OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — Crews have hit a major milestone in the cleanup of a historic nuclear site in Oak Ridge.
Officials say more than 81 million pounds of debris have been removed from the former Alpha-2 facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The work marks the largest teardown project in Oak Ridge history.
The Alpha-2 building dates back to the Manhattan Project and has been a major focus of long-term environmental cleanup efforts in the area.
The next phase of work will involve processing approximately 800,000 pounds of lead that was removed from the structure. Specialized shipments are expected to begin in June.
Officials say the Alpha-2 project is just part of a much larger effort, with around 70 facilities across the site planned for demolition in the coming years.
The cleanup is aimed at preparing the area for future use, including modern nuclear security operations.
