Original Date: 11/03/1996
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant has created a number of publications including procedures, directives, and standards to guide plant compliance with the wide variety of applicable environmental regulations. These thoroughly researched documents include comprehensive checklists designed to ensure that internal inspectors evaluate all possible compliance issues in regulated areas.

As part of the well-developed overall Y-12 Compliance Program, guidance documents have been prepared for air permitting procedures, clean air program compliance documentation, poly chlorinated biphenol (PCB) 30-day storage areas, PCB storage over 30 days, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) satellite accumulation areas, RCRA interim status units, and RCRA 90-day accumulation areas. Each publication clearly details procedures for the compliance management of each area described. The guidelines provide definitions of terms, identify each staff position with a compliance or management role in the covered area, specify the procedures to be followed by each involved position, and thoroughly explain regulatory requirements.

Compliance inspections are performed weekly by Y-12 staff. Inspectors use well-designed checklists to guide them through each possible evaluation area. For example, the RCRA and PCB storage checklists cover areas such as container compatibility, labeling, container placement, and leaks. The Y-12 Compliance Management Guidelines help ensure full compliance with environmental regulations. The checklists add thoroughness to a highly effective internal inspection program. The regulatory analysis and environmental management expertise which led to the creation of the guideline documents could assist a broad range of government and private facilities in the United States. The checklists can be modified to account for all state and local rules at any regulated facility.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.