  Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, speaks with U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, right, and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – During his recent visit to Oak Ridge, Energy Secretary Chris Wright observed cleanup projects that are helping modernize one of the nation’s most important national security sites and opening land for next-generation nuclear companies.
Wright’s visit with the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) began at the Y-12 National Security Complex, where he saw the crucial work underway to protect the nation. However, Y-12’s ongoing missions are happening near many deteriorated, contaminated facilities dating to the Manhattan Project and Cold War.
Leadership from OREM and cleanup contractor UCOR detailed how U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management cleanup efforts are removing those structures to eliminate hazards and provide space for new infrastructure supporting national security missions.
“As a fan of history, this is a critical area for the Manhattan Project, it’s a critical area for winning WWII and it will be a critical area for our future,” said Wright. “Seeing the people, seeing the buildings, seeing the infrastructure, and hearing the bold plans, I'm energized.”
 Energy Secretary Chris Wright was joined by U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Manager Jay Mullis, UCOR President and CEO Ken Rueter and others to discuss how transferred land at Oak Ridge’s East Tennessee Technology Park is helping attract nuclear industry to the region.
OREM has already torn down the former Biology Complex to make way for the Lithium Processing Facility. Y-12 is a supplier of lithium materials to support U.S. defense missions, and it’s the only DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration facility with lithium processing and production capabilities.
Meanwhile, crews are demolishing Alpha-2, a massive former enrichment facility categorized as “high risk” due to its condition and contents.
Preparations are also underway to demolish other sprawling former enrichment facilities at Y-12. These projects will continue enhancing safety and clearing land to support missions at the site.
 Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Manager Jay Mullis, far right, and UCOR President and CEO Ken Rueter, far left, highlight cleanup projects underway at the Y-12 National Security Complex to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, second from right.
Wright also gathered with congressional and business leaders at Oak Ridge’s East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP). The meeting highlighted OREM’s efforts to return government-owned land it has cleaned back to the community to attract new economic development.
Those transfers have been successful in bringing next-generation nuclear companies and significant private investments to Oak Ridge.
OREM has transferred 1,800 acres, including a 24-acre area last month. It will continue adding to that total with a 33-acre tract later this year, and a 667-acre parcel next year.
That land is home to businesses making a projected capital investment of $7 billion, and they expect to generate 1,700 private-sector jobs.
“Our goal is to unleash American energy, and one of the key pillars of that is next-generation nuclear,” said Wright. “We want to get nuclear launched again, and I see that energy, that activity, that land, that willingness to do it right here. I think the nuclear renaissance could begin right here.”
 Y-12 National Security Complex’s important national security missions are conducted near many deteriorated, contaminated facilities dating to the Manhattan Project and Cold War. Pictured here are massive former uranium enrichment buildings at Y-12 that Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management will demolish to eliminate hazards and provide space for new infrastructure.
OREM completed major field work at ETTP last year, culminating more than 20 years of cleanup. Along the way, Oak Ridge became the first site in the world to remove a former enrichment complex, and the first DOE site to pursue reindustrialization.
OREM’s cleanup and transfers have transformed ETTP from a government-owned, shuttered uranium enrichment complex into a privately owned industrial park that has become a hub for nuclear energy development.
“It's a perfect example of unleashing American Energy, taking federal resources with a legacy use, cleaning them up and getting them ready, and turning them over to the private sector to invest private dollars and innovation to grow energy,” Wright added.
-Contributor: Ben Williams
 U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Senior Advisor Roger Jarrell addresses the audience during the plenary session at the annual Waste Management conference. Photo courtesy of WMSymposia
PHOENIX — With the successful cleanup underway at the Oak Ridge Reservation serving as a “North Star,” the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) is entering into a “unique moment” to redefine how it conducts its mission to contribute to broader DOE goals, EM Senior Advisor Roger Jarrell said here last week.
Speaking at this year’s Waste Management conference, Jarrell emphasized how EM’s cleanup activities can contribute to the “golden era” of American energy DOE is working to create, including helping to advance American energy, drive innovation, modernize the U.S. nuclear stockpile and unleash nuclear power.
“EM has a unique moment to contribute to this golden era by helping enable U.S. jobs, U.S. energy and U.S. security, while maintaining a steady record of safe performance and driving down risks,” Jarrell said. “All of us also have a unique moment to re-envision how we do business across the board — to drive efficiency and innovative approaches that will help us contribute to this golden era. I hope you all share my excitement in what we, collectively, can achieve.”
Oak Ridge, the featured site at this year’s conference, serves as a vivid example of how EM’s cleanup activities can help foster new development for surrounding communities, according to Jarrell. EM has completed tearing down the former uranium enrichment process buildings and soil cleanup at the East Tennessee Technology Park section, making land available that is now being used by a number of nuclear companies, including Orano, which has announced plans to build a new modern enrichment facility there.
“What was once a massive gaseous diffusion plant used for nuclear weapons production dating back to the Manhattan Project is now a hub for the American advanced nuclear industry,” Jarrell said.
“The men and women of EM are transforming liabilities into assets … bringing buildings down and building up opportunities for the American people. We know we can do it because we have proven it at Oak Ridge down in Tennessee — that’s our North Star,” he said.
At the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, EM’s cleanup progress is also making land available for transfer to the local community, with businesses expressing interest in locating there, according to Jarrell. Later this spring, EM anticipates beginning demolition of the second of the site’s three former enrichment process buildings.
“We are working to make even more land available for the people of Ohio to grow jobs, expand opportunities for private industry and boost affordable American energy,” Jarrell said.
At the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Jarrell said, EM is preparing for the first land transfer there to the local community. And both the Portsmouth and Paducah sites are home to assets that have the potential for beneficial reuse, such as stocks of nickel.
“We are partnering with American industry to look at recycling nickel no longer needed at Portsmouth and putting it to safe and beneficial reuse. Again, an opportunity to transform a liability into an asset,” he said.
EM Working to ‘Deliver More in Our Mission and Do It at a Better Value’
As EM focuses on conducting cleanup with an eye toward future beneficial uses of land and assets, Jarrell noted the program is also taking a “hard look” at how it conducts operations across the board.
“[Energy] Secretary [Chris] Wright is looking to all of us to work smarter, faster and stronger to deliver more in our mission and do it at a better value for American taxpayers,” Jarrell said.
“Our entire leadership team is rolling up our sleeves and taking a hard look at how we can work smarter, work more strategically and work more efficiently,” he said. “We are driving efficiency through innovation, prioritization, and a focus on reining in schedules, because as we all know … time equals money. And we are looking for opportunities with the potential for the largest cost savings rather than just trimming around the edges.”
The annual Waste Management conference, hosted by WM Symposia, serves as one of the largest events in the world focusing on radioactive waste management and the EM program. The event provides EM an opportunity to engage with industry representatives from around the DOE complex to discuss shared challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration and potential solutions. It serves to help educate college students and early career professionals on the EM mission and to help attract next-generation talent. And, with international participation from over 25 countries, EM has the opportunity to discuss and share ideas with other nations dealing with their own nuclear cleanup issues and collaborate on solutions for effective waste management and facility decommissioning activities as well.
“To industry and to our international partners, and to those just starting out in the nuclear field, we need all eyes and fresh eyes on the challenges we face, and what you think we may be missing,” Jarrell told attendees in his plenary remarks. “We need your ideas, your creativity and your innovation in helping us come up with solutions to meet these challenges.”
-Contributor: Michael Nartker
 U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Senior Advisor Roger Jarrell speaks during a panel session on “hot topics” in the cleanup program at the annual Waste Management conference. Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne is at left. Photo courtesy of WMSymposia
PHOENIX — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) has the potential to play an important role in the “nuclear renaissance” underway in the United States, senior EM leaders said here last week.
The role of EM in helping DOE achieve broader goals, such as unleashing commercial nuclear power, was among the “hot topics” discussed during a panel session at this year’s Waste Management conference.
“It’s the perfect time with the right leadership and the right ideas,” EM Senior Advisor Roger Jarrell said.
As a key example, senior EM leaders cited how the successful cleanup at the Oak Ridge Reservation has led to new nuclear companies choosing to locate there, including those planning new advanced reactors, nuclear fuel fabrication facilities and new enrichment capabilities.
“The opportunity for EM now is to use a proven and mature model for even more success,” Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management Deputy Manager Erik Olds said.
 Kristen Ellis, associate principal deputy assistant secretary for regulatory and policy affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management, speaks during a panel session on “hot topics” in the cleanup program at the annual Waste Management conference. Photo courtesy of WMSymposia
At the Portsmouth Site, companies are also working to site new advanced reactors and enrichment facilities. And near the Paducah Site, crews are getting ready to break ground for a laser uranium enrichment facility that will reutilize stocks of EM-owned depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6), according to Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne.
“It’s pretty cool times,” Bradburne said. “We’ve been looking to Oak Ridge for a long time. … We’ve been learning from them as they’ve made progress.”
Jarrell added, “It would be great to see southern Ohio be part of this renaissance.”
One factor driving successful reuse of land and assets at some EM sites is strong community support and alignment, according to EM officials. The communities around the Portsmouth and Paducah sites are “energy friendly,” Bradburne said, noting that private developers often want certainty as they look to site new projects.
“You’re bringing your own money to the table and want to make sure you’re spending wisely,” Bradburne added.
Local communities near EM sites are being very “forward thinking” about the potentials for reuse and new development, said Kristen Ellis, EM associate principal deputy assistant secretary for regulatory and policy affairs.
“Whatever is next is going to require energy,” Ellis said. “EM is involved in it in new ways than we have in previous years.”
In a message to the students and early career professionals at this year’s conference, Ellis said: “You can have a full and promising career in this work. … There’s no denying we’re going to be part of the nuclear renaissance.”
-Contributor: Michael Nartker
 Before and after views of the Building 251 demolition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in late 2024.
Heavy Elements Facility contributed to discovery of new chemical elements before ending operations in 1989
LIVERMORE, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) is preparing to remove a building slab at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) after crews successfully removed hazards from a historic facility and demolished it late last year.
“This successful D&D means that the significant risks at three of the four highest-risk excess facilities have now been removed: Building 175, Building 280 reactor and Building 251,” said Kevin Bazzell, EM’s federal project director for LLNL and nearby Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
LLNL was established in 1952 to meet urgent national security needs by advancing nuclear weapons science and technology. EM deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) activities support the laboratory and were initiated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which directed DOE to D&D the Building 280 Pool Type Reactor and other excess facilities at LLNL to pave the way for new facilities on the laboratory’s 1-square-mile footprint. The cleanup program continues its site excess facility D&D mission at five other areas at LLNL, including Building 280.
EM and National Nuclear Security Administration site contractor Lawrence Livermore National Security are preparing to clear the concrete slab from the site of Building 251. Following that, the site will be available for new laboratory mission execution.
“Safely removing one of the most contaminated buildings onsite is a huge milestone for the partnered teams of EM and laboratory staff,” Bazzell added. “We are thrilled to be a part of the building’s evolution, creating space for new mission elements and modernized infrastructure.”
Building 251 is one of four high-risk facilities slated for removal by EM at LLNL. Demolishing Building 251 also marks successful completion of the first task order awarded under a nationwide deactivation, decommissioning and removal contract.
In the final weeks of 2024, trucks shipped the last three containers of waste from the Building 251 demolition to an offsite disposal facility in Clive, Utah. In total, more than 220 trucks carried over 250 containers of waste to the disposal facility following five months of Building 251 demolition work. Abatement and hazard removal, vent duct removal and decontamination preceded the teardown. EM finished restoring the site late last year.
Also known as the Heavy Elements Facility, Building 251 was constructed in 1956 and operated until 1989. At its height, the facility housed chambers and technology designed to safely handle radioactive materials and contributed to the discovery of new elements, including seaborgium, moscovium, tennessine and oganesson.
-Contributor: Stephanie Shewmon
 Idaho Cleanup Project demolition crews prepare to pull down a large, steel Accelerated Retrieval Project enclosure at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — After successfully completing their mission in one of the largest demolition projects in Idaho National Laboratory Site history, members of the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) workforce are being trained for other cleanup work at the site.
Last year, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management crews with contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) removed the three remaining enclosures at the Accelerated Retrieval Project (ARP) several months ahead of schedule. The large tent-like enclosures, which supported exhumation of buried waste at the Subsurface Disposal Area, totaled more than 520,000 square feet of space. This project was completed as part of Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act activities in Idaho and in accordance with federal code regulating government property removal.
Nearly two dozen employees transitioned from the ARP decontamination and demolition (D&D) project to other D&D and waste management projects, including the Naval Reactors Facility (NRF) D&D project.
 Idaho Cleanup Project crews perform deactivation activities at the Aircraft Carrier 1st Generation Westinghouse prototype, including hazardous materials removal, prior to beginning demolition of the facility.
Shawna Burtenshaw, IEC’s senior manager over D&D operations projects, recognizes the impact of the additional workers to that project’s mission.
“Those who joined our team were already trained as D&D skilled workers and transitioned seamlessly with minimal additional training,” Burtenshaw said. “Their impact was felt immediately as we have been able to more effectively distribute the available work among our teams.”
The NRF D&D project is decommissioning and demolishing three legacy naval reactor prototype vessels: the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse (S1W), the Aircraft Carrier 1st Generation Westinghouse (A1W) and the Submarine 5th Generation General Electric (S5G).
D&D of the S1W is on track for completion this year. A1W and S5G were transferred to IEC ahead of schedule and are in the early stages of D&D.
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Idaho Cleanup Project crews treat and repackage transuranic waste for eventual shipment for offsite disposal. |
Former ARP D&D employees are also using remote-handling capabilities to treat and repackage transuranic waste inside two hot cells at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC). The hot cells — large concrete enclosures with shielded glass and mechanical manipulators that allow operators to safely handle highly radioactive or hazardous materials — were constructed to assist in the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing mission at INTEC until 1992.
The D&D workers are receiving qualifications to perform work as operators and waste handlers and will support efforts to prepare waste packages for eventual shipment for offsite disposal. Their work helps ICP meet an important commitment to the state of Idaho.
Other former ARP D&D employees are supporting maintenance crews at INTEC, where their efforts ensure safety for employees who work at the facility.
IEC President and Program Manager Dan Coyne recognizes the impact of these employees and the importance of maintaining an experienced, skilled workforce.
“There is no doubt that our workforce is our greatest asset, and the success of our cleanup efforts is directly reflected in their commitment to safely and effectively completing our mission each day,” said Coyne. “Idahoans can be proud of the work our employees perform.”
 Crews from Hanford Field Office contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company are removing equipment used in last summer’s project to drain contaminated water from a 1-million-gallon reactor basin that held radioactive fuel rods.
RICHLAND, Wash. — Sometimes major cleanup projects require some, well, post-cleanup cleanup.
A crew with Hanford Field Office contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company is removing equipment and materials left from completing a high-profile project last summer at the former K West Reactor.
The project to drain nearly 1 million gallons of radioactive water from the reactor’s spent-fuel basin and stabilize the basin with grout was a significant achievement in Hanford’s mission to reduce risk along the nearby Columbia River. The work is part of a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act action.
This winter, the team disconnected 25 hoses that moved wastewater from the basin through a filtration system.
The hoses, made of thick synthetic rubber, are like those at gas station pumps, but larger. They range from 10 to 40 feet long and are connected by stainless steel fittings. Workers used absorbent materials to catch any contaminated water during disconnection.
“This work is important for ensuring a safe environment for future demolition activities, including eventual removal of the basin,” said Scott Green, a deputy assistant manager with the Hanford Field Office.
With the hoses disconnected, the team is now removing filters, pumps, valves and debris for disposal at Hanford’s Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility. Crews expect to complete the project this spring.
“We’re taking a careful approach to help ensure worker safety,” said Dane Idler, the contractor’s demolition team leader. “The crews are making great progress.”
The K West and East reactors, built in the 1950s, were part of Hanford’s plutonium production. Their basins stored spent fuel temporarily before it was moved for plutonium extraction.
 Workers use two layers of thick materials to cover the existing roof of the X-330 Process Building at the Portsmouth Site.
PIKETON, Ohio — X-330, the last of three former uranium enrichment process buildings set for demolition at the Portsmouth Site, received a new roof to prepare the building for deactivation, a necessary step before its teardown.
“Deactivation requires a lot of work inside the building,” Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis said. “By making sure the workspace is covered and free of standing water and minimizing environmental hazards, the entire process of deactivation is safer.”
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) cleanup progress at the X-330 Process Building and the rest of the former Portsmouth uranium enrichment plant is helping enable new opportunities for the local community to continue advancing U.S. energy and security goals, contributing to the goal of ushering in a new golden era of American energy dominance.
Workers at X-330 used an overlaying method of two thick membrane covers over the existing roof, which did not require any removal before installation. By using this method, areas such as vents were sealed using flashing materials.
“It may seem strange to see crews replacing the roof of a building that is being prepped for demolition, but it is a necessary measure,” said Jason Scarberry, director of deactivation for Fluor-BWXT-Portsmouth, EM's decontamination and decommissioning contractor for the site. “The building's roof was in dire need of repair. Lessons learned from deactivation at other sites like Oak Ridge let us know that this was a necessary task.”
 Crews replaced the roof of the X-333 Process Building before completing deactivation of the facility late last year.
The building is not temperature controlled, so when water enters, it creates a hazard for workers with slippery conditions and freezing in the winter. If water gets into areas that are radiologically contaminated, it can create numerous issues, including the potential spread of contamination, interference with travel paths and safety concerns.
Crews completed repairs to the site’s other two process buildings prior to deactivation activities, as well. They fixed sections of the roof of the X-326 Process Building before deactivating and demolishing the structure, and replaced the entire roof of the X-333 Process Building before finishing deactivation of the 33-acre facility late last year.
Crews finished roof repairs at the X-330 Process Building in three and a half months. Deactivation activities are currently underway and are expected to be completed in about five years.
-Contributor: Shawn Jordan
 The Savannah River Site’s new electrofishing boat enhances sampling efforts to ensure public safety.
AIKEN, S.C. — The Savannah River Site (SRS) recently acquired a new state-of-the-art electrofishing boat to bolster sampling efforts as part of work to survey the effects of its operations on people and natural resources surrounding the site.
Each year, a team from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) collects approximately 420 fish from the Savannah River using electrofishing. This method creates an electric current in the water to momentarily stun fish for sampling without harming them.
“The acquisition of this cutting-edge electrofishing boat provides our team with more efficient, reliable and safer means to perform our routine collections,” SRNS Environmental Monitoring Operations Lead Jesse Baxley said. “New safety features, like the dual-pedal activation, means better control of the current, which translates to safer responses to the ever-changing conditions on the Savannah River.”
 Environmental monitoring specialists perform sampling of the Savannah River approximately two times per month from April to September to ensure the health of species and natural resources surrounding the Savannah River Site.
The team collects fish species representative of those commonly caught and consumed by local fishers and their families. They include bass, panfish and catfish located along the SRS boundary, as well as mullet and shellfish in the coastal waters of Savannah, Georgia.
SRS operates robust programs that ensure safety and compliance with federal, state and local regulations along with DOE orders. The environmental monitoring specialists obtain scientific collection permits and a fishing license, and ensure fish being sampled meet legal size requirements set by the South Carolina and Georgia departments of Natural Resources.
The new boat, equipped with current industry-standard electrical equipment, offers improved safety measures and controls, allowing adaptation to changing conditions on the water.
Using an onboard generator, the boat produces an electric current that is sent through steel cables on two arrays at the bow of the boat and into the water. Enhanced center-console settings provide more control over electrical parameters such as voltage, providing the ability to fine tune the fish being targeted and reduce the overall environmental impact.
The team determines the sampling locations, frequency of sampling, types of analysis and other aspects of the work based on environmental regulations, exposure pathways, public concerns and measurement capabilities. Team members take the samples to the SRNS Environmental Bioassay Lab for radiological and non-radiological analysis.
 Environmental Monitoring Specialist John Arena lowers steel cables into the water to prepare for sampling efforts.
With public safety being a primary focus at the site, SRNS Environmental Monitoring Operations also collects samples from soil, sediment, river and stream water, air, crops, dairies, drinking water, vegetation, livestock, and wildlife from the site and surrounding communities.
“Our work takes us all over the Central Savannah River Area, interacting with outside organizations and the public to complete sample collection,” said Baxley. “Analyzed results are reported to the Department of Energy, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, downstream stakeholders and the public by means of the Annual Site Environmental Report, ensuring transparency and how the site is protecting the public and the environment while performing essential missions.”
Environmental Monitoring Specialist Trey Anderson believes the most rewarding part of the work is keeping the community safe.
“As someone who was born and raised in the area, the work we do is personal, and I am honored to be a part of a team who ensures the safety of the public, myself and my loved ones,” Anderson said.
-Contributor: Fallan Flatow
RICHLAND, Wash. — The Hanford Site’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant recently received more than 3,500 gallons of sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye. Workers will use the chemical to treat hazardous gasses generated during the plant’s waste vitrification process, ensuring that plant emissions meet requirements from the Washington State departments of Ecology and Health. During vitrification, waste from Hanford's underground tanks will be mixed with glass-forming materials in high-temperature melters for safe disposal. In addition to treating emissions, workers use the chemical to simulate Hanford tank waste during melter testing. Many industries use sodium hydroxide as a versatile chemical. However, workers must treat it like other industrial chemicals: as a hazardous substance. To help ensure safe handling of the hazardous chemical, workers follow strict safety protocols, including storing it in an isolated tank at the plant.
 Team members from Roswell’s New Mexico Military Institute celebrate their second year of victory in the second annual Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science Bowl as Salado Isolation Mining Contractors President and Program Manager Ken Harrawood, far left, and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Carlsbad Field Office Manager Mark Bollinger, far right, present a trophy and gift certificates to the students and coach.
CARLSBAD, N.M. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management Carlsbad Field Office and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) recently held the second annual Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science Bowl, one of the nation’s leading academic science competitions.
The event saw a significant increase in participation, with almost double the number of teams compared to last year’s inaugural competition.
 Students compete for first place at the second annual U.S. Department of Energy Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science Bowl hosted by Southeast New Mexico College.
After hours of intense competition, the team from Roswell’s New Mexico Military Institute showcased outstanding expertise in math and science and took first place for the second year in a row, earning a coveted spot at DOE’s National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., set for April 24-28.
Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO), the management and operations contractor for WIPP, Navarro Research and Engineering and others sponsored the event. Ten area high school teams participated, including Carlsbad, Hobbs and Carlsbad Early College high schools. They were joined by community members, organizations and many volunteers at Carlsbad’s Southeast New Mexico College for the exciting and challenging event.
-Contributor: Joy James-Foster
 This year's winner of the Savannah River Regional Science Bowl, Lakeside High School Team 1 from Evans, Georgia, earned a trip to the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C. From left: David Wang, Matias Riveros-Amado, Jerry Fan, George Zhou, Arnav Patel and Coach David Arrington.
Challenging America’s brightest in one of the most prestigious academic science competitions
AIKEN, S.C. — Future scientists, engineers and mathematicians recently put their knowledge to the test during the annual U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Regional Science Bowl at the University of South Carolina Aiken.
Lakeside High School Team 1 of Evans, Georgia, emerged victorious among the 63 participants from 10 high schools, earning a trip to DOE’s National Science Bowl competition in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 24-28. Lakeside High School Team 2 secured second place, while Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School claimed third.
Coordinated by the Education Outreach Program of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), a DOE Office of Environmental Management contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS), the event attracted 14 teams from South Carolina and the greater Augusta, Georgia, area.
"Sponsoring STEM events like the Science Bowl is crucial for DOE and SRNS because it brings awareness and exposure to students," said Cindy Hewitt, SRNS education outreach specialist. "They see how math and science impact the world around them and learn about career opportunities at SRS."
David Arrington, coach of the Lakeside High School teams, explained that the school holds tryouts and practices year-round to prepare for the competition.
“My students have grown tremendously, both independently and as a team. Science Bowl brings a competitive edge to science education, encouraging a deeper love for the subject,” said Arrington.
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Teams from Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School of Augusta, Georgia, and Aiken Scholars Academy prepare for practice rounds. |
Team members from Augusta Preparatory Day School in Georgia prepare for a brain teaser activity with the American Chemical Society. |
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Teams 1 and 2 from Lakeside High School face off in the final round of the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Regional Science Bowl. |
Jerry Fan, a senior on Lakeside High School Team 1, reflected on his team’s journey.
"We've worked hard for this moment, and it feels fantastic. I started participating in Science Bowl back in seventh grade, and my interest has only grown, particularly in biology and physics,” Fan said. “We're ready to take home the trophy at nationals."
Each team, comprised of five students and one coach, compete in a fast-paced question-and-answer format similar to the television show “Jeopardy!” The questions span academic disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, space science, physics, energy and math.
Silver Bluff High School of Aiken participated in the regional event for the first time this year.
"I'm extremely proud of our teams’ dedication and commitment. Despite their busy schedules, they never missed a practice,” said Silver Bluff coach Rachel Harrell.
Volunteers from multiple site contractors, including judges, scorekeepers, moderators, and timekeepers, made the regional tournament possible.
"I love watching competitors be so enthusiastic about STEM," said Greyam Hayes, SRNS design authority engineer. "You see their confidence grow with each 'buzz' in."
Teams from across the U.S. compete in 65 regional tournaments to advance to the DOE National Science Bowl. Approximately 344,000 students have faced off in the finals.
-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb
 The 2025 South Central Ohio High School Regional Science Bowl back-to-back champions, Valley High School. From left, Portsmouth Site Federal Project Director Jud Lilly, Valley High Coach Justin Howard, Allen Smith, Nathan Cooper, Marcus Franke, Myles DeAtley, Abigail Gullett, Fluor-BWXT Environmental Remediation Director Jyh-Dong Chiou and Portsmouth Site Federal Project Director Christie Brown.
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) Portsmouth Site recently hosted the South Central Ohio High School Regional Science Bowl, where Valley High School reigned as the champion for the second year in a row and third time altogether.
DOE’s 13th annual regional science competition at Shawnee State University drew 32 teams from 17 schools from Pike, Scioto, and Ross counties.
“The high level of competition this year is a reflection of all the hard work and preparation these students put in for this event,” Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis said. “Congratulations to Valley High School on their win. Best of luck at the National Science Bowl.”
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Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis welcomes students to the 13th annual South Central Ohio High School Regional Science Bowl. The event was held on the Shawnee State University campus. |
Valley High will join 63 other regional winners from across the country to compete in the 35th annual National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., April 24-28.
This year, schools could enter up to three teams in the regional event. Wheelersburg High School came in second place, and Portsmouth and Zane Trace high schools reached the semi-finals.
“Our goal coming in was to repeat last year’s win, and Wheelersburg put up a good fight,” Valley High Coach Justin Howard said. “This year’s questions were challenging. It’s just exciting to get the win again this year.”
 This year, 32 teams from 17 schools participated in the 13th annual South Central Ohio High School Regional Science Bowl. The final four teams were Valley, Wheelersburg, Portsmouth and Zane Trace high schools.
More than 60 volunteers from EM and Portsmouth Site contractors, including Fluor-BWXT-Portsmouth, Enterprise Technical Assistance Services, and Mid-America Conversion Services, served as moderators, timekeepers, rules judges and runners for the event.
“Every year our volunteers work hard to make sure all students have a fantastic experience,” Portsmouth Site Program Analyst and Federal Coordinator Greg Simonton said. “Many of these volunteers return year after year to support the program, and it is great to see their commitment to promoting educational opportunities in southern Ohio.”
DOE created the national competition in 1991 to encourage more students to pursue careers in science and math. Since then, more than 344,000 students have competed in the nation’s largest science competition.
-Contributor: Cindi Remy
 Students in Cole Hebdon’s class at Sandcreek Middle School in Ammon, Idaho, use materials bought with Idaho Environmental Coalition’s Full STEAM Ahead in the Classroom grants to make robots.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — An Idaho Cleanup Project contractor has provided funding to 15 classrooms in southeastern Idaho to support local educators and encourage the next generation of workers to pursue technical careers.
Through its Full STEAM Ahead in the Classroom grant program, Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC), the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) cleanup contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site, empowers teachers by providing funds to supplement lesson plans and employ innovative approaches to teach science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) in classrooms.
As technical industries work to overcome the challenges of an aging workforce, inspiring the next generation of workers to pursue technical careers is essential to the success of the EM mission across the country. STEAM learning engages young minds in ways that facilitate technical understanding and is critical to the nation’s ability to meet its workforce development needs.
Taylor Permann teaches art at Rigby High School, in Rigby, Idaho. Permann received a Full STEAM Ahead grant to purchase more adequate tools and materials to enhance art education for her students.
“Here at the high school, I must find ways to fund my program,” Permann said. “With this grant, I was able to get items that students for years have asked to have, but that I could not provide with my limited budget.”
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Students at Rigby High School in Rigby, Idaho, use materials purchased through Idaho Environmental Coalition’s Full STEAM Ahead in the Classroom grant program, which encourages innovation in their design and critical thinking skills. |
IEC funding allowed Permann’s students to receive items such as art and pottery glazes they requested. The students are now learning new techniques and processes that help challenge their critical thinking skills and encourage them to be innovative in their designs, Permann said.
Cole Hebdon teaches 3D modeling and robotics at Sandcreek Middle School in Ammon, Idaho. He used IEC’s grant funds to advance his students’ understanding of robotics and engineering.
“I have created a class that teaches students how to use an engineering program, Fusion 360, to design and build robots that are meant to battle one another. It is just like the television show 'BattleBots,' but on a much smaller scale,” Hebdon said. “Without these grants, I would not be able to introduce students to the exciting world of engineering, with hands-on experiences. It also makes it more exciting and gets the attention of more students.”
-Contributor: Leamarie Mitchell
 Daniel Kaplan takes a reading from a riparian wetland on the Savannah River Site. Kaplan is a senior research scientist at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, an associate director of the university's Research Institute and lead investigator of a study on water movement in wetlands and its role in filtering contaminants in the Tims Branch watershed, a riparian wetland on the site. (Photo courtesy of Savannah River National Laboratory).
AIKEN, S.C. — Researchers at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory studied water movement in wetlands and its role in filtering contaminants in the Tims Branch watershed, a riparian wetland on the Savannah River Site.
“We chose this area specifically to understand how water moves. This allows us to predict how wetlands hold onto contaminants,” said Daniel Kaplan, a senior research scientist at the laboratory, associate director of the University of Georgia’s Research Institute and lead investigator of the study.
The research team collected monthly water samples from rainfall, streams and groundwater at different sites within the watershed. By analyzing stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, they traced how different water sources mixed over time. The team members collected additional measurements that helped determine how groundwater chemistry influenced stream water quality.
The study found that groundwater renewed at 2 to 4% per day, taking about two to four weeks to mix fully. Groundwater contributed up to 4% of stream water in some areas, while stream water comprised nearly 70% of groundwater in others.
These exchanges shifted seasonally, with groundwater flowing into streams more in winter and stream water seeping into the soil in summer, influencing water quality and contaminate movement.
The movement of water within the environment is a key factor in assessing the distribution of various heavy metals and contaminants, including uranium, throughout a riparian wetland. Effective environmental management is crucial to ensuring the health and safety of the Central Savannah River Area, a region of Georgia and South Carolina close to the Savannah River and Augusta, Georgia.
“For future work, we hope to utilize this hydrological model with other studies to improve contaminant management and reduce risks to both human and environmental health across the Central Savannah River Area and DOE complex,” Kaplan said.
-Contributors: Katrina Ford, Tyjaha Steele
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