The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has signed a two-year contract extension with UCOR to maintain its environmental cleanup progress in Oak Ridge. The extension includes an initial one-year term from August 1, 2020 until July 2021 and two six-month option periods. The current contract expires July 31, 2020.
UCOR, an Amentum-led partnership with Jacobs, has been a primary cleanup contractor for DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) since August 2011. The contractor’s work has involved removing facilities and environmental risks from the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) and overseeing waste management operations across the Oak Ridge Reservation. UCOR has also advanced recent efforts to address risks and stabilize a portion of the excess, contaminated facilities located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12).
“UCOR has been a tremendous partner since they began their work here in 2011, and their efforts have aided us in reaching our biggest achievements to date,” said OREM Manager Jay Mullis. “We have the highest trust in their leadership and ability as our program begins a crucial transition from completing cleanup at ETTP to beginning major cleanup at ORNL and Y-12.”
Together, OREM and UCOR will complete major cleanup at ETTP later this year—a goal known as Vision 2020. It will mark the first time in the world a former uranium enrichment complex has been cleaned and removed. This accomplishment was enabled, in part, by innovations and best practices by the contractor. UCOR accelerated cleanup at ETTP by four years, saving taxpayers nearly $500 million.
Under the extension, UCOR will be responsible for transitioning the trained, experienced workforce from ETTP to new deactivation and demolition projects at ORNL and Y-12. These projects will eliminate deteriorating, high-risk facilities, enhance safety, and clear land for future national security and scientific research missions.
“We are laser focused on completing DOE’s Vision 2020 goal to remove all structures and complete critical soil remediation at ETTP this year, and we are executing our plan to transition our ETTP workforce to projects at ORNL and Y-12,” UCOR President and CEO Ken Rueter said. “Our overarching goal is to reduce environmental risk for East Tennessee, which is transforming the site and enabling the expansion of federal missions. UCOR is committed to continuing to deliver investment-worthy results for our client and the taxpayer.”
