News on the world's largest environmental cleanup
Office of Environmental Management
June 23, 2026
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SRS Supports NNSA in Landmark Venezuelan Fuel Receipt Mission
In a major milestone for global nuclear security, the U.S. and international allies have successfully shipped all remaining highly enriched uranium out of Venezuela’s legacy RV-1 research reactor. 🚢
Led by the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Savannah River Site, this complex operation successfully eliminated a lingering proliferation risk. The recovered material is now safely stored at SRS, where it will ultimately be processed at the site's H Canyon facility. Read the full story to discover how this incredible multi-agency effort is securing our world and powering the future of nuclear innovation.
Turning Legacy Liabilities Into Opportunity: EM Delivers Cleanup Wins at Lawrence Livermore
Federal cleanup crews at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are rapidly transforming legacy nuclear-era liabilities into new opportunities for national security and scientific innovation. 🏗️
By demolishing obsolete research facilities ahead of schedule and under budget, workers are freeing up valuable land for future mission use. Read the full story to discover how these cleanup wins are paving the way for the next generation of American sciences.
Savannah River Site Partnership Strengthens Drone Inspection Capabilities
The Savannah River Site is expanding its drone program to conduct safer, faster, and more cost-effective infrastructure inspections. 🚁
By deploying unmanned aircraft to assess hard-to-reach areas like elevated towers and pipelines, site experts are eliminating the need for workers to scale structures or navigate hazardous terrain. One transition alone saved more than $43,000 while delivering real-time, accurate results. Read the full story to discover how this cutting-edge aerial technology is modernizing site maintenance and protecting crews.
ORNL's Isotope Row is Ready for Demolition Following Deactivation Work
Cleanup crews at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have successfully prepared a cluster of highly contaminated, historic buildings for upcoming demolition. 🧪
Known as "Isotope Row," the 10 legacy facilities once supported decades of vital medical, industrial, and national defense research before shutting down in the 1990s. Since 2020, teams have worked under strict safety controls to remove complex hazards, including heavily contaminated ventilation systems and legacy radioactive materials. This milestone eliminates significant risks and frees up valuable space on the central campus for modern scientific missions. Read the full story to learn how crews tackled one of the laboratory's most challenging cleanup projects.