Displaying items by tag: manhattan project national historical park

The U.S. Department of Energy extolled the virtues of 2 proposed data center sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation in October 2025. DOE has since shifted its focus to potential sites in Ohio and Kentucky, and currently no longer accepts proposals for private data center development in Oak Ridge. As seen in this screenshot, DOE touted the nuclear-energy industries’ infrastructure and expertise as draws for private data center development. DOE via YouTube

DOE shifts data center focus away from Oak Ridge to sites in Kentucky and Ohio

OAK RIDGE — (updated Sep. 5 with more details on site B.) The U.S. Department of Energy is at least temporarily moving its focus away from promoting federal Oak Ridge lands as sites for data centers and is instead looking at developing sites in other states.

On Sep. 30, 2025 the department requested private enterprises to submit artificial intelligence data center proposals for 2 parcels on the Oak Ridge Reservation. It held a virtual industry day on Oct. 15, 2025 attended by multiple companies from different industries.

One site is west of Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the intersection of Bethel Valley Road and Tennessee Highway 95, totaling 95 acres. The other totals 150 acres at East Tennessee Technology Park, including 83 acres that are part of Manhattan Project National Historical Park — formerly the site of the K-25 complex, which enriched uranium for atomic bombs. 

Just 5 weeks before the request, at noon on Aug. 23, the K-25 observation platform, which is part of the William J. Wilcox Jr. K-25 Interpretive Center, had been opened to the public. The platform was built specifically to provide visitors with a panoramic view of the historic 44-acre K-25 footprint and “to help visitors understand the scope and magnitude of the K-25 Building and Site.” Is watching construction of AI data centers already trumping our national history?

Ben Williams, communications director for the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management for DOE, said the department received proposals for the Oak Ridge sites in response to the request for proposals (RFP) before a Dec.1, 2025 deadline, but for now is turning them down. DOE will instead focus on completing and signing leases for data centers on two other former nuclear enrichment sites: its Portsmouth site in Ohio and its Paducah site in Kentucky.

A new partnership between the University of Tennessee and the National Park Service will allow students to gain experience for careers including national park rangers. National Park Service

Students trade power points for hands-on rec management at nearby National Park Service sites

This story was originally published by Tennessee Lookout.

RUGBY— Students at the University of Tennessee who want to work in national parks will get to give it a try in coming semesters.

The expanded collaboration gives the students hands-on work through internships, research and volunteering. They will help with research and interacting with visitors at the three smaller national properties managed by the National Park Service in East Tennessee: Obed Wild and Scenic River, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and Manhattan Project National Historical Park. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not part of the collaboration. 

The experiences will be part of the Outdoor Recreation Park Management concentration which is housed at the UT School of Natural Resources under the Forestry major. 

Associate Professor Ryan Sharp, and Niki Nicholas, park superintendent for Obed and Big South Fork, announced the collaboration this spring in the Historic Rugby community. 

Robert Kennedy shows a prototype drone under development by the nonprofit Tennessee Valley Stellar Corporation. He had removed the propellers and battery to make it easier to bring it inside and to avoid security and safety concerns about his intentions. He wanted to use it for show and tell, but was denied the opportunity to speak. Attendees were offered to dictate comments to a court recorder. Few were willing to stand in line and do so. Written comments may be sent until Aug. 18, 2023.  Wolf Naegeli/Hellbender Press

Public hearing on proposed Oak Ridge airport suggests there is no easy glide path for project

OAK RIDGE — Citizens of Oak Ridge and surrounding communities continue to debate the pros and cons of a new airport in the area. A public forum on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, brought together those for and against the proposed airport to study documents and discuss the project.

While there was an opportunity to give verbal comments to a court reporter, many decided to put comments in writing. Additional comments can be submitted by Friday, Aug. 18 via mail to FAA Memphis District Office, 2600 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 2250, Memphis or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The city plans to construct a 5,000-foot runway, partial parallel taxiway, and associated facilities at a location north of U.S. 58 between Perimeter and Blair roads. It’s in the Heritage Center around the former K-25 site from the Manhattan Project era. 

The city of Oak Ridge government commissioned GMC to write an Environmental Assessment and the Federal Aviation Administration will review it, along with public comments to make decisions about moving forward with the airport construction. In a press release the city of Oak Ridge stated it organized the hearing to follow federal laws and policies. Other reasons for the meeting included issues such as “area wetland, streams, and ponds; archaeological and historical sites; biological issues; airport noise and social effects such as road closures and realignments; view shed and lighting impacts.”

Runway centerline (red) of proposed Oak Ridge Airport at Heritage Center. P1 Pond, a certified habitat for rare birds would be filled in. Planes would pass very close by the George Jones Memorial Baptist Church as well as the former K-25/East Tennessee Technology Park Visitors Overlook and the slave cemetery. Public greenways & trails are shown in purple.

Desperate necessity or boondoggle in the making?

OAK RIDGE — The City of Oak Ridge will conduct a public hearing at the Double Tree Hotel, August 8, 2023 from 6 to 8 P.M. EDT on the Oak Ridge Airport Environmental Assessment, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The Foundation for Global Sustainability (FGS) believes that a full environmental impact statement would be required under NEPA if the City of Oak Ridge wants to use Federal funding to build an airport here. The provided Environmental Assessment is mistaken in declaring that the project will have “no significant impact.”

Please check back here often as we will update this article with more information on important issues over the coming week.

Comments submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration by Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation

(Updated: Inadvertently we had included bullet points from a draft of the expanded and mailed letter.)

AFORR recognizes general aviation (GA) airports are a big part of the US national economy and understands that they can be justified for a local economy. However, in the specific instance of a proposed GA airport in Oak Ridge, we believe there are no compelling merits, needs, or justifications for such an airport. The following points support our position that the development of an Oak Ridge airport is not warranted or needed.

— There is no defensible need for the airport. Oak Ridge has convenient access to three modern airports serving general aviation — DKX, RKW, & TYS. The proposed airport location in Oak Ridge does not meet one of the key FAA entry criteria for a new GA airport. It is a 25-minute ground travel time from the proposed Oak Ridge airport site to the Rockwood Municipal Airport (RKW). FAA Order5090.3C Chapter 2 Entry Criteria requires a new GA airport to be 30 minutes or more average ground travel time from the nearest airport under the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

Exercise your body and your mind during a ranger-guided hike starting at 10 a.m. July 17 along the Cedar Hill Greenway in Oak Ridge that will examine the local features of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The “Secret City,” replete with housing, schools and shopping for a massive workforce, was carved out of largely rugged wilderness and farms during World War II to support the development of the first atomic bombs, known as the Manhattan Project. 

The historical park, formed in November 2015, is actually a national collection of sites, including Oak Ridge, Los Alamos and Hartford, that highlights features of the various communities, labs and reservations involved in the early development of atomic weapons and energy.

Rangers will share the story of the early days of 1940s-era Oak Ridge and Clinton Engineer Works, including the town’s nascent school system, which went on to become one of the best in the state and region. Its STEM programs are nationally recognized. Nuclear engineering work continues today at Y-12 National Security Complex. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a modern leader in scientific research and applications, ranging from high-speed computing to biology.

The 2.5-mile group hike begins, appropriately enough, at the site of the former Cedar Hill Elementary School (attended for a period by the editor of Hellbender Press) at the intersection of Outer Drive and Michigan Avenue.

The greenway hike may prove moderately difficult for some; so bring water and wear sunscreen and good shoes. 

Call (865) 482-1942 for more information.

Interpretive themes convey park significance. Primary interpretive themes are the key ideas through which the park’s nationally significant resource values are conveyed to the public. They connect park resources to the larger ideas, meaning, and values of which they are a part. They are the building blocks—the core content—on which the interpretive program is based.

Find more details about the process, background information on the MNHP and register for the first meeting here.

The interpretive plan will provide guidance in developing future services, activities, events and exhibits in Oak Ridge, at the other MNHP locations, and through media outreach.

The recording of the April 13 national introductory webinar for this stakeholder process has just been released: