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
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management and Office of Science today issued a Request for Proposal seeking proposals from companies to build and power AI data centers at DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation.September 30, 2025
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A suite of innovative approaches to cleanup that can result in more than $100 million in savings is being evaluated at the Oak Ridge Reservation. September 30, 2025September 30, 2025
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The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and contractor Isotek Systems met a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management 2025 priority to process 50 canisters of the radioactive material uranium-233 for shipment and disposal three months ahead of schedule. September 30, 2025September 30, 2025
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Oklo Inc. recently announced plans to build the first privately funded commercial nuclear fuel recycling facility at Oak Ridge’s East Tennessee Technology Park. September 23, 2025September 23, 2025
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The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management has met its goal to complete eight shipments of transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for permanent disposal this fiscal year ending Sept. 30, further reducing its inventory of the material. September 23, 2025September 23, 2025
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EM cleanup to transform national lab, support research and innovation missions. September 16, 2025September 16, 2025
Federal Project Director
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
FY24 Requested (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY25 Requested (in the millions) | FY25 Enacted (in the millions) | FY26 Requested (in the millions) |
| $635 | $694 | $658 | $695 | $636 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.