Oak Ridge Today

At one-year anniversary, UCOR says K-25 demolition ahead of schedule

Posted at
By 4 Comments

K-25 Demolition

Demolition is almost complete on most of the K-25 Building’s east wing, and the project is ahead of schedule. (Photos submitted by UCOR)

UCOR celebrated its first anniversary as the U.S. Department of Energy cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge this week, and the company announced that its most high-profile project, demolition of the K-25 Building, is ahead of schedule.

Demolition of most of the building’s east wing is almost complete, and more than 10,000 loads of debris have been shipped off for disposal, UCOR said in a press release.

Located in west Oak Ridge, the K-25 site was built to enrich uranium during World War II as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, but it’s been shut down since 1987.

[Read more…]

UCOR and United Way enjoy special showing at Oak Ridge Playhouse

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

UCOR and UWAC at Playhouse

Cleanup contractor UCOR and the United Way of Anderson County enjoy a special showing of Damn Yankees at the Oak Ridge Playhouse. (Submitted photo)

UCOR, the federal cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, hosted a special performance of “Damn Yankees” at the Oak Ridge Playhouse earlier this month in celebration of the company’s first year of work at the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The performance was for more than 220 staff members, friends, and colleagues.

Also attending the special showing was the United Way of Anderson County Pillar Society, a group of more than 120 leadership donors who have contributed $1,000 or more each year to the United Way, a UWAC press release said.

[Read more…]

UCOR ships more than 10,000 loads of K-25 waste

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

UCOR announced Thursday that it has safely shipped more than 10,000 loads of waste from the K-25 building demolition project at East Tennessee Technology Park.

Workers demolishing the former gaseous diffusion building are close to finishing the facility’s east wing, except for five cells contaminated with technetium-99, a press release said.

“This slow-decaying radioactive material will require further deactivation before demolition begins,” it said.

The K-25 building, shut down in the early 1960s, was a mile-long U-shaped structure covering more than 40 acres. The west wing was demolished by a previous contractor.

[Read more…]

UCOR donates $250,000 to UT engineering fellowship

Posted at
By 1 Comment

UCOR at University of Tennessee

From left to right are UCOR’s Bob Smith, Leo Sain, Cathy Hickey, Veronica O’Hearn, and Ken Rueter with University of Tennessee assistant professor Jason Hayward in Hayward’s lab. (Photo submitted by UT)

UCOR, a federal cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, is donating $250,000 to set up an engineering faculty fellowship at the University of Tennessee.

The first award recipient is Jason Hayward, an assistant professor in UT’s Department of Nuclear Engineering, a university press release said.

Leo Sain, UCOR’s president and project manager, announced the fellowship on Friday, June 29, at the East Tennessee Economic Council meeting in Oak Ridge.

[Read more…]

DOE facility disposes of 1.4 million tons of waste

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

DOE's waste management facility

Aerial photo of EMWMF. (Photo submitted by UCOR)

After 10 years of operation, the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility has safely disposed of 1.45 million tons of waste from cleanup projects across the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation, a press release said.

The waste management facility, which is located near the Y-12 National Security Complex, began operating in May 2002. It accepts a variety of wastes, including soil, sludge, sediments, vegetation, personal protective equipment, and scrap equipment.

[Read more…]

UCOR employee named state president of professional association

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Linda Spitzer

Linda Spitzer at the IAAP Tennesssee division's annual meeting. (Photo submitted by UCOR)

Linda Spitzer, an administrative professional for UCOR, has been named president of the Tennessee division of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, according to a press release.

Spitzer was elected to the board as secretary in 2009, and was elected president by the members of the 17 chapters that comprise the Tennessee division, the press release said. She became president at the division’s annual meeting, which was held June 1-3 in Chattanooga.

[Read more…]

UCOR announces education ‘mini-grant’ winners

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

UCOR, the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, has announced the winners of an education “mini-grant” program.

The UCOR Mini-Grant Program was created to recognize and support excellence in teaching by providing funds to assist teachers for certain projects or curricula. This focus is primarily on science, technology, engineering, and math.

[Read more…]