October Energycast Now Available
 In this episode, meet the team behind a critical 2.5-year piping replacement project supporting daily operations and ongoing missions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. On the lab's central campus, see how crews demolished ten Isotope Row buildings in just a few months, reducing risk and opening space for future research. We also follow the Orano Group’s CEO on his first visit to the planned site of Project IKE, a $5 billion uranium enrichment facility. Meanwhile, Amentum opened its new global nuclear headquarters amid Oak Ridge's growing nuclear industry. Finally, we recognize the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office reindustrialization teams for earning the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award.
Oak Ridge Delivers Strong Safety Record
OREM and UCOR reached major cleanup milestones in fiscal year 2026 while maintaining a strong safety record. Crews logged more than 1.3 million safe work hours as they tackled some of the nation’s most complex environmental cleanup challenges across the Oak Ridge Reservation. Read more about the year’s standout safety achievements and cleanup progress.
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Remote Monitoring Upgrades Strengthen Waste Management
 OREM and UCOR are advancing innovation and safety in DOE’s nuclear cleanup mission through major infrastructure upgrades at the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF). Following tank repairs and installation of a real-time remote monitoring system, crews can use smartphones to track millions of gallons of landfill wastewater, including tank levels, inflow rates, and high-level alarms.
Innovative Problem Solving Averts Cleanup Delay
 Innovative mechanical problem solving led OREM and UCOR to achieve significant cost savings and dodge a months-long project delay at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. By developing an in-house engineering solution to repair a specialized remote manipulator arm inside the legacy Building 3029 hot cells, crews avoided delay-related expenses while preventing up to six months of project downtime.
Community Learns about Cleanup Progress, 2027 Priorities
OREM recently hosted a community open house to showcase cleanup progress and outline priorities for 2027. More than 60 people attended the event featuring poster stations staffed by experts from OREM and cleanup contractor United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR), who explained how current cleanup reduces environmental risks, supports national security and scientific missions, expands land reuse opportunities and even converts legacy materials into cancer treatment isotopes.
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Oak Ridge Ingenuity Leads to Cost Savings
 The U.S. Department of Energy’s mission to clean up legacy facilities is moving faster and smarter at the Oak Ridge Reservation. Through innovation and efficiency, OREM and UCOR achieved millions of dollars in cost savings in fiscal year 2026, helping pave the way for the future. Watch this video to learn more about how the team is achieving these goals.
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