Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Location
Blair Road
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
The K-25 gaseous diffusion plant was built as part of the World War II Manhattan Project to supply enriched uranium for nuclear weapons production. Construction of K-25 started in 1943. It was the first diffusion facility for large-scale separation of uranium-235. It became was fully operable by August 1945. Additional buildings involved in the enrichment process were operable by 1956. Along with the plants in Paducah, KY, and Portsmouth, OH, the site was used primarily for the production of highly-enriched uranium for nuclear weapons until 1964.
From 1959 to 1969, focus shifted to the production of commercial-grade, low-enriched uranium. In 1985, declining demand for enriched uranium caused the enrichment process to be placed on standby. In 1987, the process was stopped permanently.
The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant was also a host for centrifuge facilities constructed as part of a program to develop and demonstrate uranium-enrichment technology. These facilities have also been shut down.
Throughout the course of its operations, the potential for beryllium exposure existed at this site, due to beryllium use, residual contamination, and decontamination activities.
Since 1988, the primary DOE mission at K-25 has been remediation, though on-site DOE contractors and sub-contractors continue to provide on-site services which are covered under EEOICPA. Also during this time, DOE paid for the construction of the Toxic Substances Control Act. (TSCA) incinerator which disposed of certain regulated wastes, much of which originated at various DOE facilities. In 1997 the name of the facility was changed to the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) to reflect its changing nature. However, during this period of remediation, the process of privatization of K-25 into the ETTP was ongoing. This privatization effort involved leasing portions of the premises out to private industry to conduct their own business there. These private businesses and their employees are not covered under the EEOICPA.
Alternative Names
- East Tennessee Technology Park
- ETTP
Type of Facility
- Department of Energy
Covered by EEOICPA
- Part B and Part E
EEOICPA Covered Years
- 1943-1987
- 1988-Present (remediation)
Contractors
- Site-wide:
- 2011-present URS/CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR)
- 1998–2011 Bechtel Jacobs
- 1994-1998 Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Incorporated
- 1994-1998 Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Incorporated
- 1943-1984 Union Carbide & Carbon Corporated
- TSCA Incinerator:
- 1984-1988 Martin Marietta Energy Systems (MMES) (construction)
- 1988 to December 18, 1997 Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (LMES) (operation)
- December 18, 1997-September 30, 2011 BJC
- 2011-present UCOR D&D
- Remediation:
- August 25, 1997-September 30, 2004 British Nuclear Fuels Limited BNFL)
Contract Numbers
- DE-ACOS-840R21400
- AT(30-1)-1484
- AC05-84OR21400
DOE
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Mortality and Morbidity Study of 5-rem Workers at 23 Department Of Energy (DOE) facilities
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Study of Childhood Leukemia and Paternal Radiation Exposure among Communities near Hanford Site, Idaho Site and Oak Ridge Site
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Mortality Study Among Female Nuclear Weapons Workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Zia Company, Rocky Flats, Hanford, Mound, Savannah River, Oak Ridge X-10, Y-12 and K-25, Fernald, Linde and Pantex
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Cohort Mortality Study of Chemical Laboratory Workers at Department of Energy Nuclear Plants
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Case-Control Study of Nickel Workers at the Oak Ridge K-25 Facility
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-K-25 Retrospective Cohort Mortality Study
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-K-25 Centrifuge Worker Study
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Cohort Study of Welders at the Oak Ridge Site
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Cohort Study of Workers at the Oak Ridge Site during War World II (WW II)
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Study of Unspecified and Unexplained Causes of Death of Workers at the Oak Ridge Facilities
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Welder Cohort Mortality Study, 1994 at Oak Ridge Site
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Analytic Data File Sets-Oak Ridge Mortality Study, 1997
- Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource Working Data File Sets-Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Working Data File Set
- DOE Facility List by Name
- Virtual Museum
- Website
DOL
- Tracking your DOL Claim Status
- Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health
- Ombudsman’s Office
- Resource Center
- DOL Case and Claim Statistics
- Site Exposure Matrix
- Approved Special Exposure Cohorts
NIOSH
- TFAQs About Your Case
- Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health
- NIOSH Case Statistics
- Special Exposure Cohort Status Table
- Statute: “Employees who worked at least 250 days before February 1, 1992, at a gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah, Kentucky; Portsmouth, Ohio; or Oak Ridge, Tennessee and who were or could have been monitored in those jobs using dosimetry badges.
Note: Class already included in the Act.”
- Statute: “Employees who worked at least 250 days before February 1, 1992, at a gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah, Kentucky; Portsmouth, Ohio; or Oak Ridge, Tennessee and who were or could have been monitored in those jobs using dosimetry badges.
- Work Site Information
Other Resources
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