UCOR has officially completed deforesting White Wing Scrapyard (WWSY) and is making massive headway remediating the site’s north boundary as workers began the process of shipping more than 300 bags filled with legacy contaminated soil to the Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills, moving one of Oak Ridge’s most historically contaminated industrial properties a step closer to future redevelopment of over 100 acres.
For deforestation to be officially deemed complete, crews had to clear 39 acres of trees and process 17 acres of timber to support future WWSY remedial activities and commercial redevelopment.
Deforestation was not only critical, but unprecedented. The tree clearing work was self-performed by UCOR, requiring strict adherence to Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines. Crews completed specialized training, worked alongside industry experts, and navigated a strict environmental window, avoiding impact to wildlife nesting seasons.
The effort brought together a diverse team of radiological control technicians, sample technicians, laborers, equipment operators, mechanics, industrial hygiene professionals, safety specialists, and supervisors. Their collaborative approach enabled the work to be completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule, all while avoiding any injuries throughout the entirety of the project.
After the trees were cleared and the timber was being processed, crews simultaneously began the first remedial effort at the site. Since then, crews have been busy with the characterization, excavation, removal, and packaging of over 300 bags filled with industrial and asbestos-containing soil. This week, crews started shipping the bags for disposal, a risk reduction effort that will remove legacy contaminated soil from the footprint.
WWSY served as a disposal area for contaminated equipment and debris generated during Cold War operations across the Oak Ridge Reservation. Today, its cleanup momentum represents another critical step toward reducing environmental risk while returning valuable land to productive use.
