Oak Ridge's K-27 Demolition Officially Begins

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The ceremonial “first bite” on Feb. 8 signaled the start of the K-27 Building demolition as URS|CH2M Oak Ridge, the EM Oak Ridge program's lead cleanup contractor for the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), moved closer to fulfilling Vision 2016 — removal of all gaseous diffusion buildings from the site by year’s end.

   Watch a video of the start of the K-27 demolition. 

   K-27 is the last of five gaseous diffusion facilities to be torn down at ETTP. Demolition of the four-story, 383,000-square-foot building remains one of EM’s highest cleanup priorities.

   Vision 2016 calls for the K-27 demolition to be completed by December. As the last uranium enrichment building falls, it will mark the first-ever demolition and cleanup of a gaseous diffusion complex anywhere.

   Deactivation of K-27 — the process of placing the building in a “stable and known” condition — was completed in January. This included removal of hazardous and radioactive materials to ensure protection of workers, the public, and environment, and the isolation of utility systems and ensuring structural stability.

   The K-27 tear-down follows successful demolition of four other uranium enrichment process buildings, including K-29, K-33, K-31, and the mile-long K-25 building. These facilities once produced highly enriched uranium for national defense and commercial energy production. At 44 acres, the U-shaped K-25 facility was once the world's largest building under one roof.

   EM’s goal is to transform the former nuclear production site into an attractive private sector industrial park that will become home to new industries and create jobs.