Safely Reducing Environmental Risks. We are cleaning up contaminated, unused facilities on the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR). In addition to removing excess facilities, we maintain facilities across ORR that are waiting for disposition. We also provide critical upgrades to extend the life of active, but aging, facilities. This continues the same work done by the former UCOR from 2011 to 2022.
Latest Updates
from UCOR’s Social Media
Hats off to UCOR's amazing team at the Y-12 National Security Complex's Alpha-4 facility! They've achieved impressive savings on a critical project, showing how smart thinking leads to big results. Read all about their success and how it benefits ongoing cleanup efforts here: www.energy.gov/em/articles/oak-ridge-team-crushes-it-delivering-savings-again-major-y-12-project #OakRidge #Y12 #Innovation #TeamUCOR #CleanupTodayForANuclearTomorrow
Oak Ridge Team ‘Crushes It,’ Delivering Savings Again on Major Y-12 Project
www.energy.gov
The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and cleanup contractor United Cleanup Oak Ridge are “crushing it” at the legacy Alpha-4 building as an innovative approach to squashing old drums i...Meet P.J. Blaylock, a laborer on our Y-12 cleanup project. P.J .is currently working with the CSLM project at Beta-1. She loves spending time with her four small dogs and her family. Watch this video to learn more about P.J.: youtu.be/Oqoc54l6ti8 #TeamUCOR #WorkforceSpotlight #EmployeeStories
When a waste container at ORNL TRU Waste showed signs of degradation, multiple UCOR teams jumped into action! ORNL Nuclear Operations quickly provided vital support for supervision, planning, radiological protection, and chemical operator assistance. Experts from radiological protection and industrial hygiene rapidly responded, and our training organization provided specialized respiratory training to 14 workers.
Task Lead Clint Vought from ORNL Nuclear Operations Surveillance & Maintenance ensured everyone understood their roles before the job began. On Monday, workers, equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus respirators, safely transferred the drum's contents to a new container. The operation was a success, executed safely and precisely as planned!
We appreciate the dedication and expertise of all involved in keeping our operations safe and secure. #SafetyCulture #CleanupTodayForANuclearTomorrow #ORNL #UCOR #RadiologicalProtection #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork
Big news from UCOR! 🎉 Our Deactivation and Demolition (D&D) teams are making huge progress at the former Beta-1 facility at Y-12. We're currently filling the basement with a special concrete mix (CLSM) to get it ready for demolition, aiming for completion in May.
This project has come with its challenges, including pumping out over 16.8 million gallons of groundwater and safely removing mercury from drainpipes. Our crews even used advanced LiDAR technology for 3D mapping to boost safety and accuracy!
It's a true team effort involving many dedicated professionals, all committed to safety and making this important cleanup happen. Stay tuned for more updates on Beta-1's journey to condemnation!
#Y12 #EnvironmentalCleanup #Demolition #SafetyFirst #CleanupTodayForANuclearTomorrow
What's New
Oak Ridge Team ‘Crushes It,’ Delivering Savings Again on Major Y-12 Project
The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and cleanup contractor United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) are “crushing it” at the legacy Alpha-4 building as an innovative approach to squashing old drums is accelerating waste disposal, avoiding $300,000 in costs and eliminating tasks with higher safety risks. This innovation builds on earlier cost savings at Alpha-4 resulting from the declassification of materials for more efficient disposal. Combined,
What's New
Oak Ridge Outreach Keeps Community Informed About Cleanup Progress
The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) held an open-house public information session on Jan. 29 to keep the community updated on the priorities and latest cleanup happening across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge Reservation. The session at the Oak Ridge Conference Center included poster stations that highlighted recent achievements, projects on the horizon and goals for 2026. Federal and contractor project managers were also on hand to speak with participants.
What's New
EM Completes Largest Ever Demolition at Y-12
The final wall of a 325,000-square-foot former uranium enrichment facility fell last week, marking the completion of the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management’s (OREM) largest demolition project yet at Y-12 National Security Complex. Demolition of the Alpha-2 building by OREM and cleanup contractor United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) cleared away a Manhattan Project-era facility, helping modernize the site to support important national security missions.
What's New
EM Projects in 2026 Continue Oak Ridge’s Transformation
Building on the groundwork laid in 2025, the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and its contractors are set to achieve significant progress in 2026. Their projects are removing risks, supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s modernization efforts to advance important national missions and providing land for Oak Ridge to serve as a hub for nuclear energy technology and innovation.
Safety
We Strive to Set the Standard in Safety
Safety is always the top priority at UCOR. We are a DOE Voluntary Protection Program Star site, a designation given to only the safest sites in the DOE Complex. Our award-winning safety performance has earned us many accolades.
Employee involvement is a key aspect of our safety culture. We empower our workers to stop work if they see something questionable. We also have strong worker engagement program to ensure our team members feel safe in their work environment.
