UCOR began work on the new Oak Ridge Cleanup Contract in March of 2022 starting with a three-month transition period that has since moved towards development and execution of task orders. Under the new cleanup contract, Strata-G is a preselected subcontractor for the next 10 years with the possibility of an additional five-year extension. A critical project necessary to meet the objectives of the new cleanup contract is the design, construction, and operation of the Environmental Management Disposal Facility (EMDF).
Strata-G President, John Patterson, has been the EMDF Project Manager since June 2020. In the midst of Covid working remotely, and in the years following the pandemic, the EMDF team developed regulatory, design, and program management documents that enabled approval of the EMDF CERCLA Record of Decision (ROD) in September 2022. The EMDF is planning to safely and compliantly dispose of 2.2M cubic yards of low-level waste, hazardous waste, and mixed waste. Strata-G’s Steve Kenworthy, PhD, led the development of radiological waste acceptance criteria (WAC) that was essential to obtaining Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) approval of the EMDF ROD.
The EMDF Project has now pivoted to execution of the subprojects starting with early site preparation (ESP) activities which include re-routing Bear Creek Road and the EMWMF Haul Road, clearing and grubbing the EMDF footprint, and completing water and electrical utility line extensions necessary to support the EMDF footprint development. The EMDF footprint is located in central Bear Creek Valley approximately two miles west of Y-12. Strata-G’s Josh Pemberton has been supporting ESP activities and will serve a significant role of Construction Manager of the EMDF in the future.
Public outreach is a key component of the EMDF Project as public interest in the project is high. On December 8, 2022, the EMDF Project held an outreach event at the Scarboro Community Center in Oak Ridge. Over 50 members of the public attended as did three press outlets. John Patterson was one of the presenters, and he expertly answered many questions over the course of the two-hour public outreach event.
Way to go, John!
