As Earth Day marks its 55th anniversary, the University of Cincinnati has yet another reason to join the global observance. An award-winning book shines a spotlight on a local environmental victory: the transformation of the once-notorious Fernald nuclear production site into a thriving wildlife sanctuary.
Assistant Professor Casey Huegel, from UC's College of Arts and Sciences, is receiving acclaim for his documentation of this metamorphosis in "Cleaning Up the Bomb Factory: Grassroots Activism and Nuclear Waste in the Midwest." The University of Cincinnati reported on the awards garnered by the environmental historian's work, published by Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books in 2024.
Emblematic of both the peril and promise of the Atomic Age, Fernald, located 18 miles northwest of Cincinnati, was once a hive of industry wrought with radioactive undercurrents. Its closure and eventual apotheosis into the Fernald Preserve are a testament to the resilience of both nature and engaged citizenry. With its transformation, what was once a hub for nuclear material production is now a symbolic victory for environmental action and awareness.
The site now, known as the Fernald Preserve, bears little resemblance to its former state. It supports a vibrant ecosystem where birds, deer, beavers, and other animals have reclaimed their habitats. "It would hard to recognize it as the same" the University of Cincinnati's article reflects on the dramatic change.
