ECA Update: FY25 NDAA HAPPENINGS AND SCHEDULE; and more
Published: Wed, 06/05/24
Updated: Wed, 06/05/24
BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
FY2025 NDAA HAPPENINGS AND SCHEDULE
ECA Staff | 06/05/2024
After the FY24 NDAA passed in December, members of Congress shifted their attention to the FY25 NDAA. The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) began accepting requests for amendments from its members from February 1 to March 1.
On May 22, the HASC held a markup of the FY25 NDAA with the committee reporting the bill favorably by a vote of 57-1. This year’s markup ended more quickly than in previous years, likely because Chairman Rogers and HASC Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) held a fairly noncontroversial markup with most contentious social policy issues left on the sidelines.
Before the full House chamber considers a vote on the floor, the House Rules Committee must first send a rule of debate.In the interim, they will review hundreds submitted by
House members.All amendments to FY25 NDAA were due May 31.
It is expected for the full House to consider a floor vote the
week of June 10.
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) plans to mark up their version of the FY25 NDAA beginning the
week of June 11. As has been the case historically, this is a closed-door process. The NDAA will be considered by the Full Committee on the following dates: Wednesday, June 12, 2:30 PM – SR-222 (CLOSED); Thursday, June 13, 9:30 AM – SR-222 (CLOSED); As required: Friday, June 14 – SR-222 (CLOSED).
ECA will continue to provide updates as the NDAA continues to move forward.
NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP
U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY JENNIFER GRANHOLM TO PROVIDE KEYNOTE AT NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP
ECA Staff | 05/30/2024
We’re excited to announce the Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary of Energy, will provide an in-person keynote address at this year’s 10th annual National Cleanup Workshop (NCW), to be held September 16-18, 2024 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott - Arlington, VA.
Secretary Granholm joins a growing list of illustrious federal representatives, industry officials and state and local leaders speaking at this year’s Workshop, one of the largest events in the country dealing with the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM).
Other speakers include:
Jeffrey Avery | Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, DOE-EM
Gregory Sosson | Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations, DOE-EM
Brent Gerry | Mayor, City of West Richland, WA; Chair, ECA
Rebecca
Casper | Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, ID; Vice-Chair, ECA
The National Cleanup Workshop is hosted by the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) with the cooperation of the
Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM)* bringing together more than 750 senior DOE executives, officials from DOE sites, industry leaders, local elected officials, and other stakeholders to discuss the progress DOE-EM is making to address the environmental legacy of the Manhattan Project and Cold War-era U.S. nuclear weapons program.
*EM serves as a co-sponsor and participant in the joint planning efforts with ECA and EFCOG in support of NCW as part of EM's ongoing mission in the safe cleanup of its sites.
SPONSORSHIP NCW sponsorships offer an excellent
opportunity to showcase your company, maximize networking opportunities with attendees, and host an exhibit booth during the forum. Click here to learn more: SPONSORSHIPS
STAY CONNECTED ECA Twitter: @ENERGYCAORG EFCOG Twitter: @EFCOG_now DOE EM Twitter: @EMcleanup #NationalCleanupWorkshop
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS!
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
NEW RAILCAR DESIGNED TO TRANSPORT SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL CLEARED FOR OPERATION
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) certified the Atlas railcar system to operate on all major freight railroads in the United States.
The high-tech railcar was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and will be used to transport the nation’s commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
The certification is the highest safety standard set by the AAR for transporting high-level radioactive material.
Full Steam Ahead
Atlas is a 12-axle railcar that comes fully equipped with high-tech sensors and monitoring systems.
It was built to safely and securely transport the nation’s heaviest shipments of commercial spent nuclear fuel weighing up to 480,000 pounds.
The railcar project took ten years to complete and cost approximately $33 million dollars.
The entire railcar system includes Atlas, two buffer railcars, and a rail escort vehicle that was developed in partnership with the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
The railcars wrapped up final testing last fall by completing a 1,680 round-trip journey from Pueblo, Colorado to Scoville, Idaho. They are the first DOE railcars to meet the rigorous testing requirements of AAR’s S-2043 standard for transporting high-level radioactive material.
"The certification of the Atlas railcar by the AAR is a significant step forward as we develop the infrastructure to safely manage and store the nation’s nuclear waste,” said Paul Murray, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition. “The capability for DOE to safely and securely transport spent nuclear fuel is a key component of DOE’s vision for an integrated waste management system that includes transportation, and government-owned storage and permanent disposal identified through a consent-based siting process.”
DOE’s Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center (EMCBC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. Called the “Swiss army knife of Environmental Management”, the
EMCBC serves as the centralized hub for procurement, financial management, and technical support for DOE’s environmental management program. The EMCBC oversees the cleanup of contaminated sites, including former nuclear production facilities, research laboratories, and uranium mining sites. Host Michael Butler interviews EMCBC Deputy Director Melody Bell and Procurement Director Aaron Deckard.
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.
Interactive guide for communities and governments to help navigate nuclear waste cleanup
The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) recently released the Guide to Successful Environmental Cleanup, an interactive online resource that provides frequently asked questions, case studies, and recommendations regarding nuclear waste cleanup.
To assist local government officials, their communities, and federal agencies in deciphering
the complexities of the environmental cleanup process, ECA developed this guide to facilitate future successful cleanups.
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.
Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 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.
