Cleanup crews at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) Paducah Site are concluding work on the C-333 Process Building and applying lessons learned in innovation, efficiency, and safety as they shift focus to the C-337 Process Building. The knowledge gained from C-333—including new tools and refined approaches—is guiding strategies for the next phase of deactivation work.
The C-333 and C-337 facilities are the largest at the Paducah Site, combining over 40 miles of piping, 100 acres of floor space, and thousands of process components that were part of uranium enrichment operations for decades. Both buildings are similar in construction and are slated for deactivation and demolition as the site’s cleanup continues.
As crews begin deactivation activities in C-337, insights from C-333 are shaping strategies to increase efficiency and ensure worker safety. Techniques such as improved methods for removing lead paint during equipment preparation have proven more effective, saving time and minimizing potential exposure for workers. Benchmarking with other EM sites has also informed these refined approaches.
Paducah Site Lead April Ladd highlighted the value of the team’s innovation and disciplined work, noting that lessons from C-333 enhance safety, efficiency, and contribute to the long-term cleanup mission. Continuous process improvements, including a new grid-based tracking system, address the challenges associated with the scale of deactivation operations by assigning precise locations and barcoding components, improving organization, documentation, and execution.
Myrna Redfield, Program Manager at Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership (FRNP), emphasized that every lesson from C-333 directly informs work at C-337. The teams are applying smart solutions and strong collaboration to safely prepare the massive facilities for demolition. These improvements reflect the Paducah Site’s commitment to safe, compliant, and forward-looking deactivation practices, supporting the overall long-term cleanup mission.
