OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WATE) — Federal officials on Friday announced the completion of a major modernization project at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, reducing the size of the site’s high-security area in a move that is projected to save taxpayers up to $500 million.
Known as the West End Protected Area Reduction (WEPAR) Project, the high-security area of Y-12 has been reduced by approximately 70 acres. A Department of Energy release said that the move is projected to save taxpayers between $300-500 million.
Land transfer marks next step in making Oak Ridge a nuclear industry hotbed
Aging facilities can now be deactivated, decommissioned, and remediated at a significantly lower cost since special security clearances will no longer be needed to perform the work.
The facility’s security and operational infrastructure has been bolstered with a new state-of-the-art entry control facility, six new technological sectors, and the revitalization of three existing sectors of the Perimeter Intrusion Detection and Assessment System.
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“WEPAR demonstrates NNSA’s continued commitment to building a faster, leaner, more capable enterprise,” said National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Brandon Williams. “By reducing our high-security footprint and standardizing technology across our sites, we’re driving down costs and clearing the path to accelerate production in support of President Trump’s priorities for a stronger nuclear deterrent.”…