In August 1952, the Atomic Energy Commission, a predecessor agency to DOE, selected a tract of land in the Ohio Valley along the Scioto River in Pike County, Ohio, for the site of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP), the third of three GDPs in the United States. In 1956, the plant began enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. In the 1960s, Portsmouth’s mission changed to focus on producing fuel for commercial nuclear power plants and other national security applications. An extensive environmental cleanup program began at the 3,777-acre site in 1989, with deactivation and decommissioning activities initiated in 2011. Watch the video below to learn more about Portsmouth.
Portsmouth News
-
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management successfully completed the majority of its 2024 priorities, advancing critical cleanup work with the support of state, tribal and local partners.January 17, 2025
-
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.January 14, 2025
-
Portsmouth Site personnel ended 2024 by accomplishing a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management priority for the year.January 7, 2025
-
The Portsmouth Paducah Project Office achieved significant priorities, goals and milestones in 2024, advancing cleanup and preparing its two sites for future use.January 7, 2025
-
The Portsmouth Site is well known for encouraging scientific learning and exploring STEM opportunities with students of all ages in the community year-round.December 17, 2024
-
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management recently awarded performance-based fee payments to 14 of its contractors at sites across the DOE complex.December 17, 2024
Joel B. Bradburne was named Manager of the Department of Energy's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) on December 13, 2021. In this role, he oversees the deactivation and demolition of the former gaseous diffusion facilities at the Portsmouth, Ohio and Paducah, Kentucky sites, and the Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion Project at both locations.
Click here to view full bio.
High-Level Budget Information
FY22 Enacted (in the millions) | FY23 Request (in the millions) | FY23 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY25 Requested (in the millions) |
| $549 | $560 | $580 | $580 | $580 | $600 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.