DOE Office of Environmental Management

Seven kittens were discovered inside a mud mixer at a disposal facility expansion project at the Idaho National Laboratory Site. Just 40 days after being found, all the kittens had been adopted—and that’s what we call “A PURRFECT ENDING!” #WorldAnimalsDay Full story: https://bit.ly/4gP6H3F

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and EM is committed to fostering a workplace where everyone matters and every individual, regardless of ability, is empowered to contribute their unique talents. We continue to build a stronger, more innovative EM community by embracing inclusivity and advancing access and equity. Join us as we highlight the importance of disability inclusion and celebrate the incredible contributions of workers with disabilities. Together, we can create a more accessible, equitable, and diverse workforce! 💼✨ #NDEAM2024 #InclusivityMatters #EveryoneMatters #AccessibilityAtWork

In a recent visit to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary David Turk and EM Senior Advisor Candice Robertson took a tour that went 2,000 feet into Earth where transuranic waste is being emplaced in mined salt beds. The visit also included a surface tour of the new Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System project set to come online in 2026. That system will increase airflow to the underground up to 540,000 cubic feet per minute, enhancing worker safety. Pictured: Turk is pictured at center in the foreground, second from right, and Robertson is pictured in the foreground, fourth from right. Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) Manager Mark Bollinger is at right of Robertson and CBFO Deputy Manager Betsy Forinash is at right of Turk. They are surrounded by employees of DOE headquarters, CBFO and WIPP management and operations contractor Salado Isolation Mining Contractors.

EM's Savannah River Site has welcomed six high school students from the area to participate in the inaugural Youth Apprenticeship program, providing students with opportunities to gain early professional development experience. Operated by EM contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the two-year program enables rising high school juniors and seniors to complete on-the-job training within departments across the site, including information technology, fire protection and site training. Upon completing the program, students earn a certificate recognizing them as a youth apprentice from the U.S. Department of Labor. They’re allowed to continue the program for up to a year after graduation, and then have the option to transfer to the adult Apprenticeship Program. Find out what others have to say about the Youth Apprenticeship program and how to qualify at https://lnkd.in/eZzFDSja.

ICYMI: Check out a special wrap-up story on the #NationalCleanupWorkshop, held Sept. 16-18 in Arlington, Virginia. The annual event, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, drew 780 in-person and 39 virtual attendees this year! Hosted by Energy Communities Alliance with the cooperation of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management and the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG), it's the premier annual gathering to discuss progress in environmental cleanup of former government weapons sites and nuclear research facilities. Read the National Cleanup Workshop Wrap-up here: https://lnkd.in/eFgTJZMu.

Check out this collection of EM cleanup progress updates for September! We’re tackling our priorities! Find these stories and much more at https://bit.ly/3B6VIOs!

Since 1980, World Tourism Day on September 27th has underscored the importance of sustainable and inclusive tourism. This year’s theme, “Tourism and Peace,” invites us to see travel not just as an opportunity to explore new destinations but as a means to deepen our understanding and connect with the narratives that shape our world! EM’s Atomic Legacy Preservation Network (ALPN) is proud to be part of this global conversation! Our network of museums, historical centers, legacy sites, and other institutions is dedicated to preserving the intricate history of nuclear innovation and its profound impact on our communities, environment, and science. Through our member institutions at ALPN, tourism becomes a bridge to the past, allowing visitors the chance to experience firsthand the legacies that continue to shape our present. As we strive to ensure that America's atomic history is preserved and shared, we recognize that tourism is key in making these stories a vibrant part of our collective heritage! This World Tourism Day, we encourage you to visit the remarkable sites in our network at https://lnkd.in/e4C68dcw. Discover the stories, reflect on their significance, and join us in celebrating the profound connection between past and future. #WorldTourismDay #TourismAndPeace #ALPN #NuclearLegacy 

RACKING UP AWARDS: EM congratulates cleanup contractors across the EM complex for receiving 21 safety focused awards! The DOE Voluntary Protection Program awards recognized their achievements in safety, health, innovation and outreach. Working through cooperative efforts among labor, management and government at DOE contractor sites, VPP promotes improved safety and health performance through public recognition of outstanding programs. These awards highlight the commitment of EM contractors creating safer and healthier work environments, demonstrating excellence in safety practices and setting a high standard for others in the industry to follow. For more on this story and a detailed list of the awardees, visit https://bit.ly/4dcPs9a!

CONNECTING COMMUNITY WITH SCIENCE: The UGA Savannah River Ecology Laboratory recently hosted its annual community engagement event, where more than 1,700 area residents engaged with research conducted by the laboratory’s researchers, staff and graduate students on the Savannah River Site. The Science Saturday event featured a variety of interactive exhibits and presentations that highlighted the laboratory's research activities and the overall mission of SRS to protect the environment. Attendees were able to learn about a wide range of topics from wildlife ecology to radiation safety, biogeochemistry, and much more. Science Saturday is one of several free programs offered at the laboratory, continuing a longstanding tradition of community involvement and investing in future generations. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/4eiI1hH!

EM congratulates three Paducah Site contractors – Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, Swift & Staley and Mid-America Conversion Services – for receiving the 2024 Kentucky Labor Cabinet Governor's Safety and Health Award for their high standard for safety in the industry. “The Governor's Safety and Health Award is a testament to the outstanding safety culture cultivated by the Department of Energy,” EM Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne said. “Their achievements in maintaining a safe work environment demonstrates the unwavering commitment to the health and safety of our site workforce.” Safety is a top priority for EM’s cleanup mission. The award is an excellent testament to the hard work and dedication demonstrated by the contractors in their commitment to protecting their workers.