An antiquated earthmover at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth Site, affectionately called “Fiat-Allis,” had been awaiting liberation from the woods for decades until its removal recently.
Office of Environmental Management
January 14, 2025
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The “Fiat-Allis” dozer is loaded onto a flatbed trailer at the Portsmouth Site. Removing this equipment is part of the overall cleanup effort underway at the site.
PIKETON, Ohio — An antiquated earthmover at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth Site, affectionately called “Fiat-Allis,” had been awaiting liberation from the woods for decades until its removal recently.
In the 1990s, Fiat-Allis, built as a joint venture by the Fiat and Allis Chalmers companies, was purchased to construct a sanitary landfill. After completion of the landfill, the machine had mechanical and electrical issues, so it was left in place in the site forest due to its size and difficulty of repairs. According to archives, the dozer stood more than 8 feet tall and weighed more than 50 tons, with its blade alone weighing 5 tons.
“We’ve talked about this legendary dozer since I started working at the site,” said Chris Lewis, waste management manager for Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth (FBP), the Portsmouth Site deactivation and demolition contractor. “Sixteen years of chatter about the disposition of ‘Allis’ and now we have the remedy in hand.”
Ironworker Jayce Denny works to decrease the weight of the “Fiat-Allis” dozer by removing its blade at the Portsmouth Site.
Historically, the “Fiat-Allis” model is known as a “heavily beefed-up tractor.” Weighing more than 50 tons, the dozer was purchased to construct a sanitary landfill at the Portsmouth Site.
Removing the dozer was a significant cleanup task due to it spending so many years in nature. One of the first steps involved removing trees and briars to construct a gravel road to access the equipment. Determining the best route for disposal required a concerted effort by employees. They found that the best option was to downsize the dozer to meet waste acceptance criteria for the On-Site Waste Disposal Facility.
“Stories like these make the Portsmouth Site history unique,” EM Waste Management Specialist Ryan Callihan said. “Fiat-Allis did her job and served her time before gaining the unexpected celebrity status she has today.”
The large dozer recently emerged from a location near the interim leachate treatment system for the disposal facility. It was transported to the pad of the former X-326 Process Building for resizing. The equipment will eventually claim its final resting place at the disposal facility.
-Contributor: Michelle Teeters
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