Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and X-342B Fluorine Storage Building, 3930 U.S. Route 23 South, Piketon

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Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), U.S. Route 23 South, Piketon vicinity, Scioto Township, Pike County, Ohio The X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building are located at Ohio State Plane South coordinates at easting ft, northing ft and easting ft, northing ft, respectively and at Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 17N easting m, northing m and easting m, northing m, respectively. The coordinates represent the approximate center of both the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building. These coordinates were obtained on June 19, by plotting its location in EnviroInsite The accuracy of the coordinates is +/- 12 meters.

The coordinate datum is North American Datum Date of Construction: Designer/Builder: Peter Kiewit Sons Construction Company Previous Owner: N/A

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The Atomic Energy Commission oversaw construction and operation of PORTS until when the Energy Research and Development Administration was established with responsibility for research and development duties from In the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was established, overseeing operations at PORTS.

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The X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility fed, vaporized, and sampled uranium for the PORTS enrichment cascade until the X-344A uranium hexafluoride (UF6) Sampling Facility and the Feed, Vaporization, and Sampling Facility took over these operations. The gaseous diffusion process requires the use of UF6 to separate the uranium-238 and uranium-235 isotopes. By manipulating the temperature and pressure of its container, UF6 can be maintained as a gas, liquid, or solid making it ideal for use in the diffusion process. UF6 gas is fed to the enrichment cascade in the process buildings. Toward the end of enrichment operations at PORTS, the X-342A Facility primarily generated and purified fluorine and served as backup for the X-344A and Facilities.

The Fluorine Storage Building stored the fluorine generated by the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 2) Facility. These buildings are part of PORTS, which was a part of the U.S. Cold War nuclear weapons complex. PORTS primary Cold War era mission was the production of highly enriched uranium by the gaseous diffusion process for defense/military purposes.

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER OH-142-F. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC photographed the site in August Gray & Pape, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, served as the primary author of the historical narrative and resource descriptions drawing from numerous historical records and reports, drawings, photographs and plans. For additional contextual information, see Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, HAER no. OH-142. This X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building HAER was completed in PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 3) Part I.

Historical Information In support of this report, there are three appendices that are provided: Appendix A through C, which consist of survey photographs, historical photographs, and historical drawings, respectively. Construction History of the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building: The X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building were built during the initial construction phase of PORTS, which occurred from to Peter Kiewit Sons Company awarded the subcontract for installation of the process equipment to George Sheaf & Company of Columbus, Ohio. Excavation activities began in July (Appendix B, Figures 4 through 6).

The site designated for the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility, and the Fluorine Storage Building was a low point that previously held a natural water course with surface and sub-surface drainage. This required the installation of a drainage blanket of graded stone, pitched to a low point. Additionally, French drains were installed below the drainage blanket. The blanket leads to a main drain. The drain then slopes toward a sump, which in turn pumps water beyond the site. A second drain was installed to carry runoff from the Process Building to beyond the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility site.

Workers began erecting the steel framing in the spring of (Figures 7 through Workers completed the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building in September (Figure Historical drawings of building plans are provided in Appendix C (Figures 12 through Part II. Site Information Description of the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building: The X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building are located in the north-central section of PORTS. The X-342A Facility vaporized UF6 feed material, generated and stored fluorine, and sampled UF6.

The X-342A Facility consists of a feed- vaporizing plant, a fluorine generating plant, and a waste fluorine disposal unit. The Fluorine Storage Building stored the fluorine generated in the X-342A Facility. A third component of the overall facility includes the Waste Hydrogen Fluoride Neutralization Pit, which stored waste hydrogen fluoride. The process of uranium enrichment increases the proportion of uranium-235 to that of uranium-238. The gaseous diffusion process requires the use of UF6 to separate the uranium-238 and uranium-235 isotopes. By manipulating the temperature and pressure of its container, UF6 can be maintained as a gas, liquid, or solid making it ideal for use in the diffusion process. UF6 gas is fed to the enrichment cascade in the process buildings.

The X-342A Facility received steel cylinders, each containing 10 tons of UF6. Workers transferred the UF6 cylinders to steam-heated vaporizers. The vapor passed through a piping system to the PORTS process buildings. PORTS later added higher assay feed material to the process after it was converted to UF6 in the facility. This material consisted of a combination of uranium tetrafluoride, or green salt, and material from the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility. PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No.

OH-142-F (Page 4) The X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility is a utilitarian steel-frame building, with two stories on the south half and one story on the north side (Appendix A, Figures 1 through 3). The building covers an area of square feet. The building features a poured concrete slab foundation with concrete piers, walls clad in corrugated cement-asbestos siding, and a flat metal-deck roof covered with insulation and built-up material. Window openings are located in the northern end of the east fa ade and the eastern end of the north fa ade. They are also located in the lunchroom and office area. All windows consist of steel industrial sash. Louvered vents are located at various locations on the building.

Entries to the building are equally spaced on the south fa ade. The entries feature metal doors with two lights on the upper panels and large rolling steel doors. These large openings provide access for truck shipments and a rail pass-through. Several exhaust fans and a large exhaust stack stand approximately 60' tall. Above-ground pipes extend from the east side of the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility to the PORTS process buildings. The ground floor interior of the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility is separated into 17 areas. The space is dominated by the receiving and vaporizing bay, or process area, which occupies the entire southern portion of the building.

The northwest quarter of the building features a storage and maintenance area, fluorine cell rooms, and an electrical room. The northeast quarter of the facility houses sodium fluoride traps and compressor room, and a disposal room. To the north of these rooms are offices, a lunchroom, and men s and women s restrooms and locker rooms. The second floor is occupied by a platform in the vaporizer area, a fan room, plenum fan room, and filtered heater room. Interior building finishes are functional, consisting of interior concrete block partitions, suspended ceilings of inverted steel decking in the personnel-use rooms and centrally-located control room, and concrete flooring, with the exception of ceramic tile in the shower and toilet rooms, and asphalt tile in the office and lunchroom.

The X-344A UF6 Sampling Facility extends from the west and north sides of the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility. The Feed, Vaporization, and Sampling Facility, which was completed in and the X-344A UF6 Sampling Facility eventually took over the feed, vaporization, and sampling of uranium. The X-342A Facility remained in place as a backup for these processes, as well as to generate and purify fluorine. From to the X-342A Facility was shut down, while its 12 steam vaporizers were replaced with two autoclaves. The Fluorine Storage Building is located approximately east of the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility. It occupies an area of approximately square feet.

The building houses three large fluorine storage tanks, each with a capacity of cubic feet. The Fluorine Storage Building is a one-story utilitarian structure with a poured concrete slab foundation. The building s steel frame walls rest atop reinforced concrete footings. The upper portions of the walls are clad with cement-asbestos tiles. The top of the building is covered with a low pitched, flat steel-deck. Louvered vents, located in the south side of the building, comprise the only openings within the Fluorine Storage Building. Entries are located on each corner of the building. They consist of metal doors with glass on the upper panels, and louvered vents on the lower panels. A 23' steel exhaust stack, located to the north of the building, vents air from within the building.

Exhaust fans draw air through the louvered vents in the south wall. Piping connects the storage tanks to the neighboring X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility. PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 5) Part III. Sources of Information Department of Energy. The Role of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Cold War History. Piketon, OH: U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Energy. Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Report for the Process Buildings and Complex Facilities Decontamination and Decommissioning Evaluation Project at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Piketon, Ohio, DOE/PPPO/03-0245&D3. Piketon, OH: U.S.

Department of Energy, Department of Energy. National Historic Preservation Act Section 110 Survey of Architectural Properties at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Scioto and Seal Townships, Piketon, Ohio, DOE/PPPO/03-0147&D1. Piketon, OH: U.S. Department of Energy, January Department Of Energy. Highly Enriched Uranium: Striking a Balance, A Historical Report on the United States Highly Enriched Uranium Production, Acquisition, and Utilization Activities from to September 30, Revision 1. Washington, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Giffels & Vallet, Inc. Gaseous Diffusion Plant at Portsmouth, Ohio, Project History and Completion Report (Redacted). Washington, U.S.

Atomic Energy Commission, Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Virtual Museum accessed at operated and managed by Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth for DOE. PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 6) Appendix A: Survey Photographs Figure 1: Location and Orientation of Exterior Photographs (1 and 3) PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No.

OH-142-F (Page 7) Figure 2: South Side of the X-342A Feed Vaporization and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building, August Facing Northwest, Cylinders in the Foreground Figure 3: South Side of the X-342A Feed Vaporization and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building, August Facing Northwest PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No.

OH-142-F (Page 8) Appendix B: Historical Photographs Figure 4: The X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building Construction Site, September Figure 5: The X-342A Feed Vaporization Building and Fluorine Storage Facility Construction Site, October PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No.

OH-142-F (Page 9) Figure 6: Looking Southwest at the X-342A Feed, Vaporization and Fluorine Generation Facility, November Figure 7: Steel Framework for the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building, February PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 10) Figure 8: Steel Framework for the Fluorine Storage Building, February Figure 9: Steel Framework for the Fluorine Storage Building, April PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No.

OH-142-F (Page 11) Figure 10: The X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility, April Figure 11: Looking North at the X-342A Feed, Vaporization, and Fluorine Generation Facility and the Fluorine Storage Building, September PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 12) Appendix C: Historical Drawings Figure 12: Autoclave Pit and Details PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 13) Figure 13: Platform and Stair Details PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No.

OH-142-F (Page 14) Figure 14: First Floor Plan PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 15) Figure 15: Roof Replacement Plan PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 16) Figure 16: North and West Elevations PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 17) Figure 17: South and East Elevations PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No.

OH-142-F (Page 18) Figure 18: Ground Floor Plan PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 19) Figure 19: Plot Plan PORTSMOUTH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT, X-342A FEED, VAPORIZATION, AND FLUORINE GENERATION FACILITY AND FLUORINE STORAGE BUILDING HAER No. OH-142-F (Page 20) Figure 20: Storage Building