The Paducah GDP produced low-enriched uranium originally as feedstock for nuclear weapons materials and later for commercial nuclear power plants.
The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) was constructed in 1952 to produce enriched uranium, initially for the nation’s nuclear weapons program and later for nuclear fuel for commercial power plants. The plant is owned by the Department of Energy (DOE), which oversees environmental cleanup activities at the site, including environmental remediation, waste management, depleted uranium conversion, and decontamination and decommissioning. Commercial enrichment was conducted under lease from 1993 until 2013 when operations ceased and the gaseous diffusion facilities were returned to the DOE Environmental Management (EM) program. EM has conducted extensive cleanup activities at the site since the late 1980s and is currently deactivating the returned plant facilities while continuing the aggressive remediation program being managed by its Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office.
Programs
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The goal of the Environmental Cleanup Program is to evaluate and take appropriate actions to ensure protection of human health and the environment.... -
The Paducah Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) provides informed, independent advice and recommendations to DOE regarding environmental restoration, was... -
DOE has been actively pursuing the environmental cleanup goals at Paducah and Portsmouth sites since 1989. After environmental cleanup activities ... -
DOE encourages students to excel in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in these fields, including through efforts highlighted on this page. -
Learn about the Paducah Annual Site Environmental Reports.
News
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The Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) achieved significant priorities, goals and milestones in 2024, advancing cleanup and preparing its two sites for future use.January 7, 2025 -
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) recently awarded performance-based fee payments to 14 of its contractors at sites across the DOE complex, including Hanford, Savannah River, Paducah, Portsmouth, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Idaho, Nevada, Los Alamos, and Savannah River National Laboratory.December 19, 2024 -
Calloway County High School has been named the winner of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl T-Shirt Design Contest.December 19, 2024 -
The Paducah Site met a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) 2024 priority by safely and successfully removing 1 million pounds of R-114 refrigerant — a legacy environmental hazard stored at the site — this year.December 19, 2024