NISKAYUNA, N.Y. - DOE officials approved the transfer of the former Separations Process Research Unit (SPRU) areas to the Office of Naval Reactors (NR) on Dec. 16, capping a successful remediation and completing an EM 2020 priority.

The milestone resulted from a joint effort between DOE, NR, and the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, and advanced EM's legacy cleanup mission. The former SPRU nuclear facilities were located at the laboratory.

"Completing the SPRU project removes the longstanding liability of a Cold War-era nuclear facility and enables returning the former SPRU areas to the Naval Reactors landlord for future site operations. Significant credit is due to the government-contractor team that completed this project," said Hugh Davis, program manager for SPRU.

In 2019, DOE completed decontamination, demolition, and site restoration activities of the SPRU areas, including removal of the nuclear facilities, remediation of land areas, and shipment of the resulting waste to off-site disposal facilities. Twenty-four containers of "transuranic waste" (TRU) are being temporarily stored in a safe manner prior to shipment for off-site disposal.

In December 2020, DOE transferred the former SPRU areas back to the Office of Naval Reactors. Two final activities from the SPRU project remain: TRU waste storage and shipment off-site, and removal of equipment from an area adjacent to the former H2 Building.

The TRU waste was generated from removal of sediments in building sumps and from SPRU processing equipment. DOE plans to commercially treat a portion of this waste for low-level waste disposal, with the remainder pending disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project. The F-Yard activity involves the disposition of 13 storage containers (Conex boxes), and excess materials and equipment. The F-Yard contractor has mobilized on site and is expected to complete this activity in 2021.