ICYMI: Recap of National Cleanup Workshop

Mayor Brent Gerry (left), Mayor of City of West Richland, WA and Chair, ECA and Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk (center), Keynote Speaker at the National Cleanup Workshop

ECA Staff | 9/13/23

The National Cleanup Workshop hosted by the Energy Communities Alliance in cooperation with DOE Office of Environmental Management and EFCOG began on Monday, September 11th. 

ECA is proud to report we had a record-breaking number of attendees. With over 800 people registered for both in-person and virtual attendance. To view the agenda use this link to access the ECA Bulletin. 

The workshop was opened up by the Early Career Professional Session on Monday, September 11th, where those beginning a career in EM had the opportunity to hear from DOE, industry, and community leaders. Use this link to view the agenda for the Early Career Session. 

Yesterday, attendees had the opportunity to hear from our Keynote speaker, Deputy Secretary of Energy, David Turk (pictured above). The Deputy Secretary shared EM's successes across the DOE complex in cleanup. He also highlighted DOE's exciting new Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative that is focused on generating clean energy on DOE-owned lands. We are extremely grateful for his participation remarks. As well as all he does in support of the EM mission. 

Those in attendance also had the opportunity to witness the signing of the U.S.- Canada Bilateral Agreement on Information Sharing on Nuclear Waste Management between DOE-EM and the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. This will open the doors to further collaboration and information sharing on nuclear management. 

Chuck Hope (left), Council Member, City of Oak Ridge, TN and Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn) (right) 

We were also joined by Congressman Fleischmann (R-Tennessee), Chairman of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee. The Congressman reminded attendees that "America's nuclear renaissance" cannot move forward without cleanup at these legacy sites. We are incredibly thankful to the Congressman for taking the time to provide remarks and field some questions. 

Today's speakers include James McConnell, Associate Principal Deputy Administrator of NNSA, our Keynote Speaker. As well as Congressman Newhouse (WA-04) this afternoon. 

Concluding the workshop is the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus Briefing which takes place tonight at 5:00pm. 

ECA is incredibly thankful to DOE-EM and EFCOG for their support and cooperation throughout this workshop. We would also like to thank all those who traveled to be with us. A very special thank you to our ECA members who participated throughout this workshop whether as moderators, panelists, or audience members. 

Chuck Hope (left), Council Member, City of Oak Ridge, TN and Amy Fitzgerald, Government Affairs and Information Services Director, City of Oak Ridge 

See below for more highlights from the National Cleanup Workshop. 

Deputy Secretary Turk, Senior Advisor White Kick Off Cleanup Workshop Today

In his keynote address at the 2023 National Cleanup Workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 12, Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk highlighted EM successes, the Department's Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative and workforce development, among other topics.

EM Update Newsletter | 9/12/23

U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk and EM Senior Advisor William "Ike" White gave remarks today at the start of the 2023 National Cleanup Workshop, which saw a record turnout of attendees.

Hosted by the Energy Communities Alliance with the cooperation of EM and the Energy Facility Contractors Group, the event is a premier annual gathering to discuss progress in environmental cleanup of former government weapons sites and nuclear research facilities.

In his keynote address, Turk shared EM cleanup successes across the DOE complex, detailed workforce development efforts and highlighted the Department's Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative focused on generating clean energy on DOE-owned lands.

"What we're going to do with this program is take some of the lands that you've remediated that we've been working on for so many years, and for the first time ever, begin leasing them out so that developers, other partners can build some of the largest clean energy projects in the world," Turk said.

EM Senior Advisor William "Ike" White speaks about EM's progress and priorities at the start of the 2023 National Cleanup Workshop. "The level of progress that we're seeing is clear across the country," White said. "We're on track again to complete the vast majority of our annual priorities."

White called the workshop an opportunity to discuss the next phase of the cleanup mission.

"In recent years, I think we have reached an inflection point for our EM mission," White said. "We know what waste we have, and we know how to safely treat it. Most of our cleanup capabilities are in place or they're nearly in place, in some cases after decades of planning and construction. We are acting on opportunities to enable continued success."

Read more about the addresses by Turk and White as well as other workshop highlights in next week's EM Update newsletter due out Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Check out ECA's latest report! 

DISPOSAL DRIVES CLEANUP: RE-ENERGIZING MOMENTUM FOR DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE

This report calls on the Department of Energy to launch the initiative to develop the actual waste disposition approaches. The Department could potentially save hundreds of billions of dollars in cleanup costs by using its available tools and implementing the report’s recommendations.

NEW MEDIA

Gone Fission Nuclear Report - Stuart MacVean

This week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast features an in-depth interview with Stuart MacVean, recently retired President and CEO of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). MacVean looks back on his four decades in the nuclear industry and discusses the challenges that remain in the DOE environmental cleanup program and his plans for the future.