Paducah Site’s Transforming Skyline Signals New Industry

A road at the Paducah Site leads to an area where trees are gathered after being cut down. General Matter is leasing 100 acres of land at the site, and is clearing space to prepare for construction of a uranium enrichment facility.

At center of new industry is General Matter, a company critical to rebuilding America’s nuclear fuel production base

PADUCAH, Ky. — U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) crews have begun clearing trees at the Paducah Site to prepare for new tenant General Matter to eventually build a uranium enrichment plant on about 100 acres of leased land. 

“This skyline change is a visible reminder new industry is coming,” Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Interim Acting Deputy Manager and Paducah Site Lead April Ladd said. “Paducah is leaning into the new nuclear renaissance, working with commercial companies supporting national security and providing competitive jobs for the current and future Paducah workforce.”

Well before DOE announced a lease agreement with General Matter last August for a new private-sector uranium enrichment facility, EM’s critical environmental planning was underway, including a cultural evaluation to ensure no archeological items needed to be preserved.

Paducah Site officials also worked with General Matter on a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review to assess potential environmental impacts of the project and ensure environmental considerations are consistent with the proposed use.

“Because this is DOE property, it’s important all requirements are met to move forward with leasing a portion of the land,” Enterprise Technical Assistance Services (ETAS) Paducah Project Manager Kelly Layne said. “The NEPA review is an administrative checklist to verify it’s appropriate to move forward.”

ETAS is the PPPO technical support services contractor.

An equipment operator moves recently cut trees at the Paducah Site. Tree clearing is altering the skyline, making way for new industry.

For its part, General Matter performed an ecological survey last fall to evaluate wildlife and biological fauna. The company engaged with regulatory bodies to confirm endangered species would not be impacted by preparations for construction.

General Matter representatives are also now part of a shared site initiative. They participate in meetings and are at the table to discuss their plans.

“It’s all about good communication between General Matter and the site contractors,” said Layne.

After the trees are cut down, they will be removed from the site for size reduction and reuse. Crews will soon begin extracting tree root systems, allowing for a smoother surface. General Matter will also perform geotechnical sampling to validate the soil has the right compaction specifications before building. Further studies will take place this year.

Global Laser Enrichment, a company building a laser uranium enrichment facility on land adjacent to the Paducah Site, is also clearing trees ahead of constructing its facility, adding to the changing skyline near the site.

General Matter plans to launch uranium enrichment operations by the end of the decade upon receiving a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Global Laser Enrichment recently announced that the commission completed an acceptance review of its license application for the slated Paducah facility and intends to re-enrich a portion of the depleted uranium tails inventory at the Paducah Site by 2030.

-Contributor: Sarah Marko