Join ECA TOMORROW for a virtual federal budget briefing
ECA Staff | 2/23/2022
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The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) will host a virtual federal budget and appropriations process briefing on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 2-3 pm Eastern (noon to 1 pm MT / 11 am to noon PT). With the President’s budget expected next month, new infrastructure spending, and FY 22 appropriations still in a continuing resolution, this meeting will help prepare you and your communities for what lies ahead for the federal
budget and identify how the federal budget process works.
REGISTER HERE
The meeting is free to attend.
We will be joined by Steve Trischman, Director of Budget and Planning in DOE’s Office of Environmental Management.
Additionally, we welcome you to invite others in your communities to this event. For regular updates on the DOE Budget, please visit our budget tracking page at http://www.energyca.org/budget-tracker.
Key 2022 Budget Dates:
March 11: The Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY 2022 - the current budget year - federal government funding expires.
March 7: The Federal FY 2023 Administration Budget Request would typically be due to Congress (and FY 2024 funding Senate and House hearings would begin) on February 7. However, this year's budget is expected to be at least one month late. As a reminder, the FY 2022 budget request was released in mid-May in 2021 and this budget request may be delayed if the CR is delayed again.
September 30: FY 2022 federal budget year ends.
November 8: Mid-term elections occur for all House seats, 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate, and 39 State and territorial governors.
If you have any questions, please contact ECA Program Director Dylan Kama at dylank@energyca.org.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
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MARCH 1 & 2, 2022
The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Board) will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, and Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to review information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) activities related to spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Specifically, the meeting will cover research and development (R&D) on SNF and
HLW storage, transportation, non-site-specific disposal, DOE’s integrated waste management system, and its consent-based siting process to identify federal interim storage facilities.
Details for joining and viewing the meeting will be available on the Board’s website (www.nwtrb.gov) approximately one week before the meeting. The meeting will begin on both days at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST) and is scheduled to adjourn at approximately 5:00 p.m. EST.
The meeting will be open to the public and there will be opportunities for public comments.
MARCH 4, 2022
The Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Request for Information (RFI) on how to site Federal facilities for the temporary, consolidated storage of spent nuclear fuel using a consent-based approach.
Responses to the RFI will inform development of a consent-based siting process, overall strategy for an integrated waste management system, and possibly a funding opportunity. DOE especially welcomes insight from people, communities, and groups that have historically not been well-represented in these discussions.
Responses must be received by March 4, 2022 by 5:00pm ET and may be submitted electronically to consentbasedsiting@hq.doe.gov, including “RFI: Consent-Based Siting and Federal Interim Storage” in the subject line of the email.
MARCH 8, 2022
The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to notify interested parties of DOE's intent to solicit applications for certification of nuclear reactors for eligibility to submit of sealed bids for the Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program credits from nuclear reactor owners or operators that are at risk of ceasing operations due to economic factors and intent to request sealed bids from certified reactors for allocation of available
credits.
The Department also seeks input from all stakeholders through a Request for Information regarding the establishment of a CNC Program including the application, certification, and selection processes.
Written comments and information are requested on or before March 17, 2022. The Department intends to develop initial draft guidance for the certification applications during the NOI/RFI comment period. It is strongly preferred that respondents comment on issues affecting certification directly via the email address (rfi-cnc@nuclear.energy.gov) by March 8, 2022.
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DOE selects new members to nuclear advisory team, revises function and focus
DOE-NE | 2/9/2022
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced the appointment of eleven nuclear science, business, academic, and industry leaders to the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee (NEAC). The new members are joining a revised and refocused NEAC, which falls under the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE).
NEAC was established in 1998 and meets biannually to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy on several issues, including:
- National policy and scientific aspects of nuclear issues of concern to DOE,
- Periodic reviews of the various program elements within DOE’s nuclear programs and recommendations based thereon,
- The needs, views, and priorities of partners of DOE’s nuclear programs, and long-range plans, priorities, and strategies to address more effectively the technical, financial, and policy aspects of such programs,
- And appropriate levels of resources to develop those plans, priorities, and strategies.
DOE recognizes NEAC’s critical role in providing independent advice in helping plan, manage, and implement its nuclear energy program. It has identified the need to revise the existing structure to streamline and focus NEAC into a proactive and agile group of energy experts who can advise on current priorities rather than reviewing projects and initiatives that have already been completed.
“A change in the structure and focus in NEAC will help DOE act more quickly and effectively to research advances in nuclear power to meet the nation's energy, environmental, and national security needs,” said Andy Griffith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain. “The past members of NEAC provided contributions that led to significant advances in nuclear energy, and we are looking forward to working with this new team.”
Per NEAC’s charter, members are experts in their respective fields and are appointed as special representatives of entities such as research facilities, academic and policy-centered institutions, and industry organizations.
The new members of NEAC are:
- International Perspective - Bill Magwood (Chair)
- Tribal Perspective - Richard Arnold
- Used Nuclear Fuel Perspective - Lake H. Barrett
- Utility Distribution Perspective - Frederick S. Bresler III
- Engineering, Public Policy and National Security Perspective - Dr. Michael Ford
- Engineering and National Security Perspective - J’Tia Hart
- Private Investment and Financial Perspective - Edward Kee
- Industry Perspective - Maria Korsnick
- Advanced Reactor R&D Perspective - Kemal Pasamehmetoglu
- University Perspective - Dr. Raluca Scarlat
- Social Studies of Science and Technology Perspective - Dr. Sonja Schmid
NEAC meetings are open to the public. Learn more about NEAC, its role in advancing nuclear energy, and the new membership here.
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Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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