Robotic Machines at Portsmouth Find Second Life at Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge crews move the remote equipment into place at the remining hot cell of the former Radioisotope Development Laboratory. They will use it to systematically remove irradiated components from one of the most contaminated structures at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to prepare it for near term demolition.

Reuse of robots hands taxpayers savings while keeping employees safer

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The seamless transfer of four robotic demolition machines from the Portsmouth Site in Ohio to Oak Ridge in Tennessee illustrates how equipment sharing among cleanup sites within the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) continues to enhance worker safety, save taxpayer dollars and reduce equipment inventory.

“This is a fine example of reutilizing equipment to minimize cost and maximize government resources,” Acting Portsmouth Site Lead Jud Lilly said.

Sharing resources between sites shows how EM maximizes opportunities to deliver more for American taxpayers. These initiatives drive efficiency, allowing the cleanup program to focus on priorities and reining in costs without sacrificing safety or effectiveness.

Such collaborations are nothing new. Last year, equipment used to load waste containers at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina found a new home at the Idaho Cleanup Project, which had also received equipment used to handle hazardous materials remotely from the West Valley Demonstration Project in New York a year earlier.

In this 2017 photo, Acting Portsmouth Site Lead Jud Lilly, left, learns how to maneuver the robotic arm of a robotic demolition machine. At right is Jessie Love, a trainer from Swedish company Brokk, which manufactured the equipment.

While saving more than $1.7 million by avoiding the need to purchase new equipment, the remotely operated machines transferred to Oak Ridge are reducing risks by increasing the distance between work crews and potential hazards. They’re particularly effective in areas with limited space and high levels of contamination, which are common challenges when demolishing aging Manhattan Project and Cold War facilities.

At Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the units are integral to the deactivation and removal of the remaining hot cell of the former Radioisotope Development Laboratory, one of the most contaminated structures at the site.

Looking ahead, these machines will assist with deactivating other highly contaminated former isotope research and production labs at ORNL and facilities with mercury vapors at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Portsmouth acquired the robots for deactivation and other efforts in the X-333 Process Building. Employees operated the machines with a remote control, improving safety by putting more distance between the workers and items being downsized.

The equipment was no longer necessary following completion of the X-333 deactivation. Crews are now demolishing the massive building after achieving an EM priority late last year to launch demolition of the second of Portsmouth’s three former uranium process buildings.

With the help of EM’s Consolidated Business Center, Oak Ridge learned of the excess equipment at Portsmouth, and the units and their accessories were shipped to the site in October.

Oak Ridge crews practice using the remote equipment during mock-ups prior to use in cleanup areas.

“We all tag-teamed through the process,” said Rachel Costilow, government property manager at Portsmouth Site cleanup contractor Southern Ohio Cleanup Company. “This is by far one of the largest transfers of equipment that we have done at the Portsmouth Site.”

Tee Duncan, asset manager with Oak Ridge cleanup contractor United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR), called the equipment transfer a major accomplishment and a demonstration of the efforts the personal property management team made to reutilize federally owned equipment.

“This success story not only shows UCOR’s commitment to assist projects in meeting their mission goals but also underscores the entire organization’s dedication as mindful stewards of taxpayers’ dollars,” Duncan said.

-Contributors: Mike Butler, Michelle Teeters