BWXT zoning decision pushed to February agenda

Washington County, Tennessee planning director Angie Charles says deferring the zoning issue for the proposed BWXT plant in Jonesborough for one month is in the best interest of the citizens.

A company petitioner received approval to move the issue to February’s agenda for the County Commission in an effort to answer questions about the plans for the project that would result in a plant that would handle and distribute depleted uranium to the military as part of a $1.5 billion federal contract.

Concerns voiced by residents include impacts on water supply and air quality. The issue will now be debated on February 25.

Here is the contents of the statements issued on Tuesday:

Washington County announced Tuesday afternoon that the rezoning request submitted by BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), originally scheduled for consideration at the Jan. 26 commission meeting, has been administratively deferred at the applicant’s request.
 
The matter — rezoning 1367 Old State Route 34 — will now be heard during the Washington County Commission regular monthly meeting on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. in Courtroom 7 of the George P. Jaynes Justice Center, 108 W. Jackson Blvd. in Jonesborough.
 
BWXT’s petitioner, Jon Hagemann, requested the one-month extension to allow the company “additional time to answer the questions that our concerned community citizens have asked,” as outlined by the regional planning commission at its Jan. 6, 2026, meeting.  

“I recognize that the county commission expects to consider this matter in January,” said Angie Charles, Washington County’s planning director. “But if moving this item to February provides the necessary window of time for citizens’ questions to be answered and information to be clarified — in keeping with the action of the regional planning commission — it is my professional opinion that administrative deferral of the matter for one month is in the best interest of Washington County citizens.”
 
As with all rezoning requests, there will be an opportunity for public comment during the Feb. 23 meeting. Washington County citizens interested in viewing the meeting agenda or associated documents may do so via the Washington County website, www.washingtoncountytn.org, as the meeting date approaches.

(IMAGE: Generic nuclear plant photo supplied by Pexels / K. Miller)