One Large Process Building Now Gone in Piketon Atomic Plant Demolition

The President and CEO of the company that is deactivating and demolishing the Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant gave an update to the Ross County commissioners Monday. Kevin Coleman was there.

Greg Wilkett of Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth explained that it has taken two decades to start the process in 2011, plus another six to seven years for pre-work. But, the first of the three huge "process buildings" - 62 feet tall and covering 30 acres - is now gone, and the clean rubble buried in an engineered on-site landfill that reuses older landfills from the site.

Wilkett says all this was done ahead of schedule, under-budget, and with zero employee injuries. He also says a second cleared parcel is in the process to be made available for industrial redevelopment.

The government contract with Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth will end in March, though they have asked for a six-month extension. The deactivation and demolishion contract will then be re-bid. Wilkett said the the "Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant" is planned to be gone in 2042, though there are other newer facilities on the federal reservation that are not part of that original facility.

Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth is sponsoring the High School Science Alliance there this week to showcase future employment...and will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the site in November.

See and Learn more in "PORTS Demolition," "Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth," and "Portsmouth Site | Department of Energy."

Listen to the nine-minute interview below. Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for iHeart Media Southern Ohio

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    Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

    An aerial view of the federal reservation, including the Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, about 2011 (from PORTS Demolition https://portsdemo.com)

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    Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

    A crew applies blue fixative to the exterior siding of the X-326 Process Building to lock-in any potential dust or fibers prior to panel removal before demolition of it in the Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant about 2020 (from PORTS Demolition https://portsdemo.com)

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    Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

    Demolition of the X-326 Building of the Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant about 2020 (from PORTS Demolition https://portsdemo.com)

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    Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

    An aerial view of the On-Site Waste Disposal Facility in the federal reservation, including the Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant - November 4, 2021 (from PORTS Demolition https://portsdemo.com)

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    Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

    Construction of one of the three large process buildings in the Piketon Atomic Plant / Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in the 1950s (from PORTS Demolition https://portsdemo.com)

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