As a result of the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2, the reactor core was severely damaged. A major portion of the core relocated during the course of the accident through the core support assembly and into the lower head of the reactor vessel. As part of the program to recover from the accident, it was necessary to remove the core debris from the lower core support assembly (LCSA) and provide access to the reactor vessel lower head. A 3-yr planning, inspection, and research and development program was instituted to characterize the LCSA, identify and test techniques to remove the accident debris, produce detailed plans for defueling, and provide the equipment and facilities to implement the plan. The LCSA is being defueled using a “layered” approach, removing the maximum amount of the LCSA structure as practical. The stainless steel structure has been cut for removal using a core boring machine similar to oil drilling rig machinery and a specially designed plasma arc torch and manipulator control system. The lower grid top rib section and distributor plate have been removed, and forging removal operations have begun.