OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) is set to begin the next major demolition project at the Y-12 National Security Complex.
On Wednesday, OREM said it and UCOR, a contractor, are preparing to begin demolishing the Beta-1 building, which was built in 1944 as part of the Manhattan Project to enrich uranium during World War II. After the war, it was converted into laboratory space for fusion energy technology.
Officials said crews have completed deactivation of the above-ground floors and are working on the basement, but water intrusion has been an ongoing challenge in the 300,000 square-foot building.
“Battling water intrusion to keep the levels in the 111,000-square-foot basement drained affects access to perform work,” said Larry Brede, UCOR’s Y-12 cleanup area project manager. “Deactivation activities cannot be performed in areas with standing water.”
To fix this problem, officials said a second water treatment system will be installed to reduce downtime and allow crews to pour in a material similar to concrete to fill the basement and make the ground more stable to support the heavy equipment used in the demolition.
Beta-1 is, according to UCOR, a “high-risk excess contaminated facility,” meaning removing the building will clear up hazards that could affect the site and open land for further missions.
It will be the second building to be demolished at Y-12 after crews began demolishing the Alpha-2 facility in December.
Demolition will begin once crews finish tearing down the Alpha-2 facility.
Story courtesy of WVLT
