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.
Paducah Photo Gallery
Crews at the Paducah Site pause to discuss how to best proceed with demolition of one of the 33 inactive facilities demolished earlier this year. The safe demolition of unused facilities has been ongoing at the Paducah Site in recent years as the cleanup mission progresses to prepare the site for reindustrialization.
Paducah News
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Successful cleanup and reuse efforts underway at the Oak Ridge, Paducah, and Portsmouth sites are vividly illustrating the Office of Environmental Management’s ability to successfully deliver its vision of nuclear restoration and revitalization across the DOE complex, federal and contractor leaders said. March 17, 2026March 17, 2026
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Portsmouth and Paducah sites recently released annual reports of their environmental monitoring and compliance activities central to cleanup as they transition from nuclear remediation to nuclear renaissance. March 10, 2026March 10, 2026
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Erik Olds laid out how the two organizations contribute to the U.S. Department of Energy’s priorities during a recent regional business opportunities exchange held by the Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association. March 3, 2026March 3, 2026
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The Paducah Site is cultivating the next generation of its leaders by linking young professionals with local education initiatives. March 3, 2026March 3, 2026
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Cleanup at the Paducah Site is advancing thanks to new technology to efficiently scan equipment for uranium deposits as crews deactivate a second former uranium enrichment process building at the site to prepare it for eventual demolition. February 17, 2026February 17, 2026
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Since work began to prepare the first former uranium enrichment process building for eventual demolition at the Paducah Site, one number loomed large: 497. February 10, 2026February 10, 2026
Acting Site Manager
Erik Olds is the acting Site 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 Requested (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.