Workers have completed demolishing the B sub-cell portion of the final hot cell at the former Radioisotope Development Laboratory (Building 3026) at ORNL. These cells were heavily shielded concrete rooms that provided researchers protection from highly radioactive material. The lab’s outer structure and five hot cells were previously demolished. Waste is being transported on the…
Last week UCOR hosted the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Board of Directors meeting, where the Chamber announced its formation of a “Nuclear Industry Council.” This will build on UCOR’s cleanup success for DOE that has enabled significant commercial nuclear energy investments in the Oak Ridge Corridor. As the state’s largest business advocacy group,…
After Congressional approval, the President has signed into law the Overtime Pay Tax Relief Act of 2025 (H.R.561). This is a federal income tax deduction, not a complete exemption from all taxes on overtime. The Bill allows eligible workers to deduct up to $12,500 of overtime pay ($25,000 for joint filers) from their federal taxable…
The UCOR summer interns will be hosting a supply drive benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee (SHFB) Food for Kids (FFK) Program. Also known as the backpack program, the FFK Program is a collaboration between SHFB and hundreds of public schools within the Food Bank’s 18-county service area, including Anderson and Roane…
Sam Dolynchuk will be moving into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for UCOR later this year, replacing Pat Timbes, who is taking a new role within Amentum. Sam currently serves as Performance Optimization Director. In her new role, she will continue the effort to ensure seamless integration between the company’s product lines and…
During 2025, 12 members of the UCOR workforce have reported finding ticks embedded in their skin (sometimes several ticks on one individual). This marks a notable increase from the two incidents that were reported in 2024. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, the populations of six medically important tick species in Tennessee are increasing.…
UCOR recognized six small businesses at an awards event this morning for their critical support to our cleanup mission. Since UCOR began its current contract with OREM in 2022, it has far exceeded DOE’s goal of awarding 45% of subcontracting work to small businesses. In the past 3 years, UCOR has awarded 85% of its…
We are getting a little relief from the heat today as the high will be closer to normal for this time of the year at 88 degrees. However, keep in mind that with the high humidity, the feels-like temperature can make it seem much warmer. Staying hydrated while working outside is essential. Scattered rain and…
This week, the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF) Operations team was recognized with a TeamsCount award. The team rebuilt two 40-ft x 158-ft x 6-ft contact water tanks. Prior to rebuilding, the team removed sediment, vegetation, and the old liner system. Crews then constructed steel frames and side panels, enclosing a new multilayered liner…
The Mental Wellbeing Center will be hosting the next round of educational workshops on work-life balance. Mark your calendar for Thursday, July 31, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. to attend the in-person workshop at the Meet + Train room. A virtual option will be offered via Teams on Thursday, August 7, from 11:30 a.m. –…
