PIKETON, Ohio — Demolition crews at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Portsmouth Site have torn down the southwest corner of the X-333 Process Building, removing 66,000 square feet of the 33-acre structure more than a month ahead of schedule, according to the DOE Office of Environmental Management.

The milestone represents 4.55% of the total structural demolition planned for X-333, the largest facility at the former uranium enrichment site. Crews completed the work under budget and without a single recordable injury, the agency said.

Southwest corner of the X-333 Process Building after demolition at the DOE Portsmouth Site
Southwest corner of the X-333 Process Building after demolition at the DOE Portsmouth Site. Photo: U.S. Department of Energy

“Safety has been the top priority throughout demolition, and our record of zero recordable injuries is proof,” Federal Project Director Christy Brown said in a statement. “With the right people, tools and leadership, the X-333 project demonstrates how strategic preparation and teamwork delivers tangible results to best utilize federal funding.”

The teardown generated nearly 10,000 cubic yards of debris, which is being downsized for disposal in the site’s On-Site Waste Disposal Facility, according to the release. Starting the demolition at the building’s southwest corner also cleared space for crews to store and stage large process gas valves that must be removed during later phases of the project, the release said, a step meant to prevent work interruptions from handling specialized materials.

“We reached the demolition target more than a month early because of effective teamwork, careful planning and the right mix of skilled people and specialized equipment,” said Carl Williams, X-333 deputy director for site contractor Southern Ohio Cleanup Company, in a statement.

Crews clear debris from the X-333 Process Building demolition at the DOE Portsmouth Site
Crews clear debris from the X-333 Process Building demolition at the DOE Portsmouth Site. Photo: U.S. Department of Energy

Williams credited a modified excavator nicknamed “The Empress” for outperforming initial productivity estimates. “The early completion of this milestone provides a firm foundation for the next phase of demolition in the fiscal year that begins this October,” he said.

Demolition of X-333 began in April 2025 and is expected to continue until 2031. The Energy Department reported earlier progress on Piketon plant demolition in 2024 as work ramped up across the broader site. Officials said crews will look for further opportunities to speed up the current project.

The information contained in this story was obtained from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management.

Connor is a staff writer for the Guardian.