News on the world's largest environmental cleanup
Office of Environmental Management
June 9, 2026
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From Remediation to Renaissance: EM Builds Foundation for New Nuclear Era
America's environmental cleanup mission is officially transforming into a nuclear renaissance. ⚛️
EM is repurposing former weapons facilities into vital hubs for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and AI. By recycling legacy materials and preparing sites for next-generation reactors, EM is powering the future. 🔗 Read the full story to discover how these cleanup sites are powering the next generation of American nuclear innovation.
Portsmouth Crews Remove 15,000 Panels From Facility, Advancing Demolition
Demolishing the largest former uranium enrichment facility in the country requires meticulous planning, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to safety. 🏗️
At the DOE’s Portsmouth Site, contractor Southern Ohio Cleanup Company recently achieved a major milestone by safely removing nearly 15,000 asbestos-containing panels from the massive X-333 Process Building. Over 12 months, crews completed this labor-intensive work without a single recordable or lost-time accident, clearing the path for future demolition while preparing the site for new industries like artificial intelligence and nuclear energy. 🔗 Read more about how Portsmouth crews are setting a new standard for safety and paving the way for local economic development.
SRS Completes Major Construction Milestone on Another Mega-Size Disposal Unit
Safely disposing of legacy liquid waste at the Savannah River Site requires advanced engineering and steady construction execution. 🛢️
EM and contractor Savannah River Mission Completion completed all concrete construction on Saltstone Disposal Unit 11. Built to hold over 33 million gallons of decontaminated saltstone, this mega-size unit is wrapped in 340 miles of steel cable to ensure maximum durability—saving more than $500 million over the program's lifecycle. 🔗 Read more about how these innovative disposal structures are accelerating cleanup progress in South Carolina.
DOE Names Idaho Cleanup Project Employee Facility Representative of the Year
Safety, technical excellence, and exceptional leadership are the cornerstones of successful nuclear cleanup. 🏆
Palmi Byron of the Idaho Cleanup Project is the Facility Representative of the Year. Through his outstanding technical expertise and proactive safety oversight, Byron helped complete the decommissioning of Idaho’s first Naval Reactors prototype ahead of schedule and more than $15 million under budget. He also provided critical support for the successful startup of Hanford's low-activity tank waste treatment—proving the vital role that dedicated safety professionals play across the DOE complex.
🔗 Read the full story to celebrate this incredible achievement and learn more about how DOE's Facility Representatives keep operations safe and efficient.
Oak Ridge Exceeds First-Year Goal for Legacy Oxide Waste Processing
Safely processing and removing decades-old legacy radioactive waste requires meticulous planning, specialized engineering, and a strong commitment to environmental safety. ⚙️
At Oak Ridge, the first-year goal for processing legacy oxide waste was completed four months ahead of schedule. Highly skilled crews are safely packaging for permanent disposal—accelerating risk reduction and resolving a decades-long storage challenge. 🔗 Read here to discover how this innovative packaging and processing approach is paving the way for the safe removal of legacy waste from Oak Ridge.