NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP DAY 2
The Second Day of the National Cleanup Workshop continues at full throttle; today attendees heard remarks from Representative Chuck Fleischmann (TN-R), Chair of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, and a keynote address from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm,
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"Public service isn't just about fixing a problem - it's about creating new opportunities."
S1 Jennifer Granholm, DOE Secretary, delivered a keynote address, stating that the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) Cleanup Mission is a shining example of why public service matters. She congratulated attendees representing communities, industry, government agencies, and NGOs from all over the country for tackling the problems
that nobody else wants to take on. She cited accomplishments from across the complex, such as cracking the code to deal with tank waste at Hanford, technological innovations from the national labs such as SRNL, and the successful launch of the Cleanup to Clean Energy Program. Secretary Granholm highlighted the necessity and success of DOE partnerships to the Cleanup Mission, and the obligation DOE has to invite communities,
tribes, and industry to the table, and ensure they have a seat and voice there. The Secretary provided numerous successes resulting from these partnerships, such as STEM-based opportunities for apprentices, protecting natural resources by cooperating with Tribal nations, and striking landmark deals with unions and trades groups to ensure workforce longevity, safety, and health. The Secretary finished her remarks by focusing
on the future course of the Cleanup to Clean Energy program, which she termed the epitome of opportunity. DOE aims to build out housing infrastructure, achieve 100% clean energy use at every National Lab within the next two decades, and to transform
cleaned up land at EM sites to build some of the largest clean energy projects in the world in Washington, South Carolina, Nevada, and New Mexico.
In Representative Fleischmann's remarks, he remained optimistic about the future of EM and the progress of the cleanup mission following an administration transition. He also expressed confidence that a budget would pass that includes topline funding items for cleanup sites and communities to be able to continue the invaluable work that they do. Representative Fleischmann assured
attendees that he understands the importance of appropriations and the budget to the consistent and continuous funding that communities' rely on to complete cleanup work, and made clear his commitment to ensure that a continuing resolution is passed. Representative Fleischman also expressed his excitement regarding the announcement from Kairos Power that construction of one of the first advanced reactors in the United
States will be in Oak Ridge. The project is a huge opportunity both for Oak Ridge, and it is a proud public example to what the state of Tennessee has been able to achieve outside of the cleanup mission. ECA looks forward to meeting with Representative Fleischmann and others at the Nuclear Cleanup Caucus on Wednesday to discuss nuclear workforce development.
EM Senior Advisor Candice Robertson spoke as well, highlighting the progress EM has made and outlining EM’s current and future priorities. She spoke to the strong value of partnerships to the cleanup program, citing breakthroughs in Hanford to negotiate the future of the site’s tank waste, in Oak Ridge to complete the first stage of the new Environmental Management Disposal Facility, and at the Savannah River Site to treat over 10 million gallons of tank waste at the Salt Waste Processing
Facility. “It’s a prime example of what is possible when EM and our cleanup partners remain focused on the long-term goals and achieve alignment on key priorities,” Robertson said. She highlighted partnerships beyond the sites as well, such as agreements with academia and private businesses. These partnerships are part of EM’s larger
initiatives to prioritize safety, drive technological innovations, and rejuvenate the EM workforce. The Senior Advisor emphasized that such achievements all come down to effective cooperation among all parties. "At the end of the day, it’s about a shared cleanup mission, a shared sense of community and a shared vision for the future," she said.
"I look forward to focusing on that shared vision this week and to hearing your thoughts on what comes next."
In another session Marla Morales, Acting Director for DOE-NE Office of Consent-Based Siting, delivered remarks about the importance of siting a consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) through a consent-based process, and detailed DOE's gameplan to site a CISF. Morales emphasized that any conversation about nuclear needs to include the back end of the
process. She stated the facts simply - DOE has not met its obligation to take charge of waste at 20 locations in communities across the country, who never agreed to store spent nuclear fuel indefinitely. This liability costs taxpayers an average of $800 million dollars every year. The need to site a CISF is clear, and DOE aims to site one beginning in 2038. Director Morales provided numerous ongoing and planned
initiatives that DOE is involved in to set that stage and gather crucial intel in order to facilitate the project. DOE approved and began testing of the Atlas rail car, specifically designed to transport spent nuclear fuel (SNF), this summer, and
it plans to move High-Burn Up casks by 2027 to prove the safety and efficiency of the rail car model. She also touched on initiatives by DOE to locate a potential geologic repository beyond Yucca Mountain, and the consortia program awardee last year that are shaping DOE's approach to the consent-based siting process of a CISF. Today's sessions also featured the panel "EM's Future Workforce: Recruiting, Training, and
Safety". The ECA-EFCOG-DOE-EM partnership is proud of communities, their DOE counterparts, and contractors commitment to discuss future workforce needs and plan future workforce meetings. The partnership has already been on the ground in the Tri-Cities surrounding the Hanford Site, in the communities surrounding the Savannah River Site and in Los Alamos. The group is looking forward to discussing the future of the workforce in more communties. The efforts to bring local elected
officials, DOE-HQ, DOE field offices, contractors, Tribal leaders, unions, educators (K-12 and higher education), economic development professionals, homebuilder associations, and others together have yielded excellent ideas for addressing our shared challenges and ensuring the long-term success of the cleanup mission. ECA appreciates the relationship we've forged with corporate leadership and DOE Field Officers, who
both hosted roundtable discussions today aimed at evaluating project performance, considering lessons learned, and discussing future initiatives. Review today's full agenda and speakers below.
ECA is looking forward to what developments the final day of of the workshop may bring, and is excited to bring you more updates as the Workshop caps off with the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus Briefing Wednesday evening.
Hosted by ECA with the cooperation of the Energy Facility Contractors Group and DOE-EM, the workshop brings together more than 800 senior DOE executives, officials from DOE sites, industry leaders, local
elected officials, contractors and community stakeholders to discuss EM’s progress to address the environmental legacy of the Manhattan Project and Cold War-era U.S. nuclear weapons program.
ENSURING LONG TERM SUCCESS: ECA TRANSITION PAPER FOR DOE-EM
ECA released a new transition paper that calls for DOE to undertake a comprehensive review of EM titled “Ensuring Long-Term Success: Recommendations for the Next Administration on the
U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Mission”. EM has achieved great success through the program, and a transitioning administration provides EM with the opportunity to review what is working and what is not – not just in EM but all of DOE as it relates to EM. This will help ensure EM is well positioned for future long-term success. In the paper, ECA outlines the issues that the cleanup program
faces, many of which we will be discussing at the Cleanup Workshop, and suggests a series of concrete recommendations for the next Administration to utilize with EM and other DOE offices to re-establish a firm foundation for continued cleanup success. Our recommendations include reconsidering how EM works with local communities on cleanup decision-making, establishing disposal pathways for every type of nuclear waste (such
as GTCC LLW), creating a clear policy for long-term stewardship, considering what capabilities may be required to address current and anticipated wastes, utilizing cleanup as a vehicle for economic development (such as the Cleanup to Clean Energy program), planning for future development, and many more. Read the paper by clicking its cover above or the button below!
September 16-18, 2024| Crystal Gateway Marriott | Arlington, VA Join us for the 10th Annual National Cleanup Workshop!
Hear from senior DOE leaders, local government officials, and industry leaders about DOE's cleanup priorities, the future of the workforce, and more.
Featured Speakers: - The Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary of U.S. Department of Energy
- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Chairman, House Appropriations Energy and Water Development
Subcommittee
- Candice Robertson, Senior Advisor, DOE-EM
- Jeff Avery, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, DOE-EM
- Greg Sosson, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations, DOE-EM
- Kristen Ellis, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regulatory and Policy Affairs, DOE-EM
- Dae Chung, Associate Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Corporate Services, DOE-EM
- James McConnell, Associate Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration
- Brent Gerry, Mayor, City of West Richland, WA; Chair, ECA and
Hosted by ECA with the cooperation of the Energy Facility Contractors Group and DOE-EM, the workshop brings together more than 800 senior DOE executives, officials from DOE sites, industry leaders,
local elected officials, contractors and community stakeholders to discuss EM’s progress to address the environmental legacy of the Manhattan Project and Cold War-era U.S. nuclear weapons program.
TWO DAYS LEFT: ECA SURVEY
HOW WILL YOUR SITE/COMMUNITY BE AFFECTED BY THE REPRIORITIZATION OF WASTE SHIPMENTS AT WIPP?
There are only two days left to provide your input before the survey closes on September 18.
ECA wants your input on the prioritization of the source of TRU waste that is being disposed at WIPP from DOE generator sites. Please complete the survey at your earliest
convenience and share the survey with members of your community. WIPP (DOE EM), as a requirement under DOE’s state permit, is developing a new “Waste Isolation Pilot (“WIPP”) Legacy TRU Waste Disposal Plan” (the “Plan”). Your input will help ECA and other organizations identify and advise the prioritization of the source of the TRU waste that is being disposed at WIPP from DOE generator sites. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about the survey, or if you have any thoughts on who else we can send the survey to. Your input and support are important to making this survey an informative tool for WIPP, and it is greatly appreciated. ECA is asking for feedback from the citizens, local, state and Tribal governments and others on the issues. ECA will post the results of the survey on our web page after the survey results are recorded. Please provide your input before the survey closes, in two days, on September 18.
For more on the survey, or if you have any questions, please contact Andres Ridge at ajr@energyca.org
WHAT YOU'VE MISSED: Director General's Statement to the 68th IAEA General Conference For those of us not in Vienna this week, here are Director General
Grossi’s full remarks at the 68th IAEA General Conference. ECA Vice-Chair Rebecca Casper is representing ECA and the Global Partnership at the conference. Read the full story NRC reviewing 2 unplanned shutdowns at South Texas Project The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission began a special inspection last week at South Texas Project
nuclear power plant into two incidents at the site, which led to separate, unplanned shutdowns of both Units 1 and 2. On May 12, a transformer that supplies off-site power to the station shut down unexpectedly and took Unit 2 off line. On July 24, a fire in an electrical switchyard at the site caused an unplanned shutdown of Unit 1. The NRC will study the unexpected safety equipment issues from each event. Read the full story Crystal River 3 Segmentation & Transport For the Crystal River 3 accelerated decommissioning project, Orano Decommissioning Services (ODS) applied its patented Optimized Segmentation strategy to plan and execute the removal, packaging, off-site transportation, and disposal or onsite storage of all the reactor vessel and internals components in a total of only two Class A industrial type large containers, one Class C Type B large container, and two GTCC Rad Waste
Canisters (excluding the head and the secondary waste). Read the full story
PROVIDE YOUR INPUT - OPEN REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION Opportunity: DOE Package Performance Demonstration DOE intends to establish a consolidated interim storage facility for storage of spent nuclear fuel until a permanent repository is available. DOE is performing this market research to gather information from all interested parties that will help formulate the actual solicitation. The first RFI is working to establish the market boundaries that can best fulfill the needs of the CISF program. This RFI works to answer the best contract
strategy and contract type, the ability of commercial businesses to support and fulfill CISF requirements & to what capacity small businesses can support CISF requirements. Response Due: September 30 2024, 7:00 pm EST |
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Gone Fission Nuclear Report: Oak Ridge Vision: A Cleanup Milestone Completed August 26, 2024 | S4 E15 Each year, the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management publishes a list of cleanup priorities for its sites around the country. Progress in the cleanup program is measured by how well these milestones are met. This week, the Gone Fission Nuclear Report is celebrating the completion of a major cleanup goal on DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee.
It’s a comprehensive soil remediation project that DOE calls “Vision 2024.” Our guest is Joanna Hardin, DOE Federal Project Director for the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge. She talks with host Michael Butler about what it took to remediate more than a half million cubic yards of contaminated soil as the site becomes home to new nuclear-related businesses.
2024 National Cleanup Workshop September 16-18, 2024 | Crystal Gateway Marriott (Arlington, VA) Register now!
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