Science Programs are performed at ORNL, ORISE, and Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). At ORNL, researchers focus on basic and applied research to advance the nation's energy resources, environmental quality, scientific knowledge, and contribute to science education and national economic competitiveness. The Laboratory also performs work for non DOE sponsors when such activities complement DOE missions and address important national or international issues. ORNL is operated by UT-Battelle, LLC. ORISE is managed for DOE by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a not-for-profit consortium of 86 colleges and universities. ORISE carries out national and international programs in science and engineering education, training and management systems, energy and environmental systems, medical sciences, and low energy physics. Jefferson Lab accelerates electrons for use as a probe to study the structure of matter. Jefferson Lab is operated by Southeastern Universities Research Association.

Environmental Management is an accelerated cleanup program underway to correct the legacies remaining from more than 50 years of energy research and weapons production with the majority of the work to be completed by 2008. Because of past practices, portions of the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) are contaminated with radioactive elements, mercury, asbestos, PCBs, and industrial wastes. The ORR is on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) national priorities list and is being cleaned up under a federal facilities agreement with EPA and the State of Tennessee. Public involvement in the cleanup program is encouraged through public meetings, comment periods and the monthly meeting of the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board.  ORO's Environmental Management program is managed by Bechtel Jacobs Company, LLC.

The Assets Utilization (AU) program was begun in 1996 for the purpose of accelerating the pace of the cleanup work in Oak Ridge and reducing costs of this program, while mitigating the effects of downsizing of DOE missions. With a primary emphasis on the 750-acre ETTP, DOE has leased more than 75 properties to the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee (CROET). These leases have resulted in reduced costs for surveillance, maintenance, utilities, and landlord-type administrative costs to DOE. In order to advance cleanup and accomplish goals set in the DOE Accelerated Cleanup Plan, there has been a shift in emphasis from leasing to title transfer of selected buildings to the CROET, an approach that saves DOE demolition costs and provides useful facilities for regional economic development. The mutual goal of the AU Program and the Accelerated Cleanup Plan is to transition the site to be a self-sustaining industrial complex no longer reliant on Federal funding within this decade. In managing the National Centers for Scrap Metals, Lead, Precious Metals and Electronics, the AU Program also provides valuable services to more than 30 DOE sites in the recycle/reuse of excess and surplus equipment and materials derived from decontamination and decommissioning work and other activities. The program also provides recycle/reuse services to other Federal agencies, including NASA and the Department of Justice's Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program.    

Assets Utilization
Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee

The National Security mission in Oak Ridge is carried out at the National Nuclear Security Administration's Y-12 National Security Complex, formerly known as the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. Programs at Y-12 include manufacturing and reworking nuclear weapon components, dismantling nuclear weapon components returned from the national arsenal, serving as the nation's safe, secure storehouse of special nuclear materials, reducing the global threat from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and providing the U.S. Navy with safe, militarily effective nuclear propulsion systems.  Y-12 is operated by BWXT Y-12 LLC. ORO provides a variety of services to the NNSA's Y-12 Site Office as part of a service agreement between the two organizations.

ORO's Uranium Programs are performed under the Office of Nuclear Fuel Security and Uranium Technology (NFS). This organization is chartered to manage and facilitate the maintenance and disposition of DOE's excess uranium inventories and to develop and implement strategic and tactical plans to ensure an integrated approach for the Department's uranium management activities. The organization is responsible for administering the Lease Agreement/Regulatory Oversight Program with the United States Enrichment Corporation and provides leadership and technical support for the development of advanced uranium enrichment technology. NFS has an established interface with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for nuclear safety related issues.  NFS also provides assistance to Environmental Management for the "cold standby" program at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant to ensure an adequate supply of domestic uranium enrichment. 

Environment, Safety, Health & Emergency Management: DOE operations in Oak Ridge must comply with environmental criteria established by a number of Federal and State statutes and regulations, executive orders, DOE orders, and compliance agreements. ORO's Environment, Safety, Health & Emergency Management organization is responsible for developing effective and efficient environmental protection, safety, health, and quality programs and guidance applicable to all ORO programs. As a part of this program, the ORR has an extensive environmental monitoring program designed to meet applicable laws and standards and to protect the public and environment. Literally thousands of samples are collected and analyzed annually and results are reported in our Annual Site Environmental Report.

New Oak Ridge Initiatives:

It will operate as a user facility that will enable researchers from the U.S. and abroad to study the science of materials that forms the basis for new technologies in telecommunications, manufacturing, transportation, information technology, biotechnology and health. The SNS will attract up to 2,000 scientists and engineers each year from universities, industry, government laboratories, and other nations.  The FY 2004 budget for SNS is $142 million.

Spallation Neutron Source


Cleanup Progress: An "O" Converter is being removed from the K-29 Building as part of environmental cleanup activities at the Department of Energy's East Tennessee Technology Park.  This 12-ton piece of equipment was one of 309 removed from K-29, in addition to the 632 from the K-33 Building weighing 33 tons each and 595 from the K-31 Building weighing 15 tons each.  This equipment was used to enrich uranium for commercial nuclear power and defense purposes for over 40 years.  Decontamination and decommissioning activities are scheduled to be completed by August 2004, allowing 4.5 million square feet in the three buildings to be made available for use by private industry.

DOE Accelerating Cleanup
 

Y-12 National Security Complex Modernization: An extensive modernization effort is now underway to build new facilities that will enable Y-12 to improve its support of the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile. Modernizing the facility is intended to reduce operational costs and to improve program efficiency and environment, health, and safety. The proposed facilities include a new Highly Enriched Uranium Facility and a Special Nuclear Materials Facility.