For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Chris Caldwell
Christopher.Caldwell@orcc.doe.gov
(804) 658-8367
Tennessee Chamber recognizes UCOR for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Excellence
Oak Ridge, Tenn., August 28, 2024 – The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented United Cleanup Oak Ridge with the organization’s Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Excellence Award at the Tennessee Sustainability Conference in Gatlinburg.
The TCCI Environment and Energy Awards recognize businesses that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in environmental protection and enhancement. UCOR received the Environmental Excellence Award for best overall efforts in environmental innovation or improvements for its work on the Environmental Management Disposal Facility (EMDF).
UCOR Sustainability Manager Brad Russell accepts Tennessee Chamber Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Excellence Award
EMDF is a low-level contaminated waste landfill. “We are designing the landfill so that we can construct it with a high degree of environmental sensitivity,” said Sean Dunagan, UCOR’s EMDF Project Director.
When the site was selected, ORNL Natural Resources scientists identified the area as having wetlands with a large population of four-toed salamanders, a species of special concern in Tennessee, and tubercled rein orchids, a Tennessee threatened species. UCOR relocated both species to ensure environmentally responsible construction and maintenance at the onsite landfill.
The EMDF project design and salamander and rein orchid relocation projects provide the following benefits:
- Protects wetlands and streams in the EMDF area to the extent practical by developing a design that minimizes impacts to wetlands and streams.
- Increases the resiliency of these sensitive species by providing additional areas for these to flourish and reduces the impacts from landfill construction.
- Increases positive relationships with Tennessee state environmental agencies.
“Our work at EMDF is a prime example of what we are doing here at UCOR to promote sustainability,” said Brad Russell, UCOR Sustainability Manager. “We look at every aspect of our operations, from fleet management to waste reduction to our purchasing practices to make sure we are keeping our environmental footprint as small as possible.”
UCOR is the DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management’s lead environmental cleanup contractor. The company’s 2,200+ workers are dedicated to safely reducing environmental risk on the Oak Ridge Reservation while helping DOE’s Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration continue their important missions. Learn more about the company at UCOR.com.
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CAPTION: UCOR Sustainability Manager Brad Russell receives Chamber award
