ALEXANDRIA, Va. - During a 2017 National Cleanup Workshop panel discussion on future uses for EM sites, Jay Mullis, acting manager for the Oak Ridge Office of EM, addressed how his organization is working to transform one of its active cleanup sites into an economic asset to benefit the region. Mullis highlighted efforts to clean and transfer land at the former K-25 site to private industry, and the future uses cleanup is enabling, including economic development, conservation, and historic preservation.
Mullis emphasized the value of partnerships and community input when making decisions about the future uses of cleanup sites. Oak Ridge was DOE’s first site to employ a Reindustrialization Program. Mullis noted that the site began accepting input and developing a future use report in 1997 with a working group comprised of members from local community groups, environmental groups, city government, and city council members.
Other panelists included EM Richland Operations Office Manager Doug Shoop, DOE Office of Legacy Management Deputy Director Thomas Pauling, and Energy Communities Alliance Treasurer Rick Reiss, who also serves as a Los Alamos County councilor. Energy Facility Contractors Group Board Member Sue Stiger moderated the panel.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
