ECA Update: November 5, 2015
Published: Thu, 11/05/15
State nuclear waste leader announces retirement Tri-City Herald November 4, 2015 LINK Jane Hedges, the manager of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program, will retire at the end of February, she announced Wednesday. She has been responsible for efforts to carry out the state’s role in overseeing cleanup of the Hanford nuclear reservation and ensuring safe management of nuclear waste in the state. The state, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, is a Hanford regulator. She gave four months notice of her retirement to allow some to time to work with her successor, she said. The state plans to conduct a search for her replacement, she said. Hedges has led the local oversight office since the start of 2006. She has worked for the state’s Nuclear Waste Program since 1999 and previously was a cleanup section manager. INL has huge impact on local small businesses Local News 8 November 4, 2015 LINK Big business with the INL New numbers out of the Idaho National Laboratory show the government center spent nearly $130 million with businesses in Idaho. Most of that was spent in Eastern Idaho, totaling around $96 million. "When we look for suppliers for the goods and materials that we need, we try to buy here (Idaho)," said Stacey Francis, INL'l small business program manager. "We buy everything from paper clips to nuclear fuel." Francis says the INL purposefully looks for opportunities to find supplies among small business owners. "We work really hard with the small business partners that we have," said Francis. "We'll invest a lot in them over the course of several years and they become very valuable partners." Walsh Engineering in Idaho Falls is one of those companies that regularly works with the INL. "Our services with the INL are design engineering services primarily," said Stephanie Walsh, the president of the company. "We also do cost estimating services. So it's architectural, mechanical, electrical, civil structural, and drafting." Walsh says while the INL isn't their only customer, the government lab has helped open up new doors. "It allowed us to grow in areas outside of Idaho Falls," said Walsh. "The work we do for the INL builds us a company resume for work in other sectors." NNMCAB Holds Special Meeting Nov. 12 LA Daily Post November 4, 2015 LINK The Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board (NNMCAB) is one of eight Site-Specific Advisory Boards established to involve local citizens in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) environmental clean-up decision process at its nuclear facilities. Members of the public are encouraged to attend NNMCAB meetings and provide their unique perspective on environmental issues. The NNMCAB will hold a Special Meeting to learn about proposed changes to the 2005 Order on Consent, 1-4:30 p.m., Nov. 12, at the Cities of Gold Conference Center, 10-B Cities of Gold Road in Pojoaque. New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn, will address the Department’s perspective and schedule of actions for the Revised Order on Consent. Christine Gelles, U. S. Department of Energy, Environmental Management Office will discuss DOE/LANL proposed Campaign Approach and history of completed remediation projects at LANL. The public will have an opportunity to address the Board 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. during the scheduled public comment period. For more information on the NNMCAB’s mission and activities, visit website, contact Menice Santistevan at (505).995.0393 or e-mail: menice.santistevan@em.doe.gov. |
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