Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science The Office of Science Role in Environmental Cleanup Dr. James F. Decker Principal Deputy Director Office of Science November 5, 2003 Dr. Milton Johnson Chief Operating Officer Office of Science November 5, 2003

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy  The Office of Science manages long term, high risk, multidisciplinary science programs to support DOE missions -Manages over 40% of Nation’s research in the physical sciences (e.g. 90% of High Energy & Nuclear Physics, 60% of Catalysis, 25% of Nanoscience, etc.) -Provides sole support to select sub-fields (e.g. nuclear medicine, heavy element chemistry, magnetic fusion, etc.) -Directly supports the research of 15,000 PhDs, PostDocs and Graduate Students.  Constructs and operates large scientific facilities for the U.S. scientific community.  Is the steward of 10 National Laboratories Office of Science Overview

Office of Science Office of Science Laboratories, User Facilities and Supported Research Institutions Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Ames Laboratory Argonne National Laboratory BrookhavenNationalLaboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory Los Alamos National Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Sandia National Laboratories FermiNationalAcceleratorLaboratory PrincetonPlasmaPhysicsLaboratory Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility National Renewable Energy Laboratory StanfordLinearAcceleratorCenter Idaho National Environmental & Engineering Laboratory General Atomics SC Supported Research Institution (Universities, Colleges, Medical Centers) User Facilities SC Multiprogram Laboratory SC Program Dedicated Laboratory Other DOE Laboratory National Energy Technology Laboratories

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy Bioremediation Research (NABIR) provides the understanding of how microbes that naturally exist in soils can stabilize metals and radionuclides. Studies span the range of microbial genetics of all the way to field studies at actual contaminated sites. The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) is serving environmental users from around the world by providing the leading edge of computational and experimental capabilities for understanding processes at the molecular level. The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) is studying the ecological impacts of remediation activities in real time at the Savannah River Site while providing hands-on educational programs at the Site. D. radiodurans reduces uranium complexation ions with tetramethoxycalix[4]arene of cesium Scientific Research for Environmental Remediation R&D for solutions to DOE’s long-term environmental cleanup challenges The Environmental Management Science Program (EMSP) is developing the scientific basis for risk-based decision making and “breakthrough” approaches to cleaning up the nuclear weapons complex.

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy Programmatic Goals  Provide science to inform decisions about environmental remediation and stewardship  Advance scientific foundations that enable innovative remediation technologies and methodologies  Synthesize and integrate across disciplines to foster new scientific approaches that match the complexity of the problems

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy Scientific Goals 1.Provide the scientific foundation for the development of robust tools for in situ characterization and long-term monitoring. 2.Develop an improved understanding of contaminant fate and transport in subsurface and surface environments. 3.Provide the scientific foundation to enable in situ remediation of hazardous materials in the environment. 4.Support basic research leading to safe management, treatment, and disposal of complex radioactive wastes

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy Cleanup at Office of Science Laboratories  Long term remedial actions resulting from EM cleanup  Maintenance of current infrastructure, including excess facilities  Cleanup of environmental issues resulting from on-going activities  Excess facility removals where there is little or no contamination, e.g., old/unuseful facilities, trailers  Currently identifying and evaluating future cleanup activates into long term, including 2010 to 2025  Includes active facilities that may be shut down in future, excess materials, and contaminated media  Current estimates range over $2 billion throughout 2025

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy Cleanup at Office of Science Laboratories (cont) EM Scope of Work coming to completion at 5 Office of Science Laboratories  Argonne National Laboratory – East, ILL Brookhaven National Laboratory, NY Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, CA Office of Science Continuing Responsibilities Operating ground water monitoring systems, post closure care of closed landfills, soil/sediment monitoring, etc. Agreement on completion and turnover of long-term activities formalized for each lab site

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy BACKUP

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy High Level Waste Tank Farms Will leaked contaminants migrate to the groundwater?? (Cs, Sr, U) EXAMPLE: Hanford Vadose Zone/Groundwater Integration Project: Targeted science in support of Hanford decision-making and site closure  Partnership between Integration Project (IP), EMSP, and Hanford Site  Involves 5 National Labs and Universities  Provides direct scientific support to the site on major issues.  Has resulted in huge cost avoidance through understanding of contaminant transport

Office of Science U.S. Department of Energy Understanding 137 Cs + Migration from Hanford’s S-SX Tank Farm X-ray microscopy defines where and how Cs + reacts with the mineral phase EM Need: Predict future migration and risks from 137 Cs + migration from S-SX Tank Farm SX-108 sediment was placed in KNO 3 electrolyte and the desorption rate measured Impacts: Measurements and models of 137 Cs + desorption kinetics and extent showed that 137 Cs + would not migrate to groundwater in Hanford’s S-SX tank farm in a 10 half-life period, by which time it would no longer be radioactive. A slab diffusion ion exchange model describes 137 Cs + release kinetics to water Contaminated mica particles were removed from sediment cross sectioned and imaged at 2 µ m resolution sample placed in K+ electrolyte (0.5 mol/L) electrolyte increased to 2 mol/L EMSL, SREL, Chicago, PSU