K-25 demolition project receives American Nuclear Society award

 

The successful demolition of a former gaseous diffusion facility in Oak Ridge has been honored by the American Nuclear Society.

The American Nuclear Society’s Decommissioning and Environmental Services Division selected the K-25 demolition project to receive its Project Excellence Award. The K-25 building, located at East Tennessee Technology Park, was built as part of the Manhattan Project in the 1940s. The facility was shut down in 1964 after two decades of producing enriched uranium for defense and commercial purposes. As the massive, mile-long building began deteriorating, its demolition was considered one of the highest priorities for the environmental cleanup program in Oak Ridge.

UCOR, the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, completed the demolition project on Dec. 19, 2013. The demolition was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

UCOR is a partnership between URS and CH2M Oak Ridge LLC.

“Demolishing a contaminated gaseous diffusion building certainly poses challenges, but we brought a lot of talent to the project that was complemented by the skilled and knowledgeable workforce already in place,” said Steve Dahlgren, UCOR D&D Manager. “Working with DOE and our union leadership, we have been successful at both expeditiously and safely completing this project.”

The Project Excellence Award recognizes efforts and achievements on a specific project that has contributed to the advancement of any one or all of the fields of decontamination, decommissioning, or site reutilization. The individuals specifically recognized for their efforts are Jim Kopotic, former DOE Oak Ridge Environmental Management (OREM) Portfolio Manager for ETTP; Wendy Cain, OREM K-25/K-27/K-31 D&D Projects Manager; and Steve Dahlgren, UCOR D&D Manager.

“Completing K-25’s demolition, the largest demolition project in the DOE complex, is a major step toward our ultimate goal of converting ETTP into a private sector industrial park,” Cain said. “We are honored that the American Nuclear Society is recognizing this successful project with its prestigious Project Excellence Award. This was truly a team effort that involved the expertise and dedication of many individuals. ”

The award will be presented June 16 at the society’s summer meeting in Reno, Nevada.