Hello, I am Nicole Nelson-Jean, Associate  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary  
Hello, I am Nicole Nelson-Jean, Associate  Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary  

for Field Operations at the Department of  Energy's Office of Environmental Management.  
for Field Operations at the Department of  Energy's Office of Environmental Management.  

As the largest environmental cleanup program in  the world, the Department of Energy's Office of  
As the largest environmental cleanup program in  the world, the Department of Energy's Office of  

Environmental Management, or EM, is responsible  for safely completing cleanup resulting from  
Environmental Management, or EM, is responsible  for safely completing cleanup resulting from  

decades of nuclear weapons development and  government-sponsored nuclear energy research.  
decades of nuclear weapons development and  government-sponsored nuclear energy research.  

First established in 1989, EM has been responsible  for the cleanup of 107 sites in 35 states.  
First established in 1989, EM has been responsible  for the cleanup of 107 sites in 35 states.  

Today, 16 sites remain, including the former  Portsmouth gaseous diffusion site. Construction  
Today, 16 sites remain, including the former  Portsmouth gaseous diffusion site. Construction  

of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant  began in late 1952 with a mission to  
of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant  began in late 1952 with a mission to  

increase the national production of enriched  uranium. The facility became operational in March  
increase the national production of enriched  uranium. The facility became operational in March  

1956 enriching uranium for both national security  and commercial uses. In the 1960s, the site took  
1956 enriching uranium for both national security  and commercial uses. In the 1960s, the site took  

on a more commercial focus enriching uranium  mainly for nuclear power plants. And in 1993,  
on a more commercial focus enriching uranium  mainly for nuclear power plants. And in 1993,  

the DOE leased the production facilities to  the United States Enrichment Corporation,  
the DOE leased the production facilities to  the United States Enrichment Corporation,  

USEC, now Centrist Energy Corporation, to  restructure and transition the government's  
USEC, now Centrist Energy Corporation, to  restructure and transition the government's  

uranium enrichment operations for nuclear  power plants to the private sector.  
uranium enrichment operations for nuclear  power plants to the private sector.  

The decision was made in 2000 to terminate uranium  enrichment production at the Portsmouth Site with  
The decision was made in 2000 to terminate uranium  enrichment production at the Portsmouth Site with  

activities concluding in May 2001. Over 60 years  of waste generated from the site activities  
activities concluding in May 2001. Over 60 years  of waste generated from the site activities  

resulted in soil and groundwater contamination.  Today, DOE oversees environmental cleanup  
resulted in soil and groundwater contamination.  Today, DOE oversees environmental cleanup  

activities at the site, including environmental  management, waste management, depleted uranium,  
activities at the site, including environmental  management, waste management, depleted uranium,  

hexafluoride conversion, and decontamination  and demolition. The Portsmouth Site has become  
hexafluoride conversion, and decontamination  and demolition. The Portsmouth Site has become  

an economic driver in the community. It all  started in 1952 with the Plant's construction.  
an economic driver in the community. It all  started in 1952 with the Plant's construction.  

Today it's a place for a site cleanup. The  Department and its contractors employ more than  
Today it's a place for a site cleanup. The  Department and its contractors employ more than  

2,000 people in the surrounding region. The  most recent economic impact formulas suggest  
2,000 people in the surrounding region. The  most recent economic impact formulas suggest  

the Department's operations have an annual impact  of over $700 million to the State of Ohio.  
the Department's operations have an annual impact  of over $700 million to the State of Ohio.  

Since 2010, DOE contractors at the site have  provided over $4 million in economic  
Since 2010, DOE contractors at the site have  provided over $4 million in economic  

development grants, and directly purchased  over $500 million in goods and services  
development grants, and directly purchased  over $500 million in goods and services  

from small and medium-sized businesses in  Jackson, Pike, Ross, and Scioto Counties.  
from small and medium-sized businesses in  Jackson, Pike, Ross, and Scioto Counties.  

After decades of successful remediation of  contaminated soil and groundwater at the site,  
After decades of successful remediation of  contaminated soil and groundwater at the site,  

today’s EM cleanup mission focuses  on the deactivation and demolition.  
today’s EM cleanup mission focuses  on the deactivation and demolition.  

Over 400 uranium enrichment facilities, as well  as final remediation actions, will be addressed.  
Over 400 uranium enrichment facilities, as well  as final remediation actions, will be addressed.  

In 2010, the Department of Energy began an  extensive planning and preparation effort  
In 2010, the Department of Energy began an  extensive planning and preparation effort  

for the deactivation and demolition of the three  main process buildings at the site. The process  
for the deactivation and demolition of the three  main process buildings at the site. The process  

buildings have a combined length of approximately  one and a half miles, and cover roughly 93 acres  
buildings have a combined length of approximately  one and a half miles, and cover roughly 93 acres  

at the site. The first significant skyline change  at the site began in 2021 with the initiation  
at the site. The first significant skyline change  at the site began in 2021 with the initiation  

of demolition of the x-326 Process Building.  In conjunction with the demolition, the DOE  
of demolition of the x-326 Process Building.  In conjunction with the demolition, the DOE  

has committed to the excavation of landfills and  plumes within its perimeter road that will result  
has committed to the excavation of landfills and  plumes within its perimeter road that will result  

in one thousand acres of contiguous land. It will  support the community's future reindustrialization  
in one thousand acres of contiguous land. It will  support the community's future reindustrialization  

efforts. To support this effort, the DOE began a  land transfer program at the Portsmouth Site that,  
efforts. To support this effort, the DOE began a  land transfer program at the Portsmouth Site that,  

in 2018, transferred the first 80 acres of land  to the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative  
in 2018, transferred the first 80 acres of land  to the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative  

for economic development purposes. An additional  200 acres is currently being prepared for transfer  
for economic development purposes. An additional  200 acres is currently being prepared for transfer  

to Ohio’s initiative with the third parcel  identified for transfer in the near future.  
to Ohio’s initiative with the third parcel  identified for transfer in the near future.  

Like its sister site in Paducah, cleanup  efforts were expanded at Portsmouth  
Like its sister site in Paducah, cleanup  efforts were expanded at Portsmouth  

with the construction and operation of  the depleted uranium hexafluoride plant  
with the construction and operation of  the depleted uranium hexafluoride plant  

to convert and dispose of roughly twenty  thousand cylinders of DUF6 left over from  
to convert and dispose of roughly twenty  thousand cylinders of DUF6 left over from  

sixty years of enrichment operations. DUF6 is  a co-product of the uranium enrichment process  
sixty years of enrichment operations. DUF6 is  a co-product of the uranium enrichment process  

that operated at the Paducah and Portsmouth  sites, as well as the gaseous diffusion plant  
that operated at the Paducah and Portsmouth  sites, as well as the gaseous diffusion plant  

in Oak Ridge. EM's cleanup at Portsmouth  reflects the Department's commitment  
in Oak Ridge. EM's cleanup at Portsmouth  reflects the Department's commitment  

to performing and completing the remaining legacy  cleanup work in a safe and efficient manner  
to performing and completing the remaining legacy  cleanup work in a safe and efficient manner  

that is protective of the site, workforce, the  public, and the environment. The Portsmouth Site  
that is protective of the site, workforce, the  public, and the environment. The Portsmouth Site  

will quickly see significant change as the most  challenging demolition projects near completion.  
will quickly see significant change as the most  challenging demolition projects near completion.  

By 2030, the DOE’S demolition of all three  process buildings, disposal of demolition debris,  
By 2030, the DOE’S demolition of all three  process buildings, disposal of demolition debris,  

and excavation of five previously closed  landfills and plumes will set the stage  
and excavation of five previously closed  landfills and plumes will set the stage  

for final cleanup actions to turn the remaining  land back to the community for beneficial reuse.
for final cleanup actions to turn the remaining  land back to the community for beneficial reuse.