The former Piketon Gaseous Diffusion Plant is gradually making way for industrial redevelopment. Two speakers explained what is happening at the decommissioned federal atomic fuel plant for the League of Women Voters of Chillicothe – Ross County.
For Earth Day they hosted Jeremy Davis of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Kevin Shoemaker of the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) on April 23rd, 2024.
The two told league members about the completed demolition of one of the three largest buildings there, the 2,600,000-square-foot X-326 Process Building. They also explained how SODI has been marketing and starting to transfer parcels for industrial redevelopment.
Two attendees criticized the re-industrialization the site, saying that radiological contamination remains there and in the area.
Vina Colley describes herself as a former worker at the Piketon Gaseous Diffusion Plant who is fighting health issues. She is the president of “Portsmouth-Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety & Security,” and co-founded “National Nuclear Workers for Justice.”
Gina Doyle describes herself as a lifelong Pike County resident, an advocate for people exposed to radiation from the Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and is the admin of the Facebook group “Don’t Dump on Us.”
Kevin Shoemaker is also president of Chillicothe Council. Hear him in his own words in an interview video, as well as Colley and Doyle in their interview, in the article on the Scioto Post.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
1 of 1 Jeremy Davis of the U.S. Department of Energy explains what is happening at the decommissioned federal atomic fuel plant for the League of Women Voters of Chillicothe - Ross County.