Demolition of Oak Ridge uranium-enrichment plant expected to cost $292 million

URS-CH2M Oak Ridge workers conduct pre-demolition activities recently inside K-27, a former uranium-enrichment facility in Oak Ridge. The big building is scheduled to be torn down by the end of 2016.
URS-CH2M Oak Ridge workers conduct pre-demolition activities recently inside K-27, a former uranium-enrichment facility in Oak Ridge. The big building is scheduled to be torn down by the end of 2016.
photo URS-CH2M Oak Ridge workers conduct pre-demolition activities recently inside K-27, a former uranium-enrichment facility in Oak Ridge. The big building is scheduled to be torn down by the end of 2016. (LYNN FREENY/DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY)

OAK RIDGE -- The U.S. Department of Energy estimates it will cost about $292 million to demolish K-27, a highly deteriorated uranium-enrichment plant that hasn't operated since 1964.

That's about five times what it cost to demolish the nearby K-31 building - even though K-31 was twice as large as the 383,000-square-foot K-27.

There are reasons, of course, for the cost difference.

View more at our news partner's website, knoxnews.com.

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