Tonight, the Executive Committee of the Washington County Democratic Party adopted the following resolution in opposition to the BWXT rezoning request in Jonesborough and in support of protecting our waterways, public health, and responsible land use. Download the resolution as a PDF.
A Resolution of the Washington County Democratic Party Calling for the Protection of Local Waterways, Public Health, and Responsible Land Use in Opposition to the BWXT Rezoning Request.
WHEREAS the Washington County Democratic Party (WCDP) platform explicitly demands “clean air, water, and land” and emphasizes “environmental responsibility and sustainability” as core community values; and
WHEREAS BWX Technologies (BWXT) has requested the rezoning of property at 1367 Old State Route 34 in Jonesborough for the purpose of high-purity depleted uranium metal manufacturing, a project that involves processing 300 metric tons of uranium annually near Little Limestone Creek and within a documented 40-acre vulnerable floodplain as demonstrated by the recent history of flooding in our region; and
WHEREAS the legacy of environmental contamination at the former Aerojet site has caused documented harm to the surrounding Appalachian ecosystem and has fostered a well-founded distrust regarding the long-term safety of radioactive material processing in residential and agricultural zones; and
WHEREAS the proximity of the proposed facility to David Crockett High School, West View and Grandview Elementary Schools, and hundreds of family homes poses a potential risk to the “human welfare” and safety of our most vulnerable citizens, violating the principle that power belongs to “the many, not the few”; and
WHEREAS over 5,000 residents have signaled their opposition through petitions and public testimony, expressing concerns that this rezoning is inconsistent with Washington County’s 2008 Land Use Plan and goals of protecting quality of life and the environment; and
WHEREAS the estimated minimum of a 50-mile radius for potential contamination zones encompasses all of Washington County and the Tri-Cities area;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington County Democratic Party stands in solidarity with the neighbors and farmers of Jonesborough and Washington County in their opposition to the BWXT rezoning request; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the WCDP calls upon the Washington County Regional Planning Commission and the County Commission to deny the rezoning request and instead prioritize a proactive growth strategy with transparent and accountable community engagement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be transmitted to the members of the Washington County Commission and the Planning Commission to formally record the Party’s position on behalf of the community’s health and safety.
Adopted by the WCDP Executive Committee on January 5, 2026
