Demolition begins on K-31 building in Oak Ridge

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TONIGHT: Rain Late. Low: 59

FRIDAY: Spotty Rain. High: 79

TONIGHT: Rain Late. Low: 59

FRIDAY: Spotty Rain. High: 79

OAK RIDGE (WATE) - Demolition of the K-31 Building began Wednesday in Oak Ridge's East Tennessee Technology Park.

The two-story, 750,000 square foot building began operations in 1951, and was used to enrich uranium for defense and commercial purposes. It was shut down in 1985.

Crews removed most of the hazardous materials from the building's interior in 2005.

This is the fourth of five gaseous diffusion buildings at the former uranium enrichment site to be demolished.

Crews worked this summer to accelerate K-31's demolition five months ahead of its original proposed schedule. The process included asbestos abatement, removing exterior transite paneling, disconnecting the building's power sources and completing pollution prevention efforts such as filling interior and exterior storm drains.

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Demolition begins on K-31 building in Oak Ridge