ECA: Harris or Trump, DOE-EM needs “comprehensive review”

“Given what EM has accomplished so far, and what remains to be completed, including the possibility of new tasks, now is the right time for a new foundational look at the program,” the paper states.

The recommendations: While it notes that DOE-EM has made progress in cleaning up legacy nuclear sites over the past 35 years, the ECA maintains that decades of work remain, and the program faces substantial challenges in areas such as workforce development, waste disposal capacity, and sustained relationships with local communities.

To meet the challenges and better ensure the continued success of the DOE-EM program, the ECA paper offers the following recommendations for the new administration:

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.

Ensurance 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.

The paper, along with other ECA titles, can be accessed here.