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.
Watch the video below to learn how environmental cleanup operations in Oak Ridge are modernizing the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory and creating new opportunities for the community. It also explores Oak Ridge’s first-of-a-kind achievements and the projects underway that will transform the site in the years ahead.
Oak Ridge News
-
The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and contractor UCOR are conducting the largest demolition to date at the Y-12 National Security Complex — teardown of the Alpha-2 building. June 3, 2025June 3, 2025
-
Demolition is underway on the last remaining hot cell structure at the former Radioisotope Development Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory — a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management priority for 2025.May 27, 2025
-
The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management’s successful cleanup of a former uranium enrichment complex continues to boost economic development opportunities for the region.May 20, 2025
-
Crews have completed construction of the K-25 Interpretive Center through a partnership among the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractor Geiger Brothers.May 13, 2025
-
Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management contractor Isotek has surpassed a significant milestone supporting clinical cancer trials by extracting more than 15 grams of extremely rare isotope, thorium-229.April 29, 2025
-
Crews with the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and contractor UCOR make headway preparing for the next major demolition project at the Y-12 National Security Complex.April 29, 2025
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
FY22 Enacted (in the millions) | FY23 Request (in the millions) | FY23 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY25 Requested (in the millions) |
| $630 | $612 | $637 | $635 | $694 | $658 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.