Beneficial Reuse of Legacy Management Sites and Renewable Energy Initiatives

1. Beneficial Reuse ofLegacy Management Sites and Renewable Energy Initiatives John Elmer, S.M. Stoller Corporation 2010 Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance ConferenceNovember 16, 2010

2. Legacy Management’s (LM) Mission Manage U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) post-closure responsibilities and ensure the future protection of human health and the environment. LM has control and custody for legacy land, structures, and facilities and is responsible for maintaining them at levels consistent with DOE’s long-term plans. 2

3. LM’s Goals Protect human health and the environment through effective and efficient long-term surveillance and maintenance Preserve, protect, and make accessible legacy records and information Support an effective and efficient work force structured to accomplish DOE missions and assure contractor worker pension and medical benefits Manage legacy land and assets, emphasizing protective real and personal property reuse and disposition Improve program effectiveness through sound management 3

4. LM Sites

5. Legacy Land and Assets LM manages  87 sites in 28 states and Puerto Rico 12,968 acres of DOE-owned sites and land (i.e., permanent radioactive disposal cells) 10,886 acres of non-DOE-owned sites/land with rights to conduct activities (i.e., groundwater monitoring at former uranium ore–processing sites owned by states, tribes) 33,227 acres of land withdrawn with rights to conduct activities (25,545 for uranium leasing program) 5

6. Renewable Energy Initiatives – Two Paths Explore ways to implement renewable energy options for legacy sites LM beneficial reuse program Specific targets for reuse projects include renewable energy, commercial and industrial uses, conservation uses, and agricultural uses Dispositions, other types of reuse, and number of acres Careful review of existing site for dispositions to reduce DOE’s footprint and for other types of reuse Renewable energy initiative through the Environmental Management System (EMS) Renewable energy to power existing facilities Tuba City, Arizona, solar project Weldon Spring, Missouri, and Fernald, Ohio, demonstration projects Concerted efforts to identify opportunities in both programs 6

7. Edgemont, South DakotaBeneficial Reuse – Grazing

8. Beneficial Reuse-Process to Identify Renewable Energy Projects National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report Information about NREL can be found at http://www.nrel.gov/ NREL screened all current and transitioning LM sites for solar- and wind-energy potential at http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/41673.pdf Wind power Appears feasible at two current LM sites and several future sites in Wyoming Challenges include lack of infrastructure, site size, lack of regulation at the state level, and distance to the end users Solar power Solar photovoltaic (PV) projects most feasible in the western states such as New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming 8

9. Beneficial Reuse – Solar Power Initiative Current administration and LM goals focus on renewable energy sources LM has few facilities or buildings requiring energy, but has open land where private systems can be placed to generate power that can be sold Solar power opportunities are more advanced than other options with decreased cost and increased efficiency LM is primarily interested in leasing land to another party to construct solar power systems and not making an economic return off leasing the land Feasibility of large solar PV systems is based on incentives and utilities 9

10. Example of Large-Scale Solar Project – City of Rifle, Colorado, Wastewater Treatment Facility 10

11. Beneficial Reuse – Solar Power Incentives Most states have some form of tax incentives and some have legislated renewable energy goals New Mexico Renewable Energy Act of 2004 requires increased use of renewable energy sources through 2020 State also has energy tax credit against personal and corporate income tax liabilities American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stimulus act provides investment tax credit equal to 30 percent of the capital cost (expires in 2010) Loan program administered by DOE Tax benefits to depreciate cost over 5 years versus 20 years 11

12. Beneficial Reuse – Process to Work with Utilities Some states (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California) require utilities to purchase a certain percentage of power from renewable sources Public Service of New Mexico (PNM) issued a 2008 Request for Proposals Received bids from firms with solar projects Queue established to evaluate bids No project has been awarded a contract yet PNM reevaluating request for proposals/queue process 12

13. Process to Work with Utilities(continued) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates energy grid “Study process” developed for projects from 2 MW up to 20 MW; expedited compared to large projects over 20 MW Studies required for fast track process include: Feasibility study System impact study Distribution study Facilities study 13

14. Beneficial Reuse – New Mexico Solar Project LM evaluated sites near Grants, New Mexico (Ambrosia Lake, L-Bar, and Bluewater, New Mexico) Assessed available land and buffer areas outside disposal cells for onsite or nearby electrical infrastructure Sites screened for Slope not to exceed 5 percent No arroyos or waterways No potential shading Available access and infrastructure Conceptual designs yielded potential for 9 MW at Ambrosia Lake, 3 MW at L-Bar, and 20 MW at Bluewater Bluewater site chosen for further study due to its large amount of open land, large transmission lines, onsite substation, and proximity to a large community 14

15. New Mexico Solar Project 15

16. Bluewater, New Mexico, Site and PV System Former uranium processing and disposal site [Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) Title II] Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. substation and 13.2 kv transmission lines on site Good site access 800 acres of flat land for 20 MW PV solar system Groundwater is approximately 100 feet below earth’s surface No other land use 16

17. Bluewater, New Mexico, Site

18. Bluewater Site –Challenges to Implementation The utility doesn’t need the power right now Remaining transmission line capacity committed to other projects The cost will be millions of dollars to upgrade transmission line to Albuquerque Working through site-use restrictions with regulators [Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)] Addressing federal real property regulations to grant a long-term lease 18

19. Beneficial Reuse – Durango, Colorado, Site Solar Project Disposal cell site (UMTRCA Title I) LM approached to consider installation on top of the disposal cell Smaller site than Bluewater, New Mexico, site Close to city of Durango (1 mile southwest) LM focus on this project due to greater potential for near-term implementation 19

20. Durango Disposal Site

21. Durango Solar Project – Benefits Site is on a hillside facing south Flat disposal cell cover with vegetation and soil/rock matrix Surrounded by public lands Infrastructure is available onsite Located one-fourth of a mile from the nearest substation Available capacity in adjacent transmission lines Potential for partnering with other entities such as the local utility cooperative 21

22. Durango Solar Project – Challenges Revised Long-Term Surveillance Plan submitted to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and NRC to allow panels on top of cover Maintaining integrity of the disposal cell and associated structures against obstacles Erosion from large storms Maintaining existing vegetation Security fencing versus accommodating wildlife Minimizing penetration of surface with foundations, utilities Developing lease that protects the federal government yet entices developers 22

23. Durango Solar Project Challenges (continued) Adequately addressing all concerns as suggested in meetings with NRC, CDPHE, Colorado Division of Wildlife, La Plata County Develop an Environmental Assessment; work with County, NRC, local stakeholders Preliminary Final EA is being reviewed with the plan to issue a Final EA in December 23

24. EMS – Renewable Energy Initiatives LM EMS goal is to replace 3.75 percent of its on-site power consumption with renewable energy sources Inventoried each site that utilizes power; most LM sites do not have operating facilities Best opportunities are at several large facilities (Tuba City, Arizona; Fernald, Ohio; Grand Junction, Colorado) Utility companies typically allow a maximum on-site renewable energy source equal to 125 percent of existing power demand 24

25. Examples of EMS Renewable Energy Initiatives A 51 kw solar PV system built at Tuba City, Arizona, site to offset purchase of electricity off-grid Solar hot-water heating system at Tuba City to heat groundwater before treatment (reduced energy consumption 10 percent) Small PV systems at Rocky Flats, Colorado, to power remote pumping stations and instruments Demonstration projects at Fernald, Ohio, using PV system to power pump station and lights, and at Weldon Springs, Missouri, to operate a windmill that powers a display 25

26. Tuba City, ArizonaSolar Photovoltaic Panels

27. Tuba City, Arizona, Solar Hot-Water Heating System 27