Story (07-22-2003)

Demolitions continue to reduce Y-12's footprint

By D. Ray Smith — The Y‑12 National Security Complex continues to make strides to improve the overall site through appropriate demolitions. With the July 9 demolition of the 9767‑5 Compressor Building in the Biology area, Infrastructure Reduction (IR) is well on its way toward meeting its FY 2003 milestones. The demolition was conducted by the Safety and Ecology Corporation under a competitive-bid General Ordering Agreement.

Building 9767‑5 was the sixth of 62 buildings marked for demolition or removal this fiscal year to support the required Y‑12 footprint reduction milestones. The buildings being demolished and removed are no longer required to support Y‑12 current or future missions. Their removal will eliminate associated surveillance and maintenance costs.

Other demolitions already completed in FY 2003 included the Forestry Storage buildings (9720‑AA, 9720‑AB, and 9720‑AC) January 31 and a communications building (9984) February 6. The former were wooden barns, located between the South Patrol Road and Bethel Valley Road. Building 9720‑AA dated from the 1940s, was wood with a sheet metal roof, and had an adjacent concrete silo. Built about 1970, building 9720‑AB was a wood frame barn with two sheet metal walls and a sheet metal roof. Building 9720‑AC was a smaller barn, also built about 1970. After their removal, the bare soil was seeded with grass to prevent erosion.

Building 9984 was constructed in 1949 along the South Patrol Road and was used for radio communications. Utilities to this building were disconnected several years ago. The building was removed down to the concrete pad.

March 27 saw the removal of the Autoclave Control Room Building 9824‑5, a 717 square foot mobile office/monitoring station unit originally installed in 1976. Building 9824‑5 was located outside the PIDAS security boundary and on the southwest perimeter road.

As demolition activities occur in coming months, Y-12'ers are reminded to be aware of safety precautions required when passing near building demolition sites. The areas will be flagged off, and unauthorized individuals will be required to stay a safe distance from the demolition. Please observe all safety precautions even as you are looking at the projects from a safe distance.