transfer by the nominated program or facility to other DOE employees, contractors, programs, or facilities.

Project: Preparation and Distribution of the Pollution Prevention Guide for Oak Ridge Reservation Employees
Summary: The K-25 Site Pollution Prevention Office took the lead and funded the development of the publication Pollution Prevention Guide for Oak Ridge Reservation Employees. Representatives of the Pollution Prevention Offices of the Energy Systems assisted in reviewing and developing the pollution prevention handbook for personnel assigned to the three sites. The handbook includes general information that is applicable to both work and home environments. It was designed to introduce the reader to what pollution prevention is and what prevention means, as well as to the recycling efforts that are taking place at the Oak Ridge Reservation sites.
Award Recipients: Belgin Barkinbus, Janet Michel, Sheila Poligone, David Wasserman.

Award Category: Radioactive/Hazardous Waste Recycling Honoring the best overall radioactive and/or hazardous waste recycling program at a DOE site, facility, or operation; or the best example of effective recycling of a significant radioactive and/or hazardous waste stream.

Project: Railroad Rail Recycling at the Weldon Springs Site As part of the Weldon Springs Site Remedial Action Project's waste minimization efforts, 15,000 linear feet of railroad track was transferred to the St. Louis Museum of Transportation for reuse. The museum plans to extend their railroad system to run a steam engine.
Award Recipients: Gary Beyer, Johann Geyer, Keith Hafley, Garrett Huster, Rodney Jenkins, Scott Umfleet.

Award Category: Solid Waste Recycling
Honoring the best overall solid waste recycling program at a DOE site, facility, or operation.

Project: Solid Waste Recycling at Y-12 Featuring techniques used at Y-12 to reduce landfill usage including , source reduction of waste streams wherever feasible; and supporting the effort to achieve total recycling of waste streams such as paper, aluminum, and scrap wood. The Y-12 recycling program was designed to support four major goals: (1) increase the longevity of the Y-12 landfill, (2) reduce costs to Y-12, (3) conserve energy and natural resources, and (4) comply with federal waste minimization regulations. Due to the success of the plant wide paper and aluminum recycling program, additional waste streams have been identified and targeted for recycling. These streams include coal ash recycling, automotive recycling in the Y-12 garage, fluorescent bulbs, toner cartridges, and implementation of the Y-12 Swap Shop. (98% of Aluminum cans were recycled in 1995)
Award Recipient: Y-12 Plant Employees (James Bennett, Kathy Davidson, David Harvey, Eva Irwin, Tim Leach, Gary Marlow, Shiela Poligone, Ron Walton).

Award Category: Public Outreach & Partnership
Honoring the outstanding achievement in public awareness, education, or partnership between a DOE facility (including its management and employees) and the public, industry, an educational institution, a state or Federal agency, or other non-DOE body that has a major positive impact on community, local, or state pollution prevention or recycling planning, program development or operation, or public knowledge and attitudes.

Project: DOE and TVA Combine Resources to Plan Waste Reduction
The DOE TSCA Incinerator at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site was used to dispose of 75,000 gallons of slightly contaminated mineral oil from TVA . Burning the TVA oil was part of the process of decontaminating several TSCA Incinerator tanks. The two agencies worked together in planning a way beneficial to both cost and time, to decontaminate the DOE TSCA Incinerator tanks with the TVA mineral oil. The cost savings for DOE included the avoidance of purchasing a cleaning solvent for the tanks since the mineral oil was free. The cost savings to TVA was not having to pay another agency to retrieve and store the mineral oil from the transformers. The transfer of the material from TVA to begin the decontamination of the tanks was completed in December 1995.
Award Recipients: John Dries, Gerald Melton, Kent Smithson (TVA), Brenda Snyder, Jamie Wright.

Award Category: Source Reduction/Zero Generation
Awarded to the outstanding example of significant reduction in the generation of a significant routine hazardous or radioactive waste stream from a DOE process, facility, program, or site through source reduction.

Project: FUSRAP In-Situ Radiological Survey of Underground Piping
A pneumatically deployed membrane system was used to conduct in-situ radiological surveys of underground pipes and drains at a DOE Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program site in Adrian, Michigan. Remedial action consisted of the removal of residual radioactive sludge and oil. The innovative technology was used to transport a high-sensitivity probe specifically designed for this application, through designated pipes and drains. Use of this system made it possible to survey over 1,000 linear ft of drain line in one week, with no significant safety hazards. The resulting cost savings were more than $ 1.5 million.
Award Recipients: Marty Keller, James Kopotic, Gerry Palau, Alexander Williams, Joe Wood.

Project: Waste Minimization at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site Paint Shop Summary: The K-25 Site Paint Shop has reduced the amount of hazardous waste it generated by initiating several projects. The Paint Shop uses water-based paint substitutes for oil-based paint whenever feasible. Five thousand gallons of paint have been recycled through exchange programs. Two sandblast/vacuum recovery units prevent contaminant release and minimize hazardous waste. Color selection has been limited, and the Paint Shop now purchases a base color and tints. Excess tinted paints are recycled as primer. A smaller paint supply (two days worth) ensures that the paint's shelf life is not exceeded. A paint thinner reclamation center is also being used.
Award Recipient: Mark Corley, Terry Westmoreland, Ernest Wright, Emma Yancey .