// Risk Intelligence
| Risk Score | 8 / 10 High |
| Facility Type | ⚠ Superfund / Contamination Site |
| Operator / Branch | US DOE / EPA |
| Host County | McCracken County KY |
| Nearest City | Washington DC |
| Primary Risk Radius | 5 miles |
| Secondary Risk Radius | 25 miles |
// Strategic Significance
The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant enriched uranium for nuclear weapons for decades contaminating groundwater and the Ohio River with technetium-99 and trichloroethylene. Workers were unknowingly exposed to plutonium contamination. The site covers 3,400 acres and cleanup is expected to cost billions and take decades.
// Civilian Impact Assessment
McCracken County and Paducah area residents face Ohio River and groundwater contamination from radioactive and chemical releases. The Ohio River provides drinking water downstream for communities in Kentucky Indiana and Illinois.
// Evacuation & Shelter Guidance
McCracken County residents should follow EPA and DOE guidance on Ohio River water quality and groundwater near the facility.