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
Great strides are being made at the Heritage Center! Recently, a substantial area of vegetation and trees was removed around Outfall 724 and the neighboring 770 embayment. This important work was carried out efficiently by AISI-CTI JV, a joint venture between AIS Infrastructure and CTI and Associates, Inc. They took on this additional high-priority task, clearing and mulching approximately one acre of trees in only two days. Our dedicated Heritage Center teams are now focused on dewatering the embayment and getting ready for upcoming contouring work and the removal of Outfall 724. We appreciate the hard work and collaboration that make these advancements possible. #CleanupTodayForANuclearTomorrow
UCOR's Landfill Operations team successfully managed potential impacts from this past weekend's winter storm on the Oak Ridge Reservation! They prepared sites by covering waste, checking equipment, and stocking salt. Over the weekend, crews monitored operations, responded to a power issue, and cleared fallen trees. Their quick actions and teamwork ensured operations were ready to resume promptly on Tuesday morning. Great job to the entire team! #UCOR #OakRidge #WinterPreparedness #Teamwork #CleanupTodayForANuclearTomorrow
UCOR will be operating on a normal work schedule tomorrow, January 27. Please report to your assigned work location. Use your best judgment about road conditions in your area to decide if you can make it in or need to delay your commute. If you can’t make it in or need to delay your commute, inform your supervisor.
Some work areas may require extra caution due to the possibility of black ice and slick walking surfaces. Employees should wear shoes with good traction to ensure safety while walking. Most areas have been treated, but please exercise extra caution as you walk from your car to your entrance.
Big news from Y-12! Our UCOR D&D teams at Alpha-4 are using a new drum crusher, saving over $300,000! This innovative tool compacts empty drums into "pucks," meaning less waste, fewer safety risks, and reduced need for protective gear. Manual cutting was slow, noisy, and hazardous. Now, a small team crushes 35-40 drums an hour, much faster! This helps us use less waste space and ship fewer containers. Alpha-4 leads the way, with plans to expand this use. This shows UCOR’s dedication to smarter work and employee safety! #Y12NationalSecurityComplex #UCOR #SafetyFirst #CleanupTodayforaNuclearTomorrow
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.
What's New
Oak Ridge Crews Remove 64 Million Pounds of Waste in 2025
Crews removed 64 million pounds of waste from Oak Ridge’s cleanup sites in 2025, a tally showcasing the pace and progress of projects clearing away old infrastructure and preparing numerous buildings for demolition. “This remarkable number puts the scale of our work in perspective,” Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) Deputy Manager Teresa Robbins said. “It also highlights how much of our progress is often unseen but is equally important to mission success.
What's New
Imaging Technology Delivers Data, Saves Time, Enhances Safety in Oak Ridge
A technology that features a remote sensing method using laser pulses to measure distances and create high-resolution 3D models is making a big impact for teams tasked with preparing Manhattan Project and Cold War era facilities for demolition at Oak Ridge. The light detection and ranging technology is reducing the number of entries team members need to make inside contaminated facilities.
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.
