EPA, State Sign Record on Completion of Soil Cleanup Phase at Oak Ridge

From left, U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Manager Erik Olds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers sign a record of decision on the completion of soil cleanup at a 1,400-acre portion of land at the East Tennessee Technology Park.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Federal and state leaders recently signed a record of decision confirming cleanup of soil is complete at a portion of the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) at Oak Ridge, enabling the reuse of land for continuing economic development.

In his first visit to Oak Ridge, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber joined leaders from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) to sign the document.

The record confirms OREM has finished all necessary soil cleanup work for Zone 1 at ETTP. This accomplishment comes after EPA, TDEC and OREM signed two other records of decision last year focused on groundwater remediation at ETTP.

“I am in awe of the scope of this project and the incredible work of three partner agencies in cleaning up and redeveloping such a complex site,” McOmber said. “We have a long way to go, and EPA looks forward to continuing our work with the DOE and TDEC to realize the ambitious vision for the Oak Ridge Reservation.”

A recent view of the East Tennessee Technology Park, where major field work is complete after decades of cleanup. The site is now home to more than 25 private businesses, with more set to arrive in the future.

ETTP is formerly known as the K-25 Site or Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which operated from the mid-1940s until 1985. The plant was originally used to enrich uranium as part of the Manhattan Project, but it continued operations after World War II to produce enriched uranium for defense missions and commercial power.

Zone 1 is a 1,400-acre area immediately surrounding the main plant area of ETTP. It includes a portion of land that previously housed electrical powerhouse facilities, a scrap yard and waste burial grounds. The soil, surface water and groundwater in this area was impacted by previous operations.

Part of that acreage also includes a natural resource management area that was created in 2006 through a partnership between OREM and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The 1,400-acre Zone 1 surrounds the main plant area of the East Tennessee Technology Park. Soil remediation is now complete there.

OREM and its contractor, UCOR, excavated the impacted soil in Zone 1 that could pose risks to human health or the environment. In total, crews removed 67,000 cubic yards of soil — enough to fill about 5,500 dump trucks. This cleanup enables reuse of land for economic development and improves the quality of the ecosystem to support animal habitats.

The state of Tennessee has worked closely with EPA, DOE and DOE's federal contractors to determine effective pathways to clean old Manhattan Project-era contamination, protect human health and prepare sites for new industrial use, according to TDEC Commissioner David Salyers.

“The record of decision signed today by EPA, DOE and TDEC is the culmination of more than 20 years of collaboration and tri-party efforts behind the cleanup of this site to make beneficial reuse possible,” Salyers said. “Much more work needs to be done, so we can’t rest on past achievements, but I’m proud and confident of the three-way partnership framework that has been established to enable future success for the Oak Ridge Reservation and the thriving region it supports.”

Decades of cleanup by OREM and its contractors have transformed the former uranium enrichment complex into a multiuse industrial center, historical park and conservation area that benefit the community. ETTP is the recipient of EPA’s 2024 National Federal Facility Excellence in Reuse Award.

To date, OREM has transferred more than 1,800 acres at ETTP for economic development. That land has attracted more than 25 businesses that have announced billions of dollars in capital investments, and more developments are expected in the years ahead.

OREM is honored to have top leadership from EPA and TDEC visit the Oak Ridge Reservation to mark the completion of one phase of cleanup and witness the progress already underway on the next, according to OREM Manager Erik Olds.

“Our projects are creating economic opportunities on a new scale for the region and paving the way for crucial modernization of research and national security infrastructure,” Olds said. “The pace of our cleanup is only possible through outstanding collaboration and strong partnerships with our regulators.”

With major field work complete at ETTP, OREM is now focused on large-scale cleanup operations at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

-Contributor: Ryan Getsi