Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Manager Erik Olds and Savannah River Operations Office Manager Edwin Deshong joined U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil for a U.S. House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus event. July 28, 2026
Office of Environmental Management
July 28, 2026
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WASHINGTON — Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Manager Erik Olds and Savannah River Operations Office Manager Edwin Deshong joined U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil for a recent U.S. House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus event. Titled “DOE's Isotope Mission: Legacy Cleanup Saving Lives and Powering America's Future,” the event emphasized how the nation’s legacy waste cleanup is driving the next generation of medical and energy breakthroughs.
Deshong talked about how Savannah River National Laboratory is advancing cutting-edge isotope research to meet critical national needs. Olds, who also serves as acting director for the Portsmouth Paducah Project Office, spoke about Oak Ridge’s "cleanup to cure" mission to extract an extremely rare medical isotope, thorium-229, from uranium-233 before it’s processed and disposed of. The isotope is a crucial ingredient for a promising form of cancer treatment currently in clinical trials.
During the event, Gil announced a major, multi-laboratory breakthrough in domestic stable isotope enrichment and production capabilities.
Pictured clockwise from left are U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, caucus chair; Gil; Deshong; and Olds.
The well-attended event was hosted by the Energy Facility Contractors Group, Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association and Nuclear Energy Institute.
-Contributors: Hayley Long, David Sheeley
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