Paducah Site worker Brandon Hayden signals a crane operator to lower a motor from the C-333 Process Building’s cell floor to the truck alley for removal. The work was done to support the future construction of a material sizing area in the building, which will be used to downsize large components for disposal.
Paducah Site worker Brandon Hayden signals a crane operator to lower a motor from the C-333 Process Building’s cell floor to the truck alley for removal. The work was done to support the future construction of a material sizing area in the building.

PADUCAH, Ky. – Since the inception of the EM program in 1989, the Paducah Site has made notable achievements in groundwater cleanup, waste removal, and other work advancing its environmental cleanup mission following more than 60 years of uranium enrichment operations and support activities.

Since 1989, the site has treated 4.6 billion gallons of groundwater, removed over 8,000 gallons of trichloroethylene from groundwater and soils, disposed 7.8 million cubic feet of waste, removed 66 million pounds of scrap metal from storage yards, and converted over 52,500 metric tons of depleted uranium hexafluoride into a more stable form for potential reuse or disposal.

Enrichment operations at Paducah ceased in 2013, paving the way for EM to expand cleanup and deactivation activities. Recent progress includes the removal of approximately 2 million pounds of an ozone-depleting refrigerant used in the site’s four process buildings.

EM also recently deactivated the C-400 Cleaning Building, an important step towards reaching an agreement with environmental regulators on the final actions required for addressing contamination within the city block surrounding the building.

Pictured here are the equipment, tanks, and other items on the east side of the C-400 Cleaning Building at the Paducah Site. These items were removed, in part, to prepare for a remedial investigation that will allow EM to evaluate the source of off-site groundwater contamination located under the building.
Pictured here are the equipment, tanks, and other items on the east side of the C-400 Cleaning Building at the Paducah Site.

“So much has changed since the plant’s operations ceased nearly a decade ago,” said Jennifer Woodard, EM’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Paducah site lead. “Our strategic approach had to evolve to incorporate cleanup scope resulting from the return of the leased uranium enrichment facilities, recognize and adjust the utility and infrastructure needs for the entire site, and understand the surveillance and maintenance cost impacts related to the returned facilities.”

Workers are also taking steps to deactivate the C-333 Process Building, a facility that is more than 80 feet high and covers about 25 acres on each floor, larger than 20 football fields. Steps taken include removing hazardous materials and equipment.

Paducah Site workers conduct drilling and groundwater sampling activities inside the C-400 Cleaning Building after the facility was deactivated. Since November 2019, EM has conducted field work as part of an ongoing groundwater investigation at the C-400 Complex, which includes the building and surrounding areas.
Paducah Site workers conduct drilling and groundwater sampling activities inside the C-400 Cleaning Building after the facility was deactivated.

“Over the next several years, we have plans in place to make substantial progress at the C-400 Complex city block and the deactivation of the C-333 Process Building, which will bring us closer to achieving our long-term cleanup goals,” Woodard said.

When operational, the site required infrastructure similar to that of a small city, with its own water treatment plant, fire department, security force, post office, medical facility, and sewage treatment plant. Since the plant ceased uranium enrichment, the needs at the site have changed.

A view of the locations of major EM cleanup accomplishments at the Paducah Site since the inception of the cleanup program in 1989.
A view of the locations of major EM cleanup accomplishments at the Paducah Site since the inception of the cleanup program in 1989.

Paducah previously maintained four electrical switchyards, supporting up to 3,000 megawatts of power per hour. This is enough energy to power a city as large as Nashville. Currently, the site’s cleanup mission only uses about 12 megawatts per hour.

The reduced need for electricity prompted the construction of a new electrical substation and power distribution system, operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The substation now carries the power load for the entire site. This change will result in significant cost and energy savings in the coming years.

Earlier this year, EM took Paducah’s last remaining switchyard offline and transferred electrical loads to the new Tennessee Valley Authority substation. Paducah Site worker Cayce King connects a hose to a rail car to drain the oil from the C-531 Switchyard, the last switchyard to be deactivated at the site.
Earlier this year, EM took Paducah’s last remaining switchyard offline and transferred electrical loads to the new Tennessee Valley Authority substation.

Water usage at the site has also changed since a majority of the site’s water was used as a coolant for the uranium enrichment process. Today, the site requires approximately 1.7 to 2.5 million gallons per day. When the plant was supporting the nation’s power needs, water usage could reach as high as 30 million gallons per day. Steps to replace two raw water pumps with ones that will operate using about 50% less power, resulting in additional energy cost savings, is currently underway.

“It will take many years before we complete our ultimate mission in Paducah,” Woodard said. “The Department is taking a systematic approach to position the site to have the correct infrastructure while continuing the environmental cleanup and deactivation activities.”

Deactivation and environmental remediation work continues to be a priority for leaders at the site. The advancements made in cleanup there lay the groundwork for future economic development in the region.