Perma-Fix Blog

What is BSFR?

Bulk Survey for Release is a licensed process by the State of Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation that allows for the disposal of materials with extremely low levels of radioactive contamination at four landfills in Tennessee. This cost-effective alternative offers a new disposal option for extremely low-level waste.

Your Solution for BSFR

Perma-Fix's Environmental Waste Operations Center (EWOC) holds one of only four BSFR licenses in the state of Tennessee, providing a new cost-effective solution for low-level waste processing. EWOC has received waste for BSFR processing from nuclear utilities and from approved Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) around the country.

EWOC: A Multi-Disciplinary Low Level Radioactive Waste Processing and Treatment Facility

EWOC is strategically located in the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Newly opened in 2020, EWOC specializes in large component size/volume reduction, sort/segregation, and Bulk Survey for Release (BSRF) with capabilities to receive waste shipments by truck or rail. This 8.7-acre facility is dedicated to supporting low-level radioactive waste and disposition of multiple waste streams from both government and commercial customers.

Additional EWOC Treatment Capabilities:

• Size reduction and packaging for disposal of large components and equipment
• Size reduction, sort/seg of waste materials generated by DOE, DOD, commercial and nuclear industries cleanup activities
• Decontamination of Equipment and Containers
• Systems operability testing
• Size reduction of rad-contaminated and BSRF scrap metal and debris

"We are excited to see our BSFR program grow, and we're pleased to provide this solution to our customers. Our Sort/Segregation and BSFR programs have provided significant savings to our customers compared to traditional disposal in a low-level waste landfill." - Sally McQuaid, EWOC General Manager

Capacity Available to Accept Problematic Waste Now

Therma-Fix Gen³ is the culmination of 25 years of technological advancements, desorption-specific waste processing experience and regulatory knowledge. The electrically heated batch oven system has an operating range of up to 1400°F under a 29" Hg vacuum and uses a tray system to permit discreet segregation of customer waste. This innovative new system provides a unique and full treatment cycle of problematic waste and debuts in October 2021 at Perma-Fix of Florida.

What is Vacuum Thermal Desorption?

Therma-Fix Gen³ heats low level waste and mixed low-level waste to remove organics and recollects them as condensate. The vacuum allows lower temperatures to facilitate removal. Remaining solids are tested for LDR compliance and condensate is treated thermally.

Therma-Fix Gen³ Overview & Capabilities:

• More Effective & Efficient Waste Treatment: Electric batch oven provides superior heat control; batch tray system prevents cross contamination
• Greater Treatment Capacity: Treats up to 1,500 lbs. per day
• Cleaner & Safer Solution: Complies with EPA's waste minimization program, supports land disposal footprint utilization
• Cost Effective Solution: Higher capacity = less cost/lb.
• Perma-Fix exclusively offers a FULL treatment cycle for these wastes!

Accepted Waste Streams:

• Solids, Soils & Sludges containing volatiles and semi-volatiles
• Mercury contaminated wastes
• Activated charcoal
• Spent carbon
• Industrial pipeline / naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) waste

VTD Available Exclusively at Perma-Fix of Florida

Perma-Fix Florida (PFF) - Gainesville, FL
Specialties: Thermal and non-thermal treatment of low-level and mixed low-level waste by evaporation, vacuum thermal desorption, stabilization, sorting / segregation / repackaging, and macroencapsulation. PFF is also fully permitted to manage non-radioactive hazardous waste.

"It goes beyond just the technology -- at Perma-Fix we deliver turn-key solutions."

In spring 2020, Perma-Fix debuted Perma-Sort^℠, a new automated radiological characterization and segregation system for bulk materials. Drawing on our team of project managers, nuclear engineers, and certified health physicists (CHPs) with more than 50 years of soil sorting experience, Perma-Fix built a customized conveyor-based radiological assay system designed to provide 100% characterization of material efficiently and with industry-leading measurement quality. This innovative system offers management of end-point uncertainty with the characterization of both material exceeding the site acceptance criteria for transportation and disposal offsite and material meeting the site unrestricted release criteria.

How Perma-Sort Works:

Materials are loaded into a large feed hopper and then transported through the system with an electronically controlled conveyor survey belt. While on the survey belt, the material is analyzed and tracked. At the end of the survey belt, the material is transferred to a short reversing conveyor that spins in one direction for below criteria material and in the opposite direction for above criteria material. The reversing conveyor transfers materials to standard stacking conveyors which can then create piles of material or transfer directly to trucks or waste containers.

Supports a Broad Range of Contaminates:

• Fission Products
• NORM/TENORM
• Transuranics
• Heavy Metals
• Beryllium
• UXO/MEC

Perma-Sort Capabilities:

• Trailer mounted system for simple and rapid mobilization and setup
• Material output can be discharged into virtually any container size or managed with multiple takeaway conveyors
• Capable of processing > 200 tons of bulk materials per hour
• Industry leading radiological measurement quality
• Operating software supports multiple material profiles for varying bulk material types
• Automated reporting supports MARSSIM and FSS objectives as waste disposal objectives such as profiling and waste disposal
• Abundant guards, railings, remote e-stops, and keyed lock-outs ensure safety for system operators and near-by support staff
• Material is processed with minimal effluent and noise emissions

Learn More

As the nation continues to reopen after a challenging 2020, we want to be your partner in success. Perma-Fix is here to solve your hazardous and radioactive waste challenges by providing cost-effective and innovative solutions, state-of the-art treatment facilities, extensive regulatory knowledge, and 30+ years of compliant waste management disposition.

Our Services & Capabilities

Perma-Fix focuses our expertise to meet customer needs by providing effective solutions for a wide variety of waste streams. Our four conveniently located facilities are licensed, permitted, and equipped to efficiently treat your mixed low-level and low-level radioactive waste.

Our Facilities

Diversified Scientific Services, Inc. (DSSI) - Kingston, TN
Specialties: Thermal destruction of radioactive and liquid mixed wastes including TSCA and non-TSCA regulated PCBs via a licensed combustion process.

Environmental Waste Operations Center (EWOC) - Oak Ridge, TN
Specialties: Receipt and management of LLW waste streams; specializing in large component size/volume reduction, sort/segregation and Bulk Survey for Release (BSRF). EWOC is strategically located in the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) to receive your LLW by truck or rail.

Perma-Fix Florida (PFF) - Gainesville, FL
Specialties: Thermal and non-thermal treatment of low-level and mixed low-level waste by evaporation, vacuum thermal desorption, stabilization, sorting / segregation / repackaging, and macroencapsulation. PFF is also fully permitted to manage non-radioactive hazardous waste.

Perma-Fix Northwest (PFNW) - Richland, WA
Specialties: Thermal and non-thermal treatment and volume reduction of large volumes of low-level, mixed low level, and transuranic wastes.

Leverage Our Extensive Experience with Elemental Mercury Disposition

Mercury of various forms have been widely used throughout the U.S. and internationally, and to date, more than 600,000 pounds of this radioactive waste co-contaminated with mercury have been processed by one of Perma-Fix's many treatment technologies. Perma-Fix has implemented treatment solutions based on available and patented technologies to address these problematic wastes.

Perma-Fix provides effective treatment of radioactive-contaminated elemental mercury via amalgamation, the required treatment method for these wastes. Perma-Fix employs a patented amalgamation process using proprietary reagents that meet the EPA technology treatment standard (AMLGM). This process treats elemental mercury waste to meet the requirement of AMLGM using chemical reagents that bind the mercury and render it non-leachable. Mercury treatment is provided in a dedicated area of the facilities, with its own air handling and filtration system, for treatment of large volume, mercury contaminated wastes (elemental) using a proprietary amalgamation and stabilization process.

Two of our four facilities, Perma-Fix of Florida and Diversified Scientific Services, are licensed and permitted to receive, handle and store mercury for up to one year. With over $50 million of investment in facilities and technologies, Perma-Fix offers the most comprehensive low-level radioactive waste (LLW) and mixed low-level radioactive waste (MLLW) treatment facilities available in the U.S. Our experience, capacity, and regulatory compliance history set us apart in the industry. We are continually investing in new technologies to offer the most current state-of-the-art treatment options in the market.

Acceptable Mercury Wastes

• Wastes with soluble mercury (less than 260 ppm)
• Soils with high mercury levels (greater than 260 ppm)
• Wastes (non-soils) with high mercury levels (greater than 260 ppm)
• Elemental mercury

Perma-Fix is your solution for effectively disposing of hazardous mercury. Leveraging extensive experience and expertise, we are a leader in turnkey nuclear waste management and radiological protection services with core competencies that include waste management. We have completed over $2.2 billion in work since our inception in 1991. We have earned a reputation for providing practical, technical, and cost saving approaches to clients. We pride ourselves on supporting waste management, treatment, and disposal projects from initial characterization all the way through storage, final processing, and disposal. This approach has proven to have positive impacts for our clients and ensures mission completion through increased efficiencies while also minimizing liability with timely and compliant disposition of the most difficult waste challenges.