The Oak Ridge Site, located in eastern Tennessee, is one of the three original sites in the Manhattan Project. The K-25 and Y-12 plants were built to explore different methods to enrich uranium, while the X-10 Site was established as a pilot plant for the Graphite Reactor and to explore methods for the production of plutonium. Throughout the following decades, the three sites purified isotopes, conducted advanced research, manufactured weapons components, and enriched uranium. These activities created environmental legacies that placed the Oak Ridge Reservation on EPA’s National Priorities List in 1989.
Oak Ridge Photo Gallery
An aerial view of the Alpha-2 facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex after crews completed demolition on its south side. The building measures 325,000 square feet and covers 2.5 acres of land.
Oak Ridge News
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A partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and the National Nuclear Security Administration is advancing preparations for future demolition of a legacy facility while recovering valuable equipment for national security missions.September 29, 2026
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Members of the community recently broke ground for a first-of-a-kind community enrichment center in the Scarboro community made possible by a $2.4 million Community Capacity Building Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management.September 29, 2026
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U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Senior Advisor Jim Kahler joined private sector partners on a National Cleanup Workshop panel to share insight on the thriving new energy developments taking root across EM sites.September 22, 2026
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Leaders from the nation’s gaseous diffusion plant complex participated in the “Enriching Communities – A Renewed Purpose for America’s GDP Complex” panel at the National Cleanup Workshop.September 22, 2026
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In a first, the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and cleanup contractor United Cleanup Oak Ridge have conducted demolition on two facilities at the Y-12 National Security Complex in a single fiscal year.September 15, 2026
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The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management finished a 2.5-year piping replacement project that is crucial to maintain ongoing missions and daily operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.September 8, 2026
Site Manager
Erik Olds became the manager for the DOE Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) on June 1, 2025.
Olds previously served at the OREM deputy manager since January 2024, serving as the acting manager from March to June 2025. He has been with the Department of Energy for more than 30 years, including 20 years within the EM program.
As the OREM manager, he oversees the daily operations needed to perform the organization’s environmental cleanup and stewardship, decontamination and decommissioning activities, waste processing and management, surveillance and maintenance programs, and procurement and contract functions. Before his assignment as OREM deputy manager, Olds served as communications director for DOE's Office of Environmental Management headquarters (EM-HQ) and previously as acting chief of staff for EM-HQ.
Click here to view full bio.
High-Level Budget Information
FY25 Requested (in the millions) | FY25 Enacted (in the millions) | FY26 Requested (in the millions) | FY26 Enacted (in the millions) | FY27 Requested (in the millions) |
| $658 | $695 | $636 | $701 | $604 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.