Alexander: Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 National Security Complex Will Bring Good-Paying Jobs to East Tennessee

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that last week's groundbreaking of the three-story Construction Support Building for the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at Y-12 National Security Complex highlights the importance of strong congressional oversight to keep massive government projects "on time and on budget."

"For several years, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development, which I now chair, has worked with the Department of Energy to develop a plan they can execute to keep this project on time and on budget," Alexander said. "That plan included three things: that construction of the Uranium Processing Facility's uranium buildings wouldn't begin until the buildings were at 90 percent design, the cost wouldn't exceed $6.5 billion, and the project would be completed by 2025. Last week's groundbreaking is an important first step."

Alexander continued, "This Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 National Security Complex will bring good-paying jobs to East Tennessee. I intend to continue to monitor this project to ensure we maintain accountability throughout the design, construction and operation of this new facility."

Alexander, who is the top Senate Republican on energy appropriations, held hearings on the National Nuclear Security Agency's proposed budgets for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, in which he insisted that the Department of Energy keep large government construction projects, such as the Uranium Processing Facility, on time and on budget.

Last Thursday was the groundbreaking for the three-story Construction Support Building at the Y-12 National Security Complex. This is the first part of construction for the Uranium Processing Facility project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is managing construction of the Construction Support Building for the UPF Project Office.

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