Approach
For DOE to successfully address remaining cleanup problems, it will require 1) partnering and leveraging with other relevant organizations and 2) integrating basic science and needs-driven research activities with DOE cleanup operations to facilitate the transition of scientific results into applied solutions.
At the Oak Ridge site, scientists and engineers are taking an integrated approach to address the technical challenges in remediation of mercury and other industrial contaminants.
The knowledge gained through this work will be used to transfer basic science and use-inspired research findings into practical solutions that can be deployed by site contractors at the Oak Ridge Reservation and across the entire DOE complex.
The Remediation of Mercury and Industrial Contaminants Applied Field Research Initiative is tasked with:
1. Developing and demonstrating reliable tools to detect and quantify mercury in soil, rubble, and fractured rock.
Goals: Efficient, economical waste segregation, treatment, and disposal, improved prediction of mercury distribution, speciation and transport in complex subsurface systems
2. Develop and validate physical and chemical amendments to stabilize mercury in soil, sediment, and stream banks.
Goal: Long-term mercury immobilization to reduce mercury release and risk3. Demonstrate and optimize novel treatment methods to remove mercury in water and soil.
Goal: Prevention of mercury release to surface water and ecosystem4. Develop and apply system analysis tools.
Goal: Achieve systems integration
