Portsmouth, Paducah Site Tours Give Visitors Glimpse of Past, Future

Donnie Chumbler, a retiree who worked at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant for 36 years, shares past work experiences with a public tour group.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Public tour participants heard firsthand accounts from past employees of the former gaseous diffusion plants at the Portsmouth and Paducah sites this year while learning how U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) projects are transforming liabilities into opportunities to unleash American energy, support national security and enable U.S. innovation and jobs.

This year, tour organizers invited retirees to share personal stories and insider perspectives with the hundreds of visitors as they received updates on EM’s environmental cleanup progress and future use plans during the tours at the Portsmouth, Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky, cleanup sites.

“Having our retirees step into a leadership role on the public tours is incredibly meaningful,” Portsmouth Paducah Project Office acting Manager Reinhard Knerr said. “Their knowledge brings history to life in a way that no report or presentation can produce. It also highlights the important connection between the sites, the workforce and the communities we serve.”

Portsmouth Site On-Site Waste Disposal Facility (OSWDF) Senior Construction Manager Chris McDade, right, discusses a system used for debris placement at the facility during a public tour. Jack Snyder, center, listens regarding the process since the OSWDF was created after he retired.

At the Paducah Site, retiree Donnie Chumbler said leading tours equipped him with an opportunity to educate and connect with his community.

“These tours helped satisfy the curiosity of the public as to what the plant did during operations as well as what DOE and its contractors have accomplished,” Chumbler said. “There seemed to be a better kinship with the plant and the people after the tour. It was a chance in their lifetime to capture a glance at the nuclear industry and understand the role Paducah played.”

Portsmouth Site retiree Jack Snyder said the experience allowed him to relive history while educating the public.

“You don’t understand the impact the site had on the economy and the nation until you see it for yourself,” Snyder said. “Not only was the site a place of accomplishment for me, but to see the future possibilities is priceless. You can see the impact these tours have on people and the positivity that abounds when the tour ends.”

Tour participants also viewed land identified for transfer or lease to the local community, providing insight firsthand into how EM reduces risk and brings benefits to their communities and the nation.

EM hosts annual tours at both sites, allowing the public an opportunity to better understand DOE’s environmental cleanup mission, future land use possibilities and ongoing commitment to safety.

-Contributors: Steve Christmas, Shawn Jordan