As noted before, the folks at the Uranium Processing Facility have been a little secretive about work on the multi-billion-dollar government project. Among other things, they’ve declined to release information on the cost of office space being leased in Commerce Park for the design and engineering activities. The project activities were consolidated there over the past six months.

In 2013, the project team indicated the cost of leased facilities was about $2.2 million annually, but the team is bigger now — reportedly more than 900 people.

I recently asked Consolidated Nuclear Security, the government’s managing contractor at Y-12, about reports of overcrowding at the two UPF facilities in Commerce Park and whether the UPF workforce was exceeding the occupancy limits. I’d received reports of employees having to stand in line to use the restrooms and a report that the parking lots were filled by 6:30 a.m., with others having to catch shuttles to the site.

In response to questions, Y-12 spokeswoman Ellen Boatner provided this response via email: “No, UPF is not over occupancy limits or sanitary facility requirements at the Commerce Park facilities. As the project continues to progress and personnel levels ramp up, we will utilize additional facilities as necessary to accommodate our workforce. Workforce numbers by location are not something that is shared publically.”

Asked for the total of UPF employees, regardless of site, Boatner provided this response, “UPF does not have employment numbers to share.”

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