BWXT in Erwin
BWXT subsidiary Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) is a leading manufacturer of fuel material for all naval nuclear reactors used in U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers.
NFS also converts Cold War-era government stockpiles of High Enriched Uranium (HEU) into material suitable for processing into commercial nuclear reactor fuel. This process not only enhances national security but also contributes to the advancement of clean energy for American consumers and businesses.
Our plant in Erwin, Tennessee, is one of two facilities in the U.S. owned by BWXT and licensed by the NRC to store and process HEU. We place the utmost priority on safety and security, maintaining a robust safety program and a highly trained security force.
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Safety in All We Do
Every employee at NFS is responsible for safety, as guided by general and specific safety policies and procedures. NFS has approximately 130 safety professionals working in a variety of positions such as radiation protection, industrial hygiene, fire protection, environmental monitoring and health physics. Together, we ensure safe operations for our employees and the public.
Environmental Protection
Robust regulatory oversight helps us maintain peak safe and secure operations that protect the health and safety of employees and the public.
Regulatory oversight is provided by both Federal and state agencies including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, or TDEC.
The NRC has a full-time resident inspector onsite at NFS. The NRC typically completes more than a dozen inspections every year involving teams of multiple inspectors.
Our environmental team at NFS takes more than 10,000 environmental samples annually. These include air, water, soil, vegetation and other samples to demonstrate that we are protecting the environment. The majority of these samples are sent to an independent, nationally recognized laboratory that meets our stringent quality requirements and is acceptable to our regulators.
Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene in 2024 challenged our resolve as a community. Entire towns flooded in a matter of hours – roads were washed away, and homes and infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, were destroyed. Some people lost everything. Erwin, Tennessee, was unrecognizable. BWXT employees offered their help, despite also being impacted by Helene, and volunteered to assist their neighbors in the devastating flooding aftermath. Shortly after the disaster, BWXT announced a $100,000 donation to the Unicoi County United Way to support the relief efforts in the Erwin community.
Events like Hurricane Helene remind us that we are part of a community that chooses to stand together, even in the most challenging moments…
…The recovery and restoration is a long journey, but one that we will complete together.
Ron Dailey, president, BWXT Tennessee Operations
Uranium Conversion and Processing (U-metal)
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) awarded a contract in 2021 to Nuclear Fuel Services to perform Uranium Conversion and Purification Services. This work provides a bridge until the modernized process at Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, where this work has historically occurred, is operational. The contract calls for NFS to provide a final design and a demonstration of a conversion and purification system.
During this process, uranium oxide is dissolved in nitric acid, and impurities are extracted using existing plant systems. The uranium is then converted into a metal form known as a “button,” for return to NNSA. NFS has successfully established a safe process and demonstrated the ability to meet NNSA’s specifications.
Full production of what is commonly referred to as “U-metal” is scheduled to begin in early 2027.
New Enrichment Facility
Reestablishing a domestic uranium enrichment capability is critical to sustaining U.S. national security. The United States has not produced highly enriched uranium in more than 40 years, leaving the nation without an active, U.S.-source of material. To meet current and future national security missions, a modern, state-of-the-art domestic supply chain must be rebuilt to ensure the availability of highly enriched uranium for national defense requirements.
BWXT notified the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its plan to apply for a uranium enrichment license for a new facility to be built adjacent to its Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) facility in Erwin, Tennessee. The notification enables the NRC to plan resources to support its review of the license application, which BWXT expects to submit during the first quarter of 2027.
The licensing effort for the Erwin facility directly supports BWXT’s previously announced $1.5 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
By notifying the NRC, BWXT is initiating the pre-application engagement process. During this period, the company will work closely with regulators to develop and submit a detailed license application that addresses facility design, safety systems, security programs and environmental requirements.
Construction and Workforce Impact
BWXT selected the Erwin site because of its proximity to NFS and its ability to leverage existing NRC regulated nuclear operations, security and safety infrastructure, and a skilled local workforce.
The planned enrichment facility will be approximately 35,000 square feet on 4.5 acres. Because the property is already zoned for manufacturing, only standard construction permits are required. Construction is expected to begin in 2030–2031.
The new facility is expected to create 100 high-skill jobs.
BWXT: Deep Ties to Our Communities
Creating a lasting, positive impact goes beyond supporting our employees. It extends to strengthening the communities where we live and work, and BWXT proudly supports Northeast Tennessee through corporate giving, employee volunteering, community engagement and school outreach.
Each year, we prioritize supporting area nonprofits to further their missions and assist those in need in Northeast Tennessee. Employees participate in annual volunteer, fundraising and drive efforts supporting various United Way agencies in the region.
Our 70-employee Speaker’s Bureau has been leading the way in promoting STEM education in local classrooms for two decades, reaching roughly 4,000 students in Northeast Tennessee each year. Through frequent touchpoints with students, our employees are sharing real-world experiences from the nuclear industry and inspiring students to explore engineering concepts and careers at BWXT. This team was recognized in 2024 with a Communitas Award for their commitment to educating and shaping the workforce of tomorrow.
In 2024, we brought back a community favorite program – the Goal Card program. This program promotes student performance by incentivizing students to meet attendance requirements and maintain A/B honor roll status. During the 2024-2025 school year, we awarded 340 Goal Cards, redeemable at local retailers, to students who met the requirements. And after one quarter in the 2025-2026 school year, we have awarded another 180 cards. This program has proven to be a valuable initiative that promotes student success, and we are proud to support it.