U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Energy Department Releases First-Ever State of the National Labs Report DOE January 11,
2017 WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz announced the release of the inaugural State of the Department of Energy National Laboratories Report.
The report highlights the remarkable accomplishments and capabilities of the National Labs, evaluates some of
the improvements DOE has made in recent years in its management and coordination with the labs, and charts a course for continued American leadership in science and technology. Overall, the report concludes that the vitality of the DOE National Laboratories has improved over the past decade in part due to increased investments made into the labs and from a focus on enhancing the relationship between the Laboratories and DOE.
“Our National Lab system is an enduring science and technology powerhouse comprised of more than 20,000 scientists and engineers who deliver new discoveries and provide world-class technological capabilities,” said Secretary Ernest Moniz. “This report makes clear that the state of our National Lab system is strong, and that it has become stronger in
recent years. This report also provides a roadmap to continue supporting American leadership in science and technology in our labs and beyond.” >>Continue readingNuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act Re-Introduced in House and Senate ECA Staff January 11, 2017 This morning, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA) was re-introduced in both the House and Senate. This legislation encourages the formation of public-private partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate innovation in nuclear energy.
“There is bipartisan agreement in Congress that nuclear energy and nuclear research have been underutilized as a reliable, safe, clean and efficient part of our national energy portfolio,” said Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), one of the Senators to reintroduce the bill. “We are working to eliminate barriers to innovation within the private sector and strengthening collaboration with our
national labs to maintain American preeminence in nuclear energy.”
“American leadership on safe and efficient nuclear energy is critical, and in order to reduce our carbon emissions as quickly as possible the development and commercialization of next generation advanced nuclear
reactors must be a priority,” said Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). “This legislation will provide support to the dozens of private sector companies moving forward and investing billions of dollars in advanced reactor designs that will be even safer and more efficient than current reactors.”
The legislation introduced to the House can be found here. The Senate legislation is forthcoming; previous versions of the bill can be found
here. NNSA Denies Report Top Nuclear Officials Removed by Trump Team Defense News January 9, 2017 WASHINGTON — The National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) is pushing back at a news report that
the transition team for President-elect Donald Trump plans to remove the heads of the agency when he takes office.
On Monday, Gizmodo reported that the Trump team has asked NNSA director Frank Klotz and his deputy,
Madelyn Creedon, to step down on Jan 20. Because those positions require senate confirmation, those spots would likely be open for several weeks, if not months — at a time when the agency would need to be advocating the new Congress for funding.
However, an NNSA official, speaking on background, denied such discussions have occurred.
“The story is not accurate,” the official said.
“There have been no discussions between the president-elect’s transition team and any of NNSA’s political appointees on extending their public service past Jan. 20.” >>Continue readingFleischmann, Alexander urge Perry to visit Oak Ridge Lab Times Free Press January 11, 2017 U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann says he intends to invite U.S. Secretary of Energy nominee Rick
Perry to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and educate the Trump administration on its value.
"I want ORNL to be his first visit," Fleischmann said about the former Texas governor who in
2012 talked about eliminating the Department of Energy during his own run for the presidency. "I will stress to the new administration... the tremendous benefit of the national labs."
The Tennessee Republican, speaking to Times Free Press editors earlier this week, noted
that ORNL opened an office in Chattanooga late last year to help area businesses better tap into the national lab and bolster a partnership with EPB.
The lab now has a designated person who's helping
Chattanooga businesses with manufacturing and other issues and working with EPB on "millions of dollars worth of grants and initiatives," he said.
"I see a potential bigger DOE presence in Chattanooga," Fleischmann said.
>>Continue reading Congressional delegation to Trump: Support Hanford cleanup Tri-City Herald January 9,
2017 The entire Washington state congressional delegation called on President-elect Donald Trump to make environmental cleanup of the Hanford nuclear reservation a priority for his
administration.
Both senators and all
10 representatives from Washington state signed off on the bipartisan letter sent to Trump on Monday. The effort was led by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
“We believe, with your strong support, we can continue the vital nuclear waste cleanup and environmental remediation work currently underway at Hanford,” the letter said. “This work is essential to protecting the health and safety of the Tri-Cities community, the Columbia River, Washington state and our
nation.”
Previous
administrations and Congress have recognized the legal and moral obligation of the federal government to clean up Hanford, and the Trump administration must do the same, the letter said. >>Continue reading |
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| January 2017 | | 11 | Environmental Management Site Specific Advisory Board Meeting, Oak Ridge Reservation
Oak Ridge,
TN
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| January 2017 | | 12 | Environmental
Management Site Specific Advisory Board Meeting, Portsmouth Piketon, OH |
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| January 2017 | | 18 | Environmental
Management Site Specific Advisory Board Meeting, Nevada Las Vegas, NV |
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| January 2017 | | 23-24 | Environmental Management Site Specific Advisory Board Meeting, Savannah River
Site Hilton Head Island, SC |
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| January 2017 | | 25 | Environmental Management Site Specific Advisory Board Meeting, Northern New Mexico Ohkay Owingeh, NM |
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| February 2017 | | 23-24 | ECA Annual Meeting Washington, DC "Meeting the New Administration: Addressing Community Priorities and Securing Progress" |
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| March 2017 | | 5-9 | Waste Management Conference Phoenix, AZ
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| May/June 2017 | | 31-1 | INVITATION ONLY ECA Peer
Exchange Richland, WA "Formalizing Host Communities' Role in the Manhattan Project National Historical Park" |
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Find the most recent ECA Bulletin here |
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