The Washington County Commission’s decision tonight to approve BWXT’s rezoning request for 56 acres—from Agricultural to Industrial—to build a new facility for processing high purity depleted uranium is an important milestone, and we are truly grateful for the thoughtful consideration it received.
From the very beginning, we have emphasized that this was a matter of optimizing land use. We appreciate the Planning Commission staff’s careful study and recommendation in support of the rezoning. The designated area offers features that reduce visual impact, enhance buffers, and align well with the surrounding land uses.
We sincerely thank Mayor Grandy and all the county commissioners, including Chairman Matherly, for their thorough review and dedication to serving the community’s best interests. While the vote was not unanimous, it’s clear that every commissioner acted with integrity and a genuine commitment to their constituents. We deeply respect that.
There is still much work ahead, and we look forward to continuing our open and collaborative engagement with the mayor, commissioners and the community as this project progresses. We invite our neighbors and local stakeholders to join us in maintaining the positive dialogue and problem-solving spirit, to find compromises that optimize benefits for us and our neighbors, minimize risks associated with the floodplain and ensure the good relationships and communication that has marked this process so far.
This project is not only vital to our national security but also to the vitality of our community. It will bring 175 new long-term jobs to the area while minimizing environmental impact through advanced engineered controls and cutting-edge technology.
Finally, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has participated in this process and continues to keep our community’s best interests at heart. Together, we can build a stronger, safer future.
Ron Dailey
President, BWXT Tennessee Operations