Paducah Citizens Advisory Board (CAB)
The Paducah Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) operates as part of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Environmental Management (EM) Site Specific Advisory Board (SSAB). Under the EM SSAB charter, the CAB is a stakeholder board that provides the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, and designees, with advice, information, and recommendations on issues affecting the EM program at the Paducah Site. These issues include cleanup standards and environmental restoration, waste management and disposition, stabilization and disposition of non-stockpile nuclear materials, excess facilities, future land use and long-term stewardship, risk assessment and management, and cleanup science and technology activities.
The CAB consists of members with diverse interests and concerns related to the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Environmental Management activities. Members of the CAB participate in educational and informative programs to be able to provide meaningful recommendations. Meetings held by the CAB provide opportunities for members of the community to provide public comments on the issues under consideration by the CAB.
Educational Outreach
Paducah Site educational outreach seeks to inform and motivate area students to pursue opportunities in scientific and technical fields. The following are programs aimed at educating local students about the Paducah Site.
Science Bowl
Paducah annually hosts the West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl for middle school and high school teams at the University of Kentucky College of Engineering – Paducah Campus. The West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl invites middle and high schools from surrounding counties in western Kentucky and southern Illinois. The regional competitions typically have close to 18 middle and high school teams compete.
The DOE National Science Bowl® is a nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Middle and high school student teams from diverse backgrounds face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy and math. Over several months, more than 9,500 high school students and 4,500 middle school students compete in 70 high school and 50 middle school regional Science Bowl tournaments across the country.
Student Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER)
Via a grant from DOE, Murray State University helps develop an Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER) summary in collaboration with staff and students from area high schools. The ASER summary is drawn from information found in the most recent DOE technical ASER and presentation materials developed by the high school staff and students throughout the school year. The goals when producing the ASER Summary are to educate regional high school students about activities and future career opportunities at the Paducah Site and develop materials that will facilitate area residents learning more about DOE’s work.
Educator Externship
The Paducah Site is involved in the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Educator Externship program. This program helps educators gain hands-on experience and insight from employers that will help them better inform students about the academic and employability skills needed to obtain jobs in the region. All educators, including teachers, counselors, career coaches and administrators, spend a day over the summer learning about the high-demand jobs in Paducah and the surrounding area.
West Kentucky Launch Experience
The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s WKY Launch Experience is a career exploration expo for eighth grade students in all schools in Paducah City and McCracken County school systems including Paducah, Lone Oak, Heath, Reidland, St. Mary and Community Christian Academy middle schools. The Paducah Site attends to expose students to potential career opportunities to assist with improving future employment.
Paducah Site Public Tours
The Paducah Site provides opportunities for members of the public to tour the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site on select dates. The tour journeys through the site with stops inside the C-100 Administration Building and the C-300 Central Control Building, the hub of the gaseous diffusion plant. The tour involves minimal walking, just a short distance from the bus stop locations. Participants must be U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older.
The tours provide a close-up view of the former uranium enrichment facilities and a unique opportunity to become oriented with the history of the plant, its current activities and its future missions.