Related Websites
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Mercury Science Focus Area (SFA), funded by the Department of Energy's Subsurface Biogeochemical Research program, focuses on the biogeochemical transformations that govern mercury (Hg) speciation at the sediment-water interface, and, particularly, the processes controlling the production of methylmercury.
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program (BMAP) was developed in the mid-1980s to:
- Assess compliance with environmental regulations
- Identify causes of adverse ecological impacts
- Provide data for human and ecological risk assessments
- Evaluate the effectiveness of remedial actions by documenting ecological recovery
The program uses multiple lines of evidence to evaluate stream recovery; BMAP studies illustrate the importance of using an integrated approach for determining stream health.
The Integrated Field Research Challenge (IFRC) research will elucidate the mechanisms and rates of removal for important DOE contaminants in plumes that emanate from contaminated source zones, and the effects of source zone remediation measures on those plumes.
DOE Office of Environmental Management, Groundwater and Soil Remediation is responsible for providing DOE site managers with innovative technologies and approaches for cleaning up these sites. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce risks to the public and the environment, improve safety, and reduce remediation costs and schedules.
Decontamination and Decommissioning (D and D/FE): As DOE sites prepare for closure, a large number of buildings and facilities must be deactivated and decommissioned. These facilities contain many complex systems (e.g. ventilation), miles of contaminated pipelines, glove boxes, and unique processing equipment that require labor intensive deactivation and decommissioning methods. Although many technologies currently exist to address various aspects of decontamination, technology development and/or adaptation are needed to address unique contaminated buildings and facilities, as well as to increase efficiency and worker safety.
