Page 3 - SRNS_Today_March_2021

MARCH 2021 | SRNS TODAY | 3

At the end of the line

SRS sells special purpose railroad cars to environmental cleanup company

D OE has sold 52 SRS railroad gondola cars for $350,000 to

EnergySolutions, an international nuclear services company
based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“This is a good example of proper stewardship and cost-effective use
of government resources identified as surplus,” said Clarence Ruff,
DOE-Savannah River Traffic Management Specialist. “These gondola
cars served an important purpose and have an estimated 20-plus
years of service life remaining. Since a need for them no longer exists
at SRS, reutilizing them with a company specializing in environmental
restoration makes for a practical business solution.”
Ruff noted that EnergySolutions has the expertise and resources to
safely and properly dispose of the cars upon reaching the end of their
useful service life, a significant cost avoidance for DOE.
“During the $1.6 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “These gondola cars served an important purpose
(ARRA) environmental cleanup project at SRS, beginning in 2009 and and have an estimated 20-plus years of service life remaining.
ending in 2011, transporting contaminated materials such as debris Since a need for them no longer exists at SRS, reutilizing them
from more than 100 decommission and demolition projects required with a company specializing in environmental restoration
transporting massive amounts of debris and other contaminated makes for a practical business solution.”
materials,” said Ruff. “These gondola cars were located at the now Clarence Ruff
closed Fernald DOE site and transferred to SRS for this purpose.”
SRNS employee and Contract Technical Monitor Terry Schallick has
been with the subcontracted team of workers tasked to ensure the gondola cars meet all Department of Transportation standards and
regulations prior to being transported via rail to Utah.
“Though the overall condition of the cars is good, a variety of labelling
had to be applied, repairs made and upgrades installed to railcar
systems, such as attaching electronic ID tags, new air hoses and
ratchet straps to secure the railcar lids,” explained Schallick. “The
workers have been up to the task, and the SRNS Rail Crew provided
outstanding support, as well. This project required multiple railcar
movements, during which the crew was always courteous, responsive
and professional, ensuring safety was their highest priority.”

The last of the newly refurbished cars will soon leave SRS to be
transported to the EnergySolutions facility in Clive, Utah to continue
their useful role in cleaning up contaminated sites throughout the
United States.
“Participating in a partnership of multiple organizations to safely
and successfully accomplish such a highly valued project has been
The specially constructed boxcars have transported low-level, radioactively contaminated rewarding,” said Schallick.
materials for decades, first at a uranium processing plant near Cincinnati, Ohio, and
then at the Savannah River Site.