In August 1952, the Atomic Energy Commission, a predecessor agency to DOE, selected a tract of land in the Ohio Valley along the Scioto River in Pike County, Ohio, for the site of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP), the third of three GDPs in the United States. In 1956, the plant began enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. In the 1960s, Portsmouth’s mission changed to focus on producing fuel for commercial nuclear power plants and other national security applications. An extensive environmental cleanup program began at the 3,777-acre site in 1989, with deactivation and decommissioning activities initiated in 2011. Watch the video below to learn more about Portsmouth.
Portsmouth News
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Crews at the Portsmouth Site have kicked off another phase of excavating a legacy groundwater plume at the site. July 8, 2025July 8, 2025
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Just six months into 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management has racked up significant cleanup accomplishments across the country, with more progress on the horizon, senior EM federal and contractor executives said here last week. June 17, 2025.June 17, 2025
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Federal and contractor team members across the cleanup complex have been honored for demonstrating exceptional performance in making small business vital to the U.S. Department of Energy’s mission success. June 17. 2025.June 17, 2025
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High school students in Ohio and Kentucky, local universities and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth Paducah Project Office collaborated to develop and publish this year’s Student Summary of the Annual Site Environmental Report.May 20, 2025
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Cleanup crews recently removed the first transite panel from X-333 to prepare for the demolition of the second of three former uranium enrichment process buildings at the Portsmouth Site.May 13, 2025
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A first-of-a-kind program is preparing young adults for careers while providing a pipeline of talent for local companies around the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth Site.May 13, 2025
Joel B. Bradburne was named Manager of the Department of Energy's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) on December 13, 2021. 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
FY22 Enacted (in the millions) | FY23 Request (in the millions) | FY23 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY25 Requested (in the millions) |
| $549 | $560 | $580 | $580 | $580 | $600 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.