Joel Bradburne, Manager, Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office
“The dedication and strong work ethic of the PPPO team consistently exceeds expectations by prioritizing tasks to safely and securely execute mission goals, providing value to the taxpayer and setting the stage for a bright future for our Portsmouth and Paducah communities.”
HIGHLIGHTS
- Removed an additional 1 million pounds of hazardous R-114 refrigerant from the Paducah Site—an EM 2024 priority.
- Completed deactivation of the X-333 Process Building in Portsmouth—an EM 2024 priority.
- Placed the final load of deactivation waste from the X-333 Process Building into the On-Site Waste Disposal Facility (OSWDF) in Portsmouth.
- Completed construction of the 1-million-gallon leachate storage tank and other infrastructure items to support OSWDF activities in Portsmouth.
- Completed demolition of 14 excess facilities, including the 300-foot-tall high-pressure fire water tower, in Paducah.
- Segmented 200 converters as part of deactivation activities in the C-333 Process Building in Paducah.
- Completed LED street lighting upgrades in Paducah—a DOE sustainability initiative.
- Processed more than 800 Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) cylinders at the Portsmouth and Paducah DUF6 plants.
PORTSMOUTH – DEACTIVATION AND DEMOLITION PROJECTS ADVANCE
Workers successfully deactivated the X-333 process building, the second massive uranium processing building, enabling demolition to begin. Construction activities for the next set of on-site waste disposal cells advanced with the completion of the 1-million-gallon leachate treatment system. These cells will support demolition of the X-333 process building.
Construction activities for the next set of on-site waste disposal cells advanced with the completion of the 1-million-gallon leachate treatment system. These cells will support demolition of the X-333 process building.
PADUCAH – DEACTIVATION AND REMEDIATION ADVANCES
Deactivation of the Paducah Site C-333 Process Building continued with 200 converters segmented and 183 converter bundles compacted as part of deactivation activities. The team also characterized and deactivated 22 surge drums and 60 percent of the unit bypass.
Another 1 million pounds of R-114 was dispositioned in 2024, once again meeting an EM priority. Workers have shipped offsite about 69 percent of the approximately 8.5 million pounds of inventory.
Workers continued to shrink the site footprint, demolishing 14 excess facilities, including the 300-foot-tall high-pressure fire water tower, a fixture of the site’s skyline for decades.
Following a community request, the Paducah Site began the process for its first land transfer, targeting approximately 250 acres of land for future reindustrialization.
DEPLETED URANIUM HEXAFLOURIDE CONVERSION PLANT
At the depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) plants, workers processed more than 800 cylinders of DUF6.
The team completed key upgrades and modifications at the two first-of-a-kind facilities. These improvements increased throughput, exceeding a project record by operating all four conversion lines continuously for 41 straight days. Additionally, oxide shipping continued at the DUF6 plants with 120 cylinders shipped off site.
Phase 2 site development for the Paducah Uranium Oxide Shipping Facility was completed, advancing efforts to establish dedicated facilities needed to achieve peak shipping throughput.
