Pollution Prevention & Waste Minimization

DOE-HDBK-1139/2-2002

2.7 Pollution Prevention & Waste Minimization

ORNL's Pollution Prevention Program policy is to prevent all forms of pollution at the source whenever

feasible. Where source reduction is not feasible, remaining materials must be minimized and recycled,

reused, or reclaimed to the greatest extent possible. The Pollution Prevention Program is implemented by

sharing available stocks of chemicals that have been identified as no longer being needed, promoting

recycling and the use of recycled materials, using nonhazardous materials, and substituting less hazardous

materials in ORNL activities whenever possible to minimize the potential risks to people and the

environment.

ORNL established the CMC to facilitate sharing chemicals that have been identified as no longer being

needed. Unneeded chemicals may be transferred to the CMC if they meet established acceptance criteria.

By searching the Materials Exchange List or the CMC's homepage, chemical requesters may check for

needed chemicals in both the CMC and other inventories before purchasing additional chemicals.

Acquiring chemicals in this way helps minimize the quantities of hazardous chemicals brought on site.

Access to the Materials Exchange List is available to all staff through the MSDS database.

BUS areas are established by some divisions in order to provide timely access to needed chemicals within

the division. The primary mission of the BUS area is to conserve the resources of the research division by

reducing the number of partially used chemicals that are declared as waste within a division. BUS areas

may also reduce the cost of projects by providing free chemicals to laboratory personnel. Chemical

inventories must be updated in HMIS when ownership of chemicals is transferred.

2.8 Emergency Management

The Oak Ridge Reservation Emergency Plan (ORREP) provides policies, standards, and emergency

preparedness implementing procedures for effective emergency management of site hazards, consequence

assessments, and protective actions in the event of a hazardous material release. The ORREP is based on

the requirements of DOE Order O151.1A. Accordingly hazard assessments are conducted for all facilities

at ORNL and are reviewed annually and revised as necessary. These assessments, along with the HMIS

inventory reports, provide ORNL Emergency Preparedness with up-to-date information on hazards

present within a facility.

2.9 Disposal

Hazardous waste at ORNL generated by research and operational divisions is packaged, characterized and

certified by the generating division supported by Laboratory Waste Services. Final certification is

performed by the Laboratory Waste Services Organization in accordance with the current revision of the

Waste Certification Program Plan. Disposition of hazardous wastes has been the responsibility of

Bechtel-Jacobs Company, LLC and their subcontractors. In the near future, UT-Battelle will resume the

responsibility for hazardous waste disposition.

2.10 Training

Line management is ultimately responsible for the training and qualification of employees assigned to

their organizations and for ensuring that employees are provided with job-related information that affects

knowledge and skills necessary to perform their work.

Supervisors are responsible for the training, qualification, and performance of employees. They are

required to review the qualifications of employees, subcontractors, visitors, and temporary employees in