GEM Completes Site Preparation Activities for the LPF Project
Oak Ridge, Tennessee. After two years of project execution, GEM proudly announces their completion of the site preparation in advance of Y-12 National Security Complex’s Lithium Processing Facility (LPF) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The completion of LPF Site Preparation Project marked a significant milestone in the national security mission.
Project Manager Kent DeRoos and Superintendent Brandon McCloud led the Site Prep Project which included over 50 personnel including non-manual and manual craft support. Through innovative thinking, strong leadership, and excellent craft support, the project team completed all milestones prior to baselined dates. Brandon McCloud stated, “the success of the project was due to the teamwork of all personnel involved including all craft, quality, safety, waste management, project controls, and all subcontractors.”
At the forefront of everything GEM accomplished during site prep was a strong safety culture, which was of utmost importance to the project team from start to finish. Pat Hackworth, who worked as the project’s ES&H
Representative, commended the work done and the dedication to compliant health and safety on the LPF project. Hackworth also commended Chris Carchidi’s contribution to the safety management of the project. The project team’s efforts were successful as the project totaled 131,000-man hours over two years and only saw one non-loss time injury, an incredibly impressive ratio for a project of this size.
Additionally, the project’s Quality Control Representative, Landon Lindsey, played a crucial role in monitoring and making sure standards and specifications were all met throughout each phase of the site prep project. The same commitment to excellence was also evident in the project’s performance. The LPF site prep ended ahead of schedule and under budget due to GEM’s ability to adapt and deliver project milestones, while dealing with numerous changes to the project. Scheduling and cost control was led by Scott Martin. The project also entailed the installation of a large scale double tiered retaining wall for aesthetics and slope control. This project deliverable was led by superintendent Grady Pelfrey and his crew.
While successful, the completion still had its challenges. When the project broke ground on October 19th, 2023, the ground crew quickly realized the site was full of contaminants such as asbestos, RAD materials, and lead. Jonathon Smarsh led the waste disposal coordination, and his efforts were valuable. The team worked tirelessly to remove all contaminants from the site and ensure the pollutants were disposed of properly. Associate Superintendent, Mike Lloyd, was instrumental in the completion of contaminated materials abatement, demolition, and disposition scope of the project. 
In addition to managing the on-site legacy discoveries, GEM worked diligently to ensure the project implemented and maintained the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) approved Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) erosion and sediment controls to prohibit any off-site mitigation of sediment into nearby water sources during the 22-acre excavation activities.
Because of the dedication of GEM’s project team, as well the subcontractors, the LPF site prep was a success and will support increased national security efforts for years to come.
Content provided by: Kent DeRoos, Vice President of Field Services and Pat Hackworth, ES&H Representative | Authored by: Olivia Knowling, Operations Support Coordinator | Images provided by: Daryl Mills with Consolidation Nuclear Security, LLC