Science Programs are performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE), and Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). At ORNL, researchers focus on basic and applied research to advance the nation's energy resources, environmental quality, scientific knowledge, and contribute to science education and national economic competitiveness. The Laboratory also performs work for non-DOE sponsors when such activities complement DOE missions and address important national or international issues. ORNL is operated by UT-Battelle, LLC. ORISE is managed for DOE by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a not-for-profit consortium of 86 colleges and universities. ORISE carries out national and international programs in science and engineering education, training and management systems, energy and environmental systems, medical sciences, and low-energy physics. Jefferson Lab accelerates electrons for use as a probe to study the structure of matter. Jefferson Lab is operated by Southeastern Universities Research Association.

Laboratories
Office of Science

Environmental Management is the largest Oak Ridge program, with cleanup programs underway to correct the legacies remaining from more than 50 years of energy research and weapons production. The program includes an aggressive effort to manage currently-generated wastes. Because of past practices, portions of the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) are contaminated with radioactive elements, mercury, asbestos, PCBs, and industrial wastes. The ORR is on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) national priorities list and is being cleaned up under a federal facilities agreement with EPA and the State of Tennessee. DOE also is focusing its resources to assess and clean up inactive waste sites and facilities, enhancing safe and effective waste management operations, emphasizing waste minimization, and coordinating applied waste research and development programs. ORO also has major cleanup programs at the Paducah and Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plants and at the Weldon Spring Site in Missouri. ORO's Environmental Management program is managed by Bechtel Jacobs Company, LLC.

Environmental Management

The Assets Utilization (AU) program was begun in 1996 for the purpose of accelerating the pace of the cleanup work in Oak Ridge, reducing cost of this program, while mitigating the effects of downsizing of DOE missions.  With a primary emphasis on the 750-acre ETTP, DOE has leased more than 75 properties to the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee (CROET). These leases have resulted in reduced costs for surveillance, maintenance, utilities, and landlord-type administrative costs to DOE. In order to advance cleanup and accomplish goals set in the DOE Accelerated Cleanup Plan, there has been a shift in emphasis from leasing to title transfer of selected buildings to the CROET, an approach that saves DOE demolition costs and provides useful facilities for regional economic development. The mutual goal of the AU Program and the Accelerated Cleanup Plan is to transition the site to be a self-sustaining industrial complex no longer reliant on Federal funding within this decade. In managing the National Centers for Scrap Metals, Lead, Precious Metals and Electronics, the AU Program also provides valuable services to more than 30 DOE sites in the recycle/reuse of excess and surplus equipment and materials derived from decontamination and decommissioning work and other activities. The program also provides recycle/reuse services to other Federal agencies, including NASA and the Department of Justice's Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program.

Asset Utilization

The National Security mission in Oak Ridge is carried out at the Y-12 National Security Complex, formerly known as the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. Programs at Y-12 include manufacturing and reworking nuclear weapon components, dismantling nuclear weapon components returned from the national arsenal, serving as the nation's safe, secure storehouse of special nuclear materials, reducing the global threat from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and providing the U.S. Navy with safe, militarily effective nuclear propulsion systems.  Y-12 is operated by BWXT Y-12 for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). ORO provides a variety of services to the NNSA's Y-12 Site Office as part of a service agreement between the two organizations.

National Nuclear Security Administration

ORO's Uranium Programs are performed under the Office of Nuclear Fuel Security and Uranium Technology (NFS). This organization is chartered to manage and facilitate the maintenance and disposition of DOE's excess uranium inventories and to develop and implement strategic and tactical plans to ensure an integrated approach for the Department's uranium management activities. The organization is responsible for administering the Lease Agreement/Regulatory Oversight Program with the United States Enrichment Corporation and provides leadership and technical support for the development of advanced uranium enrichment technology.  NFS has an established interface with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for nuclear safety related issues. NFS also provides assistance to Environmental Management for the "cold standy" program at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant to ensure an adequate supply of domestic uranium enrichment. Further, the organization manages various electrical and gas contracts serving the Oak Ridge, Paducah, and Portsmouth facilities, as well as comprehensive land management for the ORR.    

Supporting Activities

The Office of Partnerships and Program Development emphasizes the importance of partnerships with government, industry, and communities as a vital component of the region's success. A world-class array of capabilities and highly trained personnel make the Oak Ridge Complex a unique, user-friendly regional, national, and international resource. The Partnerships Office assists others in using Oak Ridge's anchor strengths and core competencies by planning and initiating partnerships and alliances with other federal agencies, universities, state/regional governments, and private industry. Partnerships can take various forms--technical assistance to solve a specific problem; training in advanced equipment, techniques, and processes; use of unique facilities; access to patents and software; exchange of personnel; and cooperative research.

Environment, Safety, Health & Emergency Management: DOE operations in Oak Ridge must comply with environmental criteria established by a number of Federal and State statutes and regulations, executive orders, DOE orders, and compliance agreements. ORO's Environment, Safety, Health & Emergency Management organization is responsible for developing effective and efficient environmental protection, safety, health, and quality programs and guidance applicable to all ORO programs. As a part of this program, the ORR has an extensive environmental monitoring program designed to meet applicable laws and standards and to protect the public and environment. Literally thousands of samples are collected and analyzed annually. The program, at a cost of approximately $12.8 million per year consists of both effluent monitoring and environmental surveillance.

Other Supporting Activities
DOE Property Identified as Excess