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Council authorizes $300,000 design agreement for Rarity Ridge solids system; asks DOE about technetium-99 sampling
Summary
Oak Ridge City Council authorized a professional services agreement up to $300,000 with Fox PE LLC to design solids-handling improvements at the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant and asked staff to push DOE for sampling to monitor technetium-99 during dewatering.
Oak Ridge City Council authorized a professional services agreement with Fox PE LLC (Nashville) not to exceed $300,000 to design solids-handling improvements at the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant, and members used the discussion to press for safeguards around dewatering of radioactive-contaminated sludge.
City staff explained that the plant currently lacks modern solids handling and that, while DOE has been hauling sludge off-site for disposal, DOE is installing a temporary system to dewater material and reduce hauling. Staff said the long-term goal is to have a solids-handling system adequate for future plant expansion and to landfill dewatered solids when normal operations resume.
City staff (Mister Flynn) described the situation: "Right now, we don't have solids handling. . . With the situation right now that DOE is hauling it off, it kinda almost helps us. But at the point that we solve that problem and go back to taking care of disposal ourselves, then we need to fix this such that we are able to dispose of sludge that's not pure water." He added the proposed design will be applicable to future plant upgrades.
Council Member Smith raised environmental concerns about technetium-99, noting that the isotope is water soluble and asking whether aggressive dewatering could remove technetium from solids into liquid that might be discharged locally. Smith said, in essence, that "they're probably taking some of the technetium out of the sludge and leaving it behind when they take the water out" and asked staff to insist on sampling and monitoring of any water discharged.
City staff agreed to raise the concern with DOE and to seek a sampling program so the city can confirm water released during dewatering meets applicable standards. The resolution authorizing the Fox PE agreement passed by voice vote (7 ayes).
Next steps: Fox PE will begin design work under the contract; staff will coordinate with DOE on sampling and monitoring plans and report back to council.
