What happens at Y-12?

Y‑12 helps ensure a safe and effective U.S. nuclear weapons deterrent. We also retrieve and store nuclear materials, fuel the nation’s naval reactors, and perform complementary work for other government and private-sector entities.

Is Y-12 part of ORNL?

Both of these sites are completely separate entities from ORNL, located several miles apart and managed by different contractors. The Y-12 National Security Complex is managed by Consolidated Nuclear Security.

What is Y-12 known for?

It is considered the birthplace of the atomic bomb. In the years after World War II, it has been operated as a manufacturing facility for nuclear weapons components and related defense purposes.

What would happen if a nuke hit Oak Ridge Tennessee?

The impact on the site and surrounding areas of a nuclear detonation would be catastrophic. The fallout from a 10 kiloton IND detonation at Y-12 could result in an estimated 60,000 casualties, including 18,000 fatalities, and harmful radiation sickness for over 40 miles.

Does Y-12 make nuclear weapons?

In the years after World War II, it has been operated as a manufacturing facility for nuclear weapons components and related defense purposes.

When was Y-12 built?

February 18, 1943
On February 18, 1943, in the midst of the second World War, ground was broken in rural East Tennessee for the first production building at the Y‑12 Electromagnetic Separation Plant.

What places in the US would be nuked?

The cities that would most likely be attacked are Washington, New York City and Los Angeles. Using a van or SUV, the device could easily be delivered to the heart of a city and detonated. The effects and response planning from a nuclear blast are determined using statics from Washington, the most likely target.

Is there a nuclear plant in Oak Ridge TN?

The Y-12 National Security Complex is a manufacturing facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. For six decades, Y-12 has been a national center for handling, processing, and storing highly enriched uranium.