U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) sites across the country are taking steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change and reduce their carbon footprints. EM sites are implementing new water and energy conservation measures, installing onsite renewable energy systems and updating vehicle fleets with 300 electric and hybrid vehicles already purchased. The world’s largest environmental cleanup remains committed to further reducing greenhouse gas emissions and overall energy use at cleanup sites. EM also supports measures to improve efficiency among its sites using LED lighting and more efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment and electronics, all while encouraging sustainability within the workforce and supply chains.
Hydrogeologist Jeff Wurtz of the Environmental Management Nevada program speaks with residents of rural Nye County during an Earth Day event on April 20. The event was held at the Bob Ruud Community Center in Pahrump, Nevada. Wurtz showed area residents an “ant farm” display, demonstrating a groundwater flow model concept and other concepts such as hydraulic gradient, water transport and the effects of pumping wells.
In celebration of Earth Day, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) employees and contractors submitted their best photos depicting the beauty and magnificence of the world for a contest. Photos fall under one of four categories: wildlife, scenery, foliage, and sustainability projects or activities. The submitted photos are displayed onsite and at the Ashford Office Complex for team members to view and vote for their favorite photo. West Valley will award a trophy to the winner in each category following the voting period, which ends April 30. “This Earth Day activity helps create awareness of nature’s beauty and reinforces the importance of environmental stewardship for everyone,” said Julie Sansone, environmental engineer with CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, EM’s cleanup contractor at West Valley.
Additionally, students from local high schools compete in the 2024 Cattaraugus County Envirothon this Wednesday with support from WVDP. The Envirothon is an outdoor, hands-on environmental competition that emphasizes teamwork while testing students’ knowledge in aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and a current environmental issue topic, which this year is renewable energy for a sustainable future. Teams work together to complete exams at different stations, identifying various species of trees, wildlife and fish on display, and answer questions about habitat and other environmental related issues. A presentation on the current issue topic is rated as part of each team’s score. The Envirothon competition encourages student interest in the environment and reinforces the importance of protecting natural resources. Scores for the five exams are totaled, and the team with the highest cumulative total wins the competition.
The One Hanford team is all about cleanup. In honor of Earth Day, a group of employee volunteers recently spent their free time giving back to the community and cleaning up a local park. The team expressed pride for its contribution to cleanup progress at the Hanford Site and surrounding community.
In honor of Earth Day, members of the Green Team for U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Paducah Site infrastructure contractor Swift & Staley Inc. set up collection points across the site to recycle plastic. The group collected approximately 50 pounds of plastic items for recycling. Those who brought items were rewarded with reusable bags for their efforts and to educate others on further recycling opportunities.
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), the Savannah River Site (SRS) liquid waste contractor, celebrated Earth Day by participating in a local Earth Day event. Several SRMC employees from the Environmental Compliance and Operational & Informational Technology groups participated in the city of Aiken, South Carolina, Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20. The SRMC exhibit appealed to all audiences from K-12 to adults and featured an interactive robot, games, and information about the meaningful cleanup work that SRMC performs to achieve its tank waste cleanup mission for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management. SRNL volunteers helped students create clouds in a bottle by mimicking the part of Earth’s water cycle in which evaporated water, or water vapor, cools and condenses, forming clouds as they connect with dust. In the experiment, alcohol acts like the dust, providing something cool for water droplets to attach to. When students pressurized the soda bottle by pumping air in, the air molecules collided with each other and warmed the bottle. Releasing the pressure causes the water vapor to condense quickly, forming a cloud.
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Office of Environmental Management
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585
202-586-7709
Office of Environmental Management
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585
202-586-7709
An office of