LM’s Nicole Olin Promoted to Lead Environmental, Health, Safety and Quality Programs

Office of Legacy Management Supervisory Physical Scientist Nicole Olin has been promoted to LM's team lead for LM-25, which includes Environmental, Health, Safety and Quality (ESH&Q) programs.

The ESH&Q program ensures that all LM activities - ranging from site monitoring to long-term maintenance - are performed safely and in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Its primary goals include:

• Protecting Human Health: Safeguarding employees, contractors, and the public from residual radioactive or chemical hazards.
• Environmental Stewardship: Implementing a Joint Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce the ecological impact of work activities and ensuring environmental compliance with all environmental laws, rules and regulations.
• Ensuring Quality: Maintaining high standards for data collection, records management, and long-term surveillance to ensure environmental remedies remain effective for decades.

Paul Kerl, office manager for LM's Field Support Center in Grand Junction, Colorado, said Olin has brought vibrant energy to LM in many capacities, such as environmental compliance, transportation, site manager and program manager.

"She's proven herself not only in her areas of responsibility, but her eagerness to support organizational needs that add value and transcend numerous cross-functional requirements," Kerl said. "She's often sought out growth opportunities in multiple teams and programs, growing capabilities not only in herself, but found every opportunity to enhance and further continuous improvement in all her endeavors, whether they be site specific, programmatic or organizational."

Olin was LM's first dedicated program manager for the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Title II under the leadership of Kerl.

"I am extremely grateful for her assistance in multiple improvements in culture, relationships, process, communication and succession management for this cornerstone program," Kerl said.

Olin joined LM's Asset Management Team in 2020, supporting environmental planning and National Environmental Policy Act document management activities. She has a Bachelor of Science in geoscience from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in geology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Prior to joining LM, Olin served as a DOE Contractor to both the Environmental Management and Legacy Management offices for a collective 15 years.

"This is an incredible opportunity to serve and lead a very competent ESH&Q team and to oversee our contract partner achieve excellence executing these program areas," Olin said. "I'm dedicated to bringing positive and collaborative energy to the team and have a passion for continuous improvement. One area of focus is to have better integration of the ESH&Q programs which may appear to operate independently yet are so critically connected."