As mentioned earlier this week in Newsline, our successful teardown of the Alpha-2 facility at Y-12 has earned us national recognition—the prestigious 2026 Joseph R. La Rocca Union Project of the Year Award, presented by The Association of Union Contractors (TAUC). TAUC also awarded us the 2026 Thomas J. Reynolds Safety Award for achieving a Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rate of zero in 2025. Congratulations to everyone for making these achievements possible.
These awards are a direct testament to your commitment to excellence in both safety and project delivery. They are also a clear indication of the outstanding progress we’re making at Y-12. This work isn’t just about winning awards; it’s about safely removing facilities, restoring land, and revitalizing footprints for our nation’s future.
Looking ahead, we’re not slowing down. The Alpha-2 footprint is now cleared for future national security missions—a monumental achievement that involved removing over 83 million pounds of debris. We’re also packaging nearly 800,000 pounds of lead for off-site shipment.
Our work at Beta-1 is also pushing forward, with the basement stabilization complete and demolition ready to begin in August, aiming for completion by 2028. We’ll then immediately pivot to Y-12’s Old Steam Plant. This ongoing progress demonstrates the incredible impact our collective efforts have on both national security and economic development.
In addition to these milestones, our team has been hard at work making other significant strides. We’ve now demolished almost 600,000 square feet of facilities at Y-12, making way for future national security missions, with the 325,000-square-foot Alpha-2 being the largest demolition completed at Y-12 to date. Overall at Y-12, our cleanup efforts will equate to almost 1.3 million square feet being officially cleared for reuse. Furthermore, we’ve successfully treated 17 million gallons of contaminated water at Y-12, effectively reducing environmental risks and protecting our natural resources.
Every one of you, from our craft workforce to our project managers, contributes to these massive successes. Thank you for your hard work, your commitment to safety, and for consistently raising the bar.
As we take a moment to remember the sacrifices of our lost service members this Memorial Day, we also celebrate the freedoms they have given us. Please have a safe and happy holiday weekend.
Best Regards,
Jim Blankenhorn
UCOR President and Program Manager