GONE FISSION NUCLEAR REPORT INTERVIEWS ECA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & DOE-EM SENIOR ADVISOR IN WAKE OF NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP

In ECA’s transition paper to the next Administration, “Ensuring Long-Term Success: Recommendations for the Next Administration on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Mission”, ECA calls for a top-to-bottom review of the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management (DOE-EM) program. In this week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast, ECA Executive Director Seth Kirshenberg shares with Host Michael Butler the recommendations that ECA believes can help the cleanup program better accomplish its formidable mission, including 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), and many more.

ECA released its Transition paper just prior to the 10th Annual National Cleanup Workshop, in Washington D.C. Host Michael Butler caught up with DOE's Senior Advisor to the Office of Environmental Management (EM-1), Candice Robertson, at the National Cleanup Workshop, which also marked the 35th anniversary of the Office of Environmental Management. Ms. Robertson gave her assessment of the current state of DOE’s environmental cleanup program and her outlook on the challenges ahead. 

Every Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast covers the latest developments in environmental cleanup across the DOE complex. For more from the Gone Fission Nuclear report, check out their website and Youtube channel. 

ENSURING LONG TERM SUCCESS: ECA TRANSITION PAPER FOR DOR-EM

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) must continuously examine its work and evolve. The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is calling on the next Administration to launch a comprehensive review of all aspects of the EM program. To meet the challenges and better ensure the continued success of the DOE-EM program, the ECA’s Transition paper offers the following recommendations:

• Establishment of disposal paths for every type of radioactive and hazardous waste, including ensuring that both private and public sites are available and utilized.
• The reevaluation of DOE-EM’s use of the end-state contracting model so that more funds are available for actual work.
• Ensuring that regulatory agreements are reasonably achievable and balance short- and long-term needs.
• Improvement of workforce planning to address “brain drain” and long-term needs for skilled talent of all kinds.
• Continuing focus on economic and energy development benefits.
• The maintaining of robust local, state, tribal government, and stakeholder engagement at each site.
• Clarification on DOE policy regarding how the discovery of hazardous and radioactive materials at “completed sites” will be addressed to ensure that cleanup is protective of human health and the environment, and that the local community is not responsible for the DOE’s legacy waste cleanup.
• The reconstituting of a dedicated nuclear waste organization within the DOE to address high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel issues.

Read the paper by clicking its cover above or the button below!

All ECA publications, including the new Transition Paper are available at www.energyca.org/publications.

If you have any questions about the paper please reach out to ajr@energyca.org. 

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NEW MEDIA:

Gone Fission Nuclear Report - Reviewing EM in the New Administration

October 7, 2024 | S4 E17

With a new Administration taking office in January, the Energy Communities Alliance has released a detailed report calling for a top-to-bottom review of the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management program. In this week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report podcast, ECA Executive Director Seth Kirshenberg shares with Host Michael Butler the recommendations his organization believes can help the cleanup program better accomplish its formidable mission, including revisiting EM's end-state contracting model and re-establishing a dedicated DOE office to oversee nuclear waste storage.

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