News on the world's largest environmental cleanup
Office of Environmental Management
October 6, 2026
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Celebrating EM Excellence: Secretary’s Honor Awards
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management employees and teams received seven Secretary’s Honor Awards recognizing leadership, innovation and accomplishments across the cleanup mission. 🏅
Honorees were recognized for achievements ranging from starting up Hanford tank waste vitrification and accelerating Savannah River Site tank cleanup to advancing energy development at former cleanup sites and strengthening the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain. Read the full story to learn more about the EM employees and teams recognized for their contributions.
Walsh Advances President Trump’s U.S.-Japan Energy and Nuclear Cleanup Cooperation
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh led an EM delegation to Japan to strengthen cooperation on nuclear cleanup, energy security and nuclear energy. 🤝
The delegation toured the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, participated in an international decommissioning forum and visited Japan’s Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant to learn about used nuclear fuel reprocessing and other capabilities. Read the full story to learn how the visit is advancing U.S.-Japan cooperation across the nuclear energy sector.
WIPP Driver Returns to Spotlight With Second National Safety Award in 2026
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant waste shipment driver Tommy Cash is earning national recognition for a career built on safety and professionalism. 🚛
Cash, a WIPP team member for 23 years, has logged more than 3.6 million safe miles during his 43-year career and was named the 2026 Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance International Driver Excellence Award recipient. Read the full story to learn how his commitment to safety, mentorship and excellence is setting a high standard for transporting transuranic waste to WIPP.
Paducah Crews Segment Fissile Converters as Cleanup Momentum Grows
The Paducah Site is building on cleanup momentum as crews begin segmenting nearly 500 fissile converters in the C-337 Process Building. ⚙️
The work draws on lessons learned from removing 497 converters from C-333 while using enhanced safety measures to address the added complexity of fissile components. Read the full story to learn how the milestone is advancing deactivation and preparing the site for future demolition and redevelopment.