UCOR CEO speaks out on ‘success,’ future

Source: Oakridger | Article | April 21, 2022 |

As the lead environmental cleanup contractor since 2011 for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, UCOR’s 2,000 team members have earned a reputation for safety and environmental stewardship; innovative problem-solving; and an unwavering focus on delivering on our commitments.

Essential to that success are the partnerships we helped forge with local, state, and federal stakeholders.

The culmination of those efforts was our collective “Vision 2020” — the first-ever cleanup of a former gaseous diffusion plant, which was delivered four years ahead of schedule, $80 million under budget, and eliminated $500 million of environmental liability. This has enabled significant beneficial land re-use at what our region now refers to as the Heritage Center (formerly East Tennessee Technology Park or ETTP). This land re-use includes private business opportunities, historic preservation and conservation to continue economic growth for Oak Ridge and the broader region.

Building on key investments and developments such as Kairos Power and Coqui Pharmaceuticals, in early March Heritage Center added yet another new tenant: Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. The company is a nuclear fuels manufacturer that will invest $13 million and create 31 new jobs in a new fuel manufacturing facility.