U.S. DOE Environmental Remediation – Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP)

Client: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Location: Paducah, KY, U.S.

Map showing the location of U.S. DOE Environmental Remediation – Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP)

Executive Summary

Fluor has had a presence at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP) in Paducah, Kentucky, since 2014 when the company was selected to manage the cleanup at the site. As the prime contractor, Fluor was responsible for the management, integration and execution of the deactivation and post-GDP shutdown remediation activities of the Paducah site.

In 2017, a Fluor partnership was selected for the new 10-year Paducah Deactivation and Remediation (D&R) contract to manage over 650 structures, properties and buildings and optimize short- and long-term surveillance and maintenance costs to allow for additional stabilization, deactivation and remediation activities, reducing risk and future demolition costs.

Fluor is leveraging gaseous diffusion plant experience gained through its contract at the Portsmouth GDP and 30 years of experience managing and operating nuclear decommissioning sites to deliver the site's program safely and cost effectively.

Client's Challenge

Built in the 1950s as part of the United States' nuclear weapons production complex, the Western Kentucky plant enriched uranium for more than 50 years. While limited cleanup activities had been underway since 2010, cleanup did not begin in earnest until Fluor began its contract in 2014.

Fluor's Solution

Under the original contract, Fluor was responsible for management of the site in addition to integrating and executing the deactivation and post-GDP shutdown remediation, including soil and groundwater activities at the plant.

Under the current contract, the Fluor partnership is working to successfully perform environmental remediation; minimize surveillance and maintenance costs; eliminate unnecessary systems; downgrade facility categorization; and reduce landlord costs.

This is being accomplished while maintaining public and worker safety and complying with all local, state and federal regulations.

The Fluor partnership was recently named the Outstanding Safety Culture team by the DOE. It is the first-ever recipient of the award.

Conclusion

Fluor has a proven legacy of performing challenging projects for the DOE, including 30 years of experience managing and operating nuclear decommissioning sites safely and cost effectively.

In addition to its role at the Paducah site, Fluor has led the Portsmouth Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) contract at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio since 2011. At Portsmouth, Fluor leads the cleanup and D&D on 315 facilities, including more than 133 buildings on the site, freeing the land for reuse to benefit the local economy.

The Fluor team is working cooperatively with the client, employees, local labor groups, regulators, advisory boards, community leaders and other stakeholders to achieve a shared vision, garner funding support and complete this project safely, on time and within budget.

In addition to mitigating the site's environmental impacts, the contract has also created job opportunities in the area.