Local Advocacy Group Optimistic in Efforts to Block BWXT Plant Expansion Proposal

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TELFORD, Tenn. (WJHL) — In Washington County, two prominent figures leading a community-driven initiative are optimistic that local officials will align with their opposition against the proposed expansion of a high-purity depleted uranium (HPDU) facility, despite a substantial $1.6 billion federal contract being at stake.

“I trust that our commissioners will make the right decision,” expressed Gabriel Wilson, a resident living near BWX Technologies’ depleted uranium plant, situated roughly 1.5 miles from David Crockett High School, during his conversation with News Channel 11 on Friday.

“Ultimately, the welfare of Washington County’s residents should be their paramount concern. Their responsibilities include safeguarding our water resources and preserving our natural environment, which are fundamental aspects of zoning regulations,” Wilson emphasized.

Jonesborough residents recently gathered to hear presentations on the potential impacts of the proposed BWXT facility.

Wilson and Kevin Hendricks, both active members of the grassroots organization “Neighbors of BWXT,” addressed the community just days before the initial vote on BWXT’s petition to rezone 55 acres from agricultural (A-1) to high-impact use (M-2). Citizens who register in advance will be given up to three minutes each to voice their opinions on agenda items, including the BWXT proposal.

Months later, BWXT won that multi-year contract to produce around 300 metric tons annually of HPDU for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). That final product, a very dense metal, would go to the Y-12 plant at Oak Ridge for use in the refurbishment and potential expansion of the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal.

Tuesday’s Washington County Planning Commission is BWXT’s second appearance there. A huge crowd turned out at the Nov. 4 meeting when a request to rezone 128 acres was on the agenda, causing commissioners to delay a decision. Since then, the opposition has grown and held its own strategy meetings, while BWXT hosted an early December “poster session” to provide more information about its intentions.

Wilson, Hendricks and others have kept their foot on the gas in their effort.

Kevin Hendricks, left, and Gabriel Wilson, both of Neighbors of BWXT, stand next to Little Limestone Creek not far downstream from BWX Technologies’ depleted uranium facility in Telford, Tenn. Jan. 2, 2026. (WJHL)

“We’ve had a tremendous showing of citizen support through the petition right now,” Wilson said of an online petition that’s been up for weeks. “I think as of this morning we were over 4,600 signatures online. And those are verified about 75% Washington County residents and another 15% adjacent counties, downstream counties.”

BWXT spokesman, John Dobken said the company has altered its request in order to address community concerns, reducing the acreage from 128 to 55. That, he said in a written response to questions, was designed “to clearly show the natural buffer zone between our operational site and the surrounding community will remain. The smaller zoned footprint will adequately meet our needs going forward.”

Dobken, who listed some of the agencies that will oversee the project and the company’s requirement to put the proposal to a comprehensive National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessment, added: “We’ve also seen a lot of what could be called misinformation about the project that needs to be addressed.”

Hendricks and Wilson remain unconvinced that the proposal merits approval. They noted the site’s location — it’s in a rural area with its property bisected by Little Limestone Creek and not clustered with any other industry.

“This goes into the Nolichucky (River) watershed,” Wilson said, standing next to Little Limestone Creek not far downstream from BWXT’s land.

“It literally runs downstream right into a lot of people’s water supply, including our own. Not to mention the aquifer and the water table, the folks around here that are on wells or that feed their livestock out of the creek. So there’s a lot of concerns with the water supply and their proximity to the floodplain.”

BWXT’s Dobken said permitting is required for air emissions and generated waste, which he said is being solidified and shipped out of state. Radiological impacts will be evaluated as part of the NEPA assessment and will require amended radiological permits through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

“This revised request meets our operational needs as originally communicated, while more explicitly defining the intended natural buffer with the surrounding community,” he added of a project BWXT estimates will create 175 new jobs once it’s fully operational in a few years.

Wilson said the possibility of a major accident is more of a concern to him than any day-to-day operations.

“A chemical spill like this up in West Virginia took out 300,000 residents’ water,” Wilson said. “They couldn’t even shower. They couldn’t do anything up in Elk River. So we see chemical spills into water supplies. And I just think that’s a risk we shouldn’t take.”

Hendricks said he’s more concerned about the chemicals used to refine the raw materials into HDPU than he is about the level of radioactivity itself.

“A lot of them are lifetime chemicals, PCBs, things of that nature that could be here well beyond you and I,” he said.

Washington County planning staff recommend approval — citing the county’s land use plan that says the county “should support all practical efforts … to maintain and improve existing industrial site locations.”

The area has no nearby industry, though, and Hendricks says that plan also includes language that could argue against approval. And an October email from one staffer asking for a meeting with their colleagues before the November meeting (and before the amended request) notes “my recommendation, using the information available, would be denial of the request.”

Hendricks said he’s confident if the county follows its land use plan, “this will be defeated as it should be, because otherwise, what good is the county land use plan where it doesn’t allow something like this?

“You can see in the background it’s a very pristine area. People live here, fish here. We’re less than two miles from Crockett High School. The city of Telford is right here. This is just the wrong place to do this.”

Tuesday’s meeting is at 6 p.m. in the George Jaynes Justice Center. If a majority of the seven-member planning commission approve the request, it would still need to pass the full 15-member Washington County Commission, which meets late this month.

A frequently asked questions document produced in December by TDEC about the project is here:

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Local Advocacy Group Optimistic in Efforts to Block BWXT Plant Expansion Proposal

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Local Advocacy Group Optimistic in Efforts to Block BWXT Plant Expansion Proposal

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