In 1950, the Atomic Energy Commission, a predecessor agency to DOE, selected a 3,556-acre tract of government-owned land near Paducah, Kentucky, as the location to construct a second gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plant (GDP) to support US national security needs. The Paducah GDP enriched uranium from 1952 to 2013 and was the last government-owned uranium enrichment facility operating in the United States. The Paducah GDP produced low-enriched uranium originally as feedstock for nuclear weapons materials and later for commercial nuclear power plants. Watch the video below to learn more about Paducah.
Paducah News
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U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management crews recently reached a historic milestone of over 40 million safe hours at the Savannah River Site and received an award from the National Safety Council at the Paducah Site. September 16, 2025September 16, 2025
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The National Safety Council has awarded the deactivation and remediation contractor at the Paducah Site its Million Work Hours Award, reflecting the safe completion of some of the most complex and challenging work at the site. September 9, 2025September 9, 2025
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The Portsmouth Paducah Project Office is modernizing its depleted uranium hexafluoride conversion facilities by installing a new system designed to significantly enhance safety, improve efficiency and reduce operational pauses. September 2, 2025September 2, 2025
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The Portsmouth Paducah Project Office recently met a DOE Office of Environmental Management priority for 2025 after successfully converting more than 1,000 cylinders of depleted uranium hexafluoride into a safer, more stable oxide form. August 26, 2025August 26, 2025
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Recent agreements & partnerships to provide land & a portion of a legacy coproduct from the former uranium enrichment process to commercial partners is turning liabilities into assets, accelerating production of domestic energy supplies. August 12, 2025August 12, 2025
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Crews have safely demolished six unused facilities at the Paducah Site ahead of schedule and under budget in the current fiscal year. August 5, 2025August 5, 2025
Reinhard Knerr is the Acting Manager of the Department of Energy's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO). In this role, he oversees the deactivation and demolition of the former gaseous diffusion facilities at the Portsmouth, Ohio and Paducah, Kentucky sites, and the Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion Project at both locations.
Click here to view full bio.
High-Level Budget Information
FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY25 Requested (in the millions) | FY25 Enacted (in the millions) | FY26 Requested (in the millions) |
| $304 | $334 | $330 | $344 | $332 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.