NETN residents continue fight against BWXT, nuclear waste

Rain drops streaked the paint written on the cars of local northeast Tennessee activists Wednesday afternoon, but the message remains clear — to keep nuclear waste out of the region. "STOP BWXT," "NO HPDU," "NOT HERE, NOT ANYWHERE," and "URANIUM OUT OF ETN" were written on signs and car windows before members of Appalachians Against Uranium headed from N Broadway Street to downtown Johnson City. Appalachians Against Uranium formed shortly after BWX Technologies requested to rezone its property on Old State Route 34 in Jonesborough. The rezoning from agriculture and residential to industrial use, approved by the Washington County Commission in March, allows for the facility's expansion to fulfill a $1.6 billion federal contract to produce high-purity depleted uranium, a chemical necessary to build nuclear weapons. Thousands of community members voiced their strong disapproval of the company and its planned expansion, voicing concerns about impacts to the environment, residential health and long-term effects. Some of those people are still working to stop it. Rachel Bewley, a member of Appalachians Against Uranium, said Wednesday she will continue to show others there is still work to do. "I think a lot of people maybe think that the fight is kind of over against BWXT," she said, adding that is not the case. Rachel Bewley was joined by like-minded people to call upon Summers-Taylor, Inc., a renowned contractor in the area, to end its development agreement with BWXT at its Jonesborough facility. BWXT received site plan approval for the HPDU facility expansion in September and work began shortly after. "Summers-Taylor is a local business and they do a lot of good in the community," group member Kate Bewley said. "And BWXT is this outside company… so they don't really have any community ties." Kate Bewley added that Summers-Taylor has done "a lot of really wonderful things for the community, especially jut in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene." "Having this association with this company wouldn't really do them any good," she said. The group has sent letters to the contracting business asking it to stop working with BWXT. Rachel Bewley said they haven't received a response. The Johnson City Press received an email statement from a spokesperson at Summers-Taylor Wednesday stating the company provides "concrete and civil services to a General Contractor working for BWXT." "We are one of many local firms who could provide these services. Our involvement in this project neither helps nor hurts and has no bearing on the ability of the owner to complete the project," the email stated. "If we were not providing these services, another firm would immediately step into our place. Summers-Taylor has deep roots in this community, and we take pride in being a local company that genuinely cares about the people, businesses and safety of our region." The Johnson City Press also reached out to BWXT regarding the contract and the backlash being received by some community members. "BWXT respects the right of community members to express their views and participate in peaceful demonstrations," a BWXT spokesperson said in an email Wednesday. "We understand that this project can generate questions and concerns, and we remain committed to engaging transparently with our neighbors and local stakeholders." No details were provided regarding the specifics of the contract including the duration, terms or commercial arrangements. "Summers-Taylor was selected as a sub-contractor because of its strong reputation, extensive experience in East Tennessee, skilled workforce and proven ability to execute large-scale construction projects safely and effectively," a BWXT spokesperson said. "The company has been a valued partner in supporting development activities associated with our planned facility." The company's expansion at its Jonesborough facility is set to be complete by 2030.