  Paducah Site stakeholders, from left, Paducah City Mayor George Bray, Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sandra Wilson, Kentucky State Sen. Danny Carroll, Greater Paducah Economic Development President/CEO Bruce Wilcox, Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing Inc./Marcum Engineering LLC Project Manager Maegan Mansfield and McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer represent the Paducah community at the Idaho Falls Energy Communities Alliance New Nuclear Conference.
PADUCAH, Ky. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Paducah Site continues its transformation from the cleanup of legacy uranium enrichment operations into a driver for regional economic growth with assistance of a study from the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s study, called “Preparing the Roadmap for the Future,” began in 2023, and achieved several key milestones. The findings from the study are set to publish later this year.
“We were honored to be selected to execute this study,” Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sandra Wilson said. “Our goal is to provide the local community with a comprehensive roadmap for the future of the DOE Paducah Site.”
The chamber awarded a subcontract to Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing Inc./Marcum Engineering LLC of Paducah, Kentucky, to conduct the study and work with Geosyntec Consultants, a consulting firm of engineers and scientists out of Knoxville, Tennessee, to tackle complex problems involving the environment and civil infrastructure.
The chamber has been proactive in the study to align the community’s long term vision with the submission of the first formal land transfer request — approximately 150 acres for economic development — representing a pivotal move toward repurposing the site for industries in energy, nuclear, technology and manufacturing.
“Securing land was one of the first steps in building a new vision for site reindustrialization,” said Wilson. “Our study takes a comprehensive approach to facilitating land transfer, identifying development prospects, and addressing workforce needs.”
To date, infrastructure planning and conceptual designs have progressed for public water and sewer utilities for the site to develop the land for reuse. Additional discussions will ensue for future power, road access and rail connectivity. The study also evaluated the availability of utilities and assessed transportation and power infrastructure needs with ongoing coordination as DOE continues to ensure alignment with the site’s future development requirements.
“Establishing this roadmap through the study conducted by the chamber is crucial to realizing the vision for the future of the site,” Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne said. “Our cleanup strategy is closely tied to the efforts of this study to align our fieldwork to create opportunities for the community.”
In partnership with Greater Paducah Economic Development, the chamber’s study also focuses on economic development opportunities outside of the current industrial footprint at the Paducah Site. As the study progresses, several companies are expressing interest in establishing operations at the site as part of the broader reindustrialization strategy.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, workforce development remains a priority. The study’s Workforce Development Working Group has aligned educational programs with industry needs. With a labor force of over 31,000 evaluated by the study, the Paducah region is well-positioned to support emerging employment opportunities for reindustrialization at the site.
Looking ahead, the final “Preparing the Roadmap for the Future” study will present detailed strategies for property reuse, industry recruitment and community engagement. Ultimately, it will assist the Paducah Site with transforming liabilities into opportunities to unleash American energy, support national security and enable U.S. innovation and jobs.
-Contributor: Dylan Nichols
 This marks the seventh edition of the East Tennessee Economic Council’s annual Nuclear Opportunities Workshop. Since 2018, the event has grown from 85 attendees in a small conference center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to a two-day conference at the Knoxville Convention Center with attendance surging to 800 attendees and more than 175 students.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Advances on the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management’s (OREM) cleanup mission are creating unique opportunities for the nuclear industry. The effect was evident at a crowded Nuclear Opportunities Workshop on July 22-23.
This marks the seventh edition of the annual event hosted by the East Tennessee Economic Council. What began with 85 attendees in a conference center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in 2018 has grown into a two-day conference at the Knoxville Convention Center with attendance surging to 800 attendees and more than 175 students.
"Building on our Manhattan Project-era legacy of nuclear innovation, East Tennessee is again at the forefront of new nuclear technologies that have the potential to change the world,” said Tracy Boatner, East Tennessee Economic Council president and CEO. “The state of Tennessee has many valuable resources for companies in the nuclear industry. The Nuclear Opportunities Workshop provides a platform to display those resources for companies interested in joining the nuclear renaissance occurring in our state.”
 One of the featured panels at this year’s conference was titled “Atomic Insights: Cleanup Today for a Nuclear Tomorrow.” From left, participants included Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation President Mike Magill, UCOR Director of Critical Projects Joe Aylor, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Manager Erik Olds, Orano USA President and CEO Jean-Luc Palayer, and panel moderator Adam DeMella.
One of the featured panels at this year’s conference was titled, “Cleanup Today for a Nuclear Tomorrow.” Participants included OREM Manager Erik Olds, UCOR Director of Critical Projects Joe Aylor, Orano USA President and CEO Jean-Luc Palayer, and Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation President Mike Magill.
Panelists shared insight about the connection between cleanup and economic opportunities happening in the region — specifically, how successful cleanup of the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) has led to the siting of the nation’s first nuclear innovation hub.
Oak Ridge’s landscape was markedly different only seven years ago when the workshop launched. Cleanup progress since then has paved the way for a business boom.
Since 2018, OREM and UCOR crews have finished demolition and completed soil remediation at the ETTP, marking the first removal of a former enrichment complex in the world. OREM has also transferred 730 acres for economic reuse and development over that span.
Those efforts have transformed the site from a government-owned, shuttered uranium enrichment complex into a privately owned industrial park that has become a hub for nuclear energy development that will play a crucial role in the nation’s energy future.
That land is now home to more than 25 businesses that are making a projected capital investment of $7 billion with an expectation to generate 1,700 new private sector jobs.
Cleanup is also generating benefits for the nuclear industry that extend beyond the ETTP. OREM’s work is also having a major impact at ORNL and the Y-12 National Security Complex.
OREM projects in recent years have cleared away numerous aging and contaminated structures — including former research reactors, laboratories and enrichment facilities — to make way for new infrastructure that will aid innovation and national security for the nation in the years ahead.
-Contributor: Ryan Getsi
 Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) electrician Keondre Whitfield, left, receives a SlateSafety armband from industrial hygiene employee Brooke Draghi. The armband measures critical physiological parameters indicating heat strain in an individual.
AIKEN, S.C. — Wearable technology is helping workers stay safe on the job in the South Carolina summer heat at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), the liquid waste contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) at SRS, has implemented the use of SlateSafety armbands, a monitoring device worn by workers that measures critical physiological parameters indicating heat strain in an individual.
During the summer, heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and exhaustion, are serious risks to our workers, especially for those working outside or in high temperatures, according to Wes Bryan, SRMC environment, safety, health and quality assurance director.
“At SRMC, safety isn’t just a priority, it’s a principle that guides every decision we make,” Bryan said. “By integrating technologies like SlateSafety, we’re proactively protecting our team and making sure every worker goes home safely at the end of the day.”
The monitoring device uses variables such as heart rate limit value (HRLV), which compares a person’s current heart rate with their maximum sustained heart rate to monitor one’s level of heat strain risk.
A key feature of the SlateSafety devices is the ability for supervisors to monitor the physiological status of all workers actively wearing the armbands during their work, according to SRMC Safety and Hygiene Technical Advisor Steven Jahn.
“If a user exceeds a HRLV of 100% for more than five minutes, supervision intervenes to ensure their safety,” Jahn said. “When that threshold is crossed, we make sure the worker pauses exertion at the job to cool down until it’s safe for them to continue. This system makes sure workers are both proactive and preventive when it comes to heat-induced safety concerns.”
Factors that determine the use of the armband include the level of physical effort, duration of the activity and amount of personal protective equipment required.
Tony Robinson, DOE-Savannah River acting assistant manager for waste disposition, said EM appreciates the work done to add another layer of worker safety by SRMC.
“The initiative taken to implement innovative technology to continuously improve the site’s commitment to safety is commendable,” Robinson said. “This safety system has proven to be a positive intervention in the SRMC workforce so far, keeping workers safe and informed, particularly during the summer heat.”
-Contributor: Katie Cannon
 Savannah River Mission Completion “papers of note” and “superior papers” team included, top row from left, Shelby Peterson, Josh Pifer, Josh Goldblatt and Thuy Le. Bottom row from left, Fred Angel, Amanda Coleman and Peter Henry.
AIKEN, S.C. — Team members with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS) have been recognized nationally for “papers of note” and “superior” technical papers presented at the Waste Management (WM) Symposia held earlier this year.
Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) is the liquid waste contractor at SRS. The annual WM Symposia provides an international forum for discussing solutions to the management and disposition of radioactive waste and decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
Amanda Coleman and Peter Henry, both from the SRMC Flowsheet Development and Facility Integration group, achieved the prestigious “Papers of Note” rating at the WM Symposia 2025 for “The Utility of Waste Tank Historical Reviews in Bulk Waste Removal Operations at the Savannah River Site.” This rating was given to only 24 out of more than 530 papers.
“Papers of Note” recipients have demonstrated their superb knowledge and understanding of their subject and, therefore, deserve this distinguished recognition, according to Gary Benda, WM deputy managing director and program advisory committee chair.
Coleman and Henry’s paper also received the “Superior Paper” award, which recognizes authors and co-authors for distinguished contributions to the advancement of radioactive waste and radioactive material management.
Two other papers authored and co-authored by SRMC employees also achieved “Superior Paper” recognition. Only 93 out of 530 papers received this rating.
SRMC’s Shelby Peterson, from Tank Farm’s Process Engineering Facility Support group, achieved the “Superior Paper” award for her paper on the topic “Evaluating Liquid Waste Transfers and their Impacts to the SRS Tank Farms to Support Operations and Closure.”
SRMC co-authors Joshua Goldblatt, Fred Angel, Joshua Pifer and Thuy Le also achieved a “Superior Paper” award for their submission, “Creating a Salt Batch: Challenges and Lessons Learned.”
SRMC Chief Operations Officer Mike Borders said SRMC’s mission is moving forward at a remarkable standard, thanks in large part to the invaluable contributions from our highly skilled team.
“We take great pride in Waste Management acknowledging these individuals for their noteworthy influence on the nuclear sector, insights that can be leveraged across other DOE sites across the complex,” said Borders.
-Contributor: Dara Glass
 Idaho Cleanup Project team runners, from left, Kris Lockyer, Jose Carbajal, Cody Hidalgo and Meesha Frye celebrate their 3rd place finish in the College of Eastern Idaho's Great Race for Education. The photo was taken by Scott Kirtley at Get Posterized.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) recently assembled a team to participate in a unique competition that required institutional knowledge, athleticism, wit, and even sheer luck to raise thousands of dollars in scholarships for local college students at the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI).
The Great Race for Education is like a “scavenger hunt” with one team of “owners” solving trivia questions for their four-person athletic team which runs through Historic Downtown Idaho Falls and Snake River Landing, completing dexterity or memory challenges to earn clues to the next station and ultimately the finish line. This year’s theme was “Mt. Olympus,” and teams were encouraged to decorate their booths and adorn themselves with ancient Greek-like attire.
Community giving and volunteer efforts are priorities for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM), demonstrated by the more than 50 employees from the DOE Idaho Operations Office and IEC who volunteered their time or money to support the Great Race for Education.
Shelby Lockyer, who supports IEC strategic planning and served as an IEC team captain during the event, was thrilled by this year’s participation and the collective commitment to support students from the area.
“IEC is a proud supporter of the College of Eastern Idaho, and I am grateful to our employees who took time to support a great cause,” said Lockyer. “We strive to make our community a great place to live and work.”
IEC’s athletic team of four runners took third place at the event, earning a medal, a trophy, and most importantly, a $1,000 scholarship in their name that will be given to a fortunate CEI student.
This year’s competition generated a combined total of $70,000 for scholarships, and CEI Foundation Executive Director Dave Facer recognized IEC’s contribution to another successful event.
“ICP’s ongoing commitment to supporting the CEI Foundation’s Great Race for Education truly reflects a deep-rooted dedication to community and education. Keeping that momentum going since 2009 is no small feat — it speaks volumes about their values and the strength of their team spirit.”
-Contributors: Leamarie Mitchell, Erik Simpson
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