Joint Sustainability Support Bi-monthly Conference Call and Waste Minimization Coordinators Monthly Conference Call

Introduction - Kent Hancock, Bob Fleming
Kent Hancock of EM-77 and Bob Fleming of EM-44 co-hosted the call. This call was a joint call between Kent Hancock's regularly scheduled Waste Minimization Coordinators monthly call and Bob Fleming's Sustainability Support bi-monthly conference call. A listing of call participants is included at the end of the minutes.

Kent and Bob began the call by welcoming everyone. Kent discussed the interaction of Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency (P2/E2) programs with the new Field Management Council set up by DOE's Deputy Secretary. Dan Reicher will rotate as chairman of the council and will discuss P2/E2 as a part of the council agenda when he sits as chair. The first meeting where P2/E2 will be discussed is June 21st. Kent plans to discuss the FY 2000 budget shortfall for P2 and the need for return-on-investment (ROI) dollars for P2 projects.

Bob introduced Mary McCune of EM-40 and Bobbie Smith, a support contractor to EM-40, who discussed EM-40's Lessons Learned Program.

EM-40's Lessons Learned Program - Mary McCune and Bobbie Smith
Jim Fiore, EM-40 DAS, has stated the following important reasons for instituting a lessons learned program:

• Improves efficiencies and effectiveness of projects
• Focuses on EM-40 type business and functional areas
• Filters lessons learned information to site and project personnel
• Trends data for reporting purposes and long-range planning
• Promotes sharing of knowledge, technologies, and best practices
• Avoids repeat mistakes
• Increases communication between sites.

Mary stated that the P2/WMin programs have many lessons learned and case study information which is directly applicable to the EM-40 Lessons Learned Program, and vis versa. They would like to include all of the case studies from the "Complex Wide Study" done several years ago by EM-40, as well as new projects which have been completed since that time.

The Web site allows you to directly input your case study information into the database electronically. A very easy template is available on the Web site to follow when inputting the case study/lessons learned data. The database can also be queried via a list server to obtain specific information. Lessons learned are also gleaned from mid-year and year-end reviews as well as EM program managers conference calls, meetings, and conferences such as the Technical Information Exchange workshops, Decommissioning National Meeting, etc.

Bottom line: Let people know about the lessons learned database and USE IT! Subscribe to the list server and search for ideas and new techniques to use in your projects! The database is continuing to be populated and your lessons learned and case study information is needed. You should also submit the information used in the nominations for P2 awards. Be sure to include the change between the waste generation from the old practice and the waste generation from the new practice as well as a contact person and phone number.

Several people requested that the lessons learned Web site be linked to the Sustainability Support Homepage as well as the EPIC site and EM-50 innovative technologies site.

Call Mary McCune with any additional questions at 301-903-8152. Mary and Bobbie also write the "Water Closet Newspaper" available in DOE HQ "water closets" near you...be sure to check out the award winners for the best use of a lessons learned!

LEHR Pilot P2 Implementation Study Update - Lisa Allmon-Burns
Lisa discussed the LEHR P2 Assessment draft report which was issued June 17th to the site personnel, team members, and DOE personnel. One broad-based P2 opportunity was identified dealing with cleanup levels and five project-specific opportunities dealing with concrete and asphalt scabbling in order to release as clean rubble and cobble/gravel cleaning for reuse onsite. Comments will be discussed on a conference call this week with all comments due May 28th. A final report should be available by the end of June.

The next P2 assessment is scheduled for June 29/30 at Rocky Flats. The selected project deals with the Hazard Removal Project at the Building 444 Cluster. The building 444 cluster is a large, 200,000 sq. ft. building complex. The building is contaminated with low levels of beryllium and uranium (mostly depleted uranium or DU). The hazards which must be removed include combustibles, chemicals, sources (including 172,000 pounds of depleted uranium ingots which could be shipped for reuse if a use exists), plus the removal of all equipment located in the building. Lubrication oils must be removed prior to removal of equipment.

An example of types of operations performed in the building or types of equipment used includes: plating operations equipment, carbon shop and casting molds, tool and gauge machining shops, metal fabrications and machining equipment, arc melting, induction casting, heat treatment, electrochemical milling, precision machining, welding, jig and fixture manufacturing, plating, cleaning, and assembly.

Included in this P2 assessment is the potential release for reuse of the equipment and DU...all currently contaminated.

Another project to be assessed at Rocky Flats is the treatment of TRU-contaminated oils. Some with and some without RCRA constituents. The RCRA/TRU oils are contaminated with carbon tet and Trichloroethylene. Approximately 500 gallons of TRU oils are onsite and must be treated to meet the WIPP WAC. A problem with storage of the TRU oils exist due to the possibility of hydrogen generation, so the site would like to treat and dispose of these wastes as soon as possible due to the high costs of storage.

There is a treatment process on site called OASIS (organic and sludge immobilization system) which was designed to stabilize filtered oils from Pu machining operations. Gypsum, water, emulsifier, and oil are mixed to stabilize the waste lubricants. It may not meet the WIPP WAC for headspace gases. This is still being analyzed.

Another option is to incinerate the oils at a commercial facility if the oils meet their radioactive materials license limits and process parameters and radioactive concentration limits.

Alternative methods for handling these oils is desired.

If you know of anyone who has expertise in these areas, please let Lisa know ASAP.

Evaluation of Metal Disposition Alternatives at Rocky Flats - Craig Erickson (Rocky Flats) and Lee Bishop (DOE National Center of Excellence for Metals Recycle)

A meeting was held on May 12th at Rocky Flats to discuss if the recycling of scrap metal is cost-effective for Rocky Flats. Craig explained that the disposal of scrap metal at NTS is the benchmark and they have a set cost for that disposition alternative. Over the last several years, scrap metal has been evaluated for potential remelt at a local vendor, but the costs are higher than disposal. Craig asked Lee Bishop from the National Center for Metals Recycle to visit the site and explore the "true cost" to DOE of disposal and recycle. Craig insisted that at Rocky Flats the cost to recycle must be above the break-even point in order to divert the waste from disposal. There will be high volumes of miscellaneous metals being generated in the next 4 years at Rocky Flats and a decision needs to be made regarding the alternatives for dispositioning.

Lee stated that the decision to recycle must be made on a case-by-case, site-by-site basis. The remelt vendor has recently provided Rocky Flats with a lowest price for metal services based upon the potential to decontaminate all or part of the metal and possibly remelt. Giving the vendor opportunities to make money and be creative is one way to lower the price of recycle. Recently, the Mound facility wanted to dispose of a TRU processing line. Lee was able to find a company willing to take the contaminated equipment and use it to make small amounts of the material for medical purposes. The details are being worked out. Glove boxes may be able to be reused by some universities and research facilities. Options other than disposal for gloveboxes and other contaminated metal materials are available.

Lee and company (National Center of Excellence for Metals Recycle Program) are willing to help other sites barter for the best price for metal services. Lee is currently mentoring Richland, Rocky Flats, and the Ohio Field Office. His number is 423-241-6199 and e-mail bishopml@oro.doe.gov.

1999 P2 Conference: P2 in Cleanup/Stabilization/Decommissioning (CSD) Focus Track - Courtney Manrod, Bechtel-Jacobs, Oak Ridge

The 1999 P2 conference will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico November 15-19, 1999. The conference theme has been identified as "Moving Towards a Pollution-Free DOE". There are seven focus tracks which include; energy efficiency and P2, P2 during cleanup and deconstruction, waste reduction, affirmative procurement, P2 in design, water efficiency, and reduction in air emissions. Web site address is: http://p2.sandia.gov.  Information is being added daily to the Web site - check it out!

Courtney Manrod and Bob Fleming are leading the development of the focus track on P2 in cleanup/stabilization/decommissioning. Courtney discussed the preliminary schedule for the P2 in CSD Focus Track which can be found on the conference web site. Panel sessions, workshops, discussions, and tours will be focused around the topical area on a daily basis and should lend itself to a more productive conference experience. A panel discussion on onsite disposal cells and their effect on P2 is being assembled and should be a highlight of this focus track. Please feel free to call Courtney at 423-576-0146 or Bob Fleming at 301-903-7627 to discuss your ideas or to hear more about the conference and the P2 in CSD Focus Track.

Site Updates/Discussions - ALL
Lisa updated the group on the Sustainability Support training modules developed by DOE HQ, EM-40 and sent to the sites last May. Richland, Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, Sandia/NM, LEHR, and Rocky Flats have all held training sessions based upon the training modules. Savannah River is scheduled to have a training session July 28th. Again, if you need assistance in developing or administering the training, NETO is available to help. Please let Bob know when you will be providing the training at your site, all sites should have the training completed by year-end, as requested by Jim Fiore.

Jamie Zeisloft of DOE Richland stated that they have tied waste volume reductions to the Bechtel Hanford fee in the form of a Performance Based Cost Incentive. He is willing to discuss this at the P2 conference and will submit the language electronically to the Sustainability Support Web site under the contract language section. You can call Jamie at 509-372-0188.

Ana Gonzalez of DOE Oak Ridge stated that Oak Ridge is on track to exceed the P2 waste reduction goal for ER and stabilization activities by 100%. Ana also announced that the new P2 contractor for Oak Ridge started May 17th. The new contractor is DPRA/IT.

Chris Ischay also made a comment that Yellowstone National Park is preparing a Systems Requirements Document which will include the drivers for P2/WMin at Yellowstone. Anyone want to volunteer to help out? Call Chris at 208-526-4382.

Thanks for participating in the conference call. The minutes will be available on the Sustainability Support Web site at www.em.doe.gov/er. We will schedule another call in July.

Call Participants:
Kent Hancock; EM-77
Bob Fleming; EM-44
Greg McBrien; EM-77
Mike Sweitzer; DOE AL
Tony Bindokas; DOE CH
Carol Shelton; DOE Nevada
Eli George; FETC
Anna Beard; DOE Richland
Lee Bishop; DOE ORO
Doug Maynor; DOE Ohio
Karin King; DOE OAK
Dave Maxwell; DOE Rocky Flats
Tanya Smith; DOE SRS
Ana Gonzalez; DOE ORO
Jamie Zeisloft; DOE Richland
Jeff Short; EM-77
Mary McCune; DOE HQ, Lessons Learned
Bobbie Smith; Lessons Learned
Lisa Allmon-Burns; IT Corp.
Courtney Manrod; Bechtel-Jacobs Oak Ridge
Steve Schmucker; Battelle Columbus Lab.
Salem Attiga; EMS LEHR
Cindy Dutro; IT Las Vegas
Chris Ischay; INEEL
Alisa Rhodes; Fernald
Donna Merry; Waste Management Hanford
Lori Manis; DPRA Oak Ridge
Craig Erickson; Rocky Flats

Send all comments, technical questions, and requests for password access to:
HSS User Support
P2Support@hq.doe.gov
(800) 473-4375