The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and cleanup contractor UCOR for the successful cleanup of the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The EPA presented its Superfund National Priorities List Award to OREM and UCOR as part of the seventh annual National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Awards. The awards highlight the accomplishments of federal agencies, states, tribes, local partners, communities and developers in restoring and reusing once-contaminated land at federal facilities.

After two decades of cleanup, planning and development, the 2,200-acre former uranium enrichment site at Oak Ridge, formerly known as the K-25 Site, is now home to a multi-use industrial park, the Manhattan Project National Historic Park, and a nature conservation area.

“We’re proud of how our cleanup of ETTP has eliminated environment risks and transformed the site into an attraction for growing businesses,” said Erin Sutton, OREM’s Quality and Mission Support Division director. “Our projects have resulted in the transfer of more than 1,700 acres to the community to generate new economic opportunities.”

More than 20 businesses are currently operating at the site, and that number continues to increase with next generation nuclear companies and other entities.

The latest announcement is a $100 million investment from Kairos Power. The company expects to break ground on its demonstration facility later this year at ETTP after receiving approval for its construction permit.

EPA created the National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Awards to recognize exceptional work remediating a federal site for its beneficial use and creating positive impacts to the community.

“We appreciate EPA’s recognition of this massive cleanup effort, one of the largest ever undertaken anywhere,” Ashley Saunders, UCOR Program and Sustainability Program manager, said. “Successful cleanup of the East Tennessee Technology Park underscores the value of strong partnerships and a collaborative vision shared by the community, other federal agencies, the state and local community partners.”

Mike Butler is a member of the UCOR communications staff.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: UCOR receives EPA award for East Tennessee Technology Park cleanup