Crews complete key step in Oak Ridge Biology Complex deactivation

Crews in full protective gear have been conducting asbestos abatement inside remaining Biology Complex buildings at Oak Ridge since early 2019. Image by UCOR

OAK RIDGE, TN – Crews recently achieved a key milestone by removing all asbestos from a building being deactivated for demolition in the former Biology Complex at Oak Ridge.

The Biology Complex facilities at the Y-12 National Security Complex are categorized as high risk due to their structural condition, and their removal will provide land for new national security missions at the site.



Asbestos abatement teams with UCOR, EM’s cleanup contractor at Oak Ridge, have been working inside the six-story 256,600-square-foot Building 9207 and the three-story 64,700-square-foot Building 9210 since early 2019.

Workers have finished removing all asbestos from Building 9210, which was one of the biggest tasks to get the facility ready for demolition. The building is scheduled to be fully deactivated and condemned for demolition in early October.

Employees in full protective suits finished this effort despite several challenges, including extreme heat and humidity in the summer months and new measures to maintain a safe work environment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 868 cubic yards of the hazardous material from Building 9210 was disposed, including pipe insulation, wall panels, and transite gaskets. Workers also removed 215 large metal sheeting wall panels containing asbestos for disposal.

Workers move asbestos containing material out of Building 9210 for disposal. A total of 868 cubic yards of the hazardous material was disposed from the facility. Image by UCOR

UCOR Project Manager Brad Adams, who recently transferred from directing cleanup projects at the East Tennessee Technology Park, praised the crews for bringing the asbestos abatement project to fruition.



“These hard working men and women dress up in full protective gear, which you know has to be especially stuffy in the Tennessee summer,” Adams said. “But they do it every day, while at the same time staying focused on observing all of the safety precautions and regulations required for this type of hazardous work.”

Building 9210 is set to be demolished by January 2021. Building 9207 is scheduled to be demolished later in 2021. With these two buildings removed, Y-12 has cited the area to be the location for its new lithium processing facility.

Originally constructed for recovering uranium from process streams, the Biology Complex was later used for DOE’s research on the genetic effects of radiation from the late 1940s. When operational, the facilities once housed more individuals with doctorates than anywhere in the world.



The Biology Complex previously consisted of 11 buildings. EM demolished four of the structures in 2010 as part of work under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and EM removed another two structures in 2018 as part of DOE’s Excess Contaminated Facilities initiative. All remaining Biology Complex structures are scheduled for demolition by 2021.

Published September 17, 2020