Environmental Assessment for the U-233 Disposition, Medical Isotope Production, and Building 3019 Complex Shutdown at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The purpose of the proposed action evaluated in this environmental assessment (EA) is the processing of uranium-233 (233U) stored at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and other small quantities of similar material currently stored at other U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites in order to render it suitable for safe, long-term, economical storage. The 233U is stored within Bldg. 3019A, which is part of the Bldg. 3019 Complex. The location of the Bldg. 3019 Complex is shown on Fig. 1.1. Additionally, the proposed action would increase the availability of medical isotopes needed for research and treatment and place the Bldg. 3019 Complex in safe and stable shutdown for transfer to the DOE program for decontamination and decommissioning (D and D). DOE has determined that there is no programmatic use for the 233U currently in storage at ORNL other than as a possible source of medical isotopes. Since 233U is a special nuclear material, continued long-term storage of the ORNL inventory in its current configuration represents a significant financial liability for DOE. Continued long-term storage in Bldg. 3019A would require major capital upgrades and retrofits to critical facility systems that have deteriorated due to aging or that may not meet current standards. Storing the material in its current form requires significant annual operating expenses to meet the material-handling requirements and to provide protection against nuclear criticality accidents or theft of the material. The ORNL inventory of 233U represents most of the readily available source of thorium-229 (229Th) in the Western Hemisphere. Actinum-225 (225Ac) and its daughter product, bismuth-213 (213Bi), are isotopes in the decay chain of 233U/229Th that are showing significant promise for ongoing cancer research, including clinical trials for treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia. These isotopes are also being explored for treatment of other cancers of the lungs, pancreas, and kidneys. Figure 1.2 shows a simplified example of the 233U decay chain. DOE action is needed to (1) render the 233U material suitable for safe, long-term, economical storage eliminating the need for safeguards, security and nuclear criticality controls; (2) provide isotopes for medical research for providing treatment for several types of cancer; and (3) remove the 233U material, allowing the building to be deactivated and transferred to the D and D program, which would reduce DOE's landlord costs and meet the requirements of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 97-1, which addresses the safe storage of 233U (DNFSB 1997). Recommendation 97-1 describes actions that the DNFSB considers necessary to ensure the safe storage of 233U-bearing materials in the interim and the longer term.