Roughly half of the federally owned land at the Oak Ridge Reservation has been deemed suitable for reuse after a joint review by the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

According to the agencies, environmental surveys show that 16,377 of the reservation’s 33,069 acres were never impacted by Department of Energy operations and do not require cleanup. While Oak Ridge was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in 1989, officials say large portions of the site were never used to support nuclear or energy missions.

Supporters of the designation point to economic and planning benefits. Clarifying which parcels are clean simplifies land transfers, reduces uncertainty for developers, and supports future industrial, conservation, or community uses. The decision also builds on cleanup progress at the East Tennessee Technology Park, where soil remediation has enabled redevelopment and private investment.

Critics, however, urge caution. Some community advocates and environmental observers argue that “not impacted” does not always mean risk-free, particularly on a reservation with a long history of nuclear activity. They emphasize the need for continued transparency, long-term monitoring, and clear communication about how determinations were made, especially as land moves toward reuse. Others note that while economic development is important, reuse decisions should carefully consider ecological impacts and community trust shaped by decades of cleanup.

DOE officials acknowledge that not all cleared acreage will be transferred and say cleanup work continues elsewhere on the reservation, including at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. For Oak Ridge, the announcement marks progress, but also a reminder that reuse and restoration remain closely watched by the surrounding community.