PIKETON, Ohio — The expansion of the on-site radioactive waste disposal site at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) in Piketon continues, as several additional disposal cells have been constructed since early 2023. These new cells accommodate the rubble from decommissioned buildings, including one of the plant’s massive process structures, as demolition proceeds at the once-active uranium enrichment facility.
For nearly 70 years, the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant played a critical role in enriching uranium for both nuclear reactors and the nation’s nuclear weapons program. Decommissioned in the early 2000s, the facility has since been undergoing a phased demolition and disposal process. The expanded on-site dump has drawn sharp criticism from residents and environmental groups concerned about the radioactive waste being buried close to one of the Midwest’s largest aquifers, which lies beneath the rural community of Piketon.
Local residents and activists have voiced concerns since 2016, opposing the burial of radioactive materials at the site due to fears of groundwater contamination. This waste burial is not a recent phenomenon; radioactively contaminated material has been disposed of at Piketon for decades. A 1988 report from the Louisville Courier-Journal highlighted over 56 hazardous disposal sites at PORTS, though detailed public records about these sites have not been readily available.
One of the most controversial dumping incidents involved debris from the Huntington Reduction Pilot Plant (HPP), a facility located in West Virginia. In 1979, waste from the demolished HPP, which recycled materials used in the uranium enrichment process at Piketon, was transported and buried on a four-acre plot at PORTS. According to reports from the Warren Tribune Chronicle, the waste shipment included four rail cars and 59 truckloads of debris, handled by the Cleveland Wrecking Company of Cincinnati and transported by Grant Trucking Company of Oak Hill, Ohio. Eyewitnesses claimed the debris was buried under tight security, with machine gun guards, and stored in what was then a classified area. The federal government has not provided detailed records on how this waste was managed or whether any protective barriers were in place.
In the midst of these longstanding issues, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown recently announced a new initiative involving the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Leidos, and The Conductive Group to establish a nickel recycling facility at the former PORTS site. The facility would aim to recycle approximately 6,400 tons of surface-contaminated nickel stored at PORTS, turning it into high-purity nickel suitable for grid-scale batteries and other advanced technologies essential for modern manufacturing.
“Nickel is a critical resource for battery technologies and for our economic future,” Senator Brown’s office stated. “This project could open up valuable job opportunities while responsibly repurposing materials already on site.” Herman Potter, President of United Steelworkers Local 689, expressed optimism, saying, “For two decades, the United Steelworkers have pushed for the recycling of PORTS’ nickel to support reindustrialization. Senator Brown has been a steadfast advocate for creating good-paying union jobs in rural Ohio.”
Pike County Commissioner Tony Montgomery echoed support for the project, calling it a “big step” toward bringing valuable jobs and economic benefits to the area. “We hope this will lead to further industrial opportunities for Pike County and create a stronger job base within our community,” he said.
However, the project has already drawn criticism from environmental groups. Activist organizations, including the American Nuclear Activist Alliance and Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety (PRESS) and Security, have raised concerns about the potential health risks posed by open-air demolition and the reprocessing of radioactive nickel. PRESS was the first to uncover the radioactive history of the HPP and its relation to Piketon. Online groups are also among the activists who have spoken out recently about the demolition process.
As Piketon’s transformation from just a uranium enrichment site to a mixed-use industrial zone continues, residents remain divided. While some see economic potential in the nickel recycling initiative, others urge caution, emphasizing the long-term environmental risks associated with handling radioactive materials. The Department of Energy has assured residents that all safety protocols will be followed, but local activists continue to press for additional oversight and stricter disposal regulations.
With the expanded radioactive disposal cells in operation and plans for the new recycling facility underway, the future of Piketon’s cleanup and redevelopment remains a contentious issue, drawing both hope and skepticism from the community.