ECA returns to its roots - hosts WIPP tour and Peer Exchange in Carlsbad, NM
ECA Staff | 5/12/2022
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On May 4-5, the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) held a Peer Exchange in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The conference was a homecoming of sorts; the city is home to former Carlsbad Mayor and ECA Chair Gary Perkowski, who helped found ECA over 20 years ago.
Located in Eddy County, Carlsbad sits 26 miles northwest of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site, the nation's only deep geologic long-lived radioactive waste repository. Authorized by Congress in 1979, Carlsbad leadership pushed hard for the site to be located nearby. Since its construction in the 1980s and receipt of its first shipment of waste in 1999, WIPP has had intergenerational support, and employed an intergenerational workforce, from Carlsbad
and the surrounding community.
Last November, WIPP reached a significant milestone, receiving its 13,000 shipment of transuranic waste, and just this month, the Environmental Protection Agency recertified the facility, stating “[WIPP]” continues to be a cornerstone in the nation’s effort to responsibly dispose of radioactive waste,” in a press release.
Participants of the Peer Exchange learned about the history and community support for WIPP from former Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest and Dr. Frank Hansen, retired senior scientist at Sandia National Laboratories. Reinhard Knerr, manager of the Carlsbad Field Office, and Sean Dunagan, president and project manager of Nuclear Waste Partnership, LLC – the site’s contractor – provided insightful remarks on the future of WIPP.
WIPP stands a testament to what can be accomplished in the cleanup program when the community, the Department of Energy (DOE), the contractor, and other parties come together to solve the crucial question of what to do with our nation’s waste.
Part of solving this question involves ensuring communities understand the waste acceptance criteria (WAC) at sites, and the role it has in determining any disposal mission. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the WIPP WAC at the meeting, as well as community involvement on the WAC at the Oak Ridge site.
The topic of community involvement carried through many other sessions at the Peer Exchange. Panelists spoke to the need for collaboration between frontline communities, contractors, DOE, and other impacted parties for developing community support for DOE facilities. Recommendations also included collaborating with universities to bolster STEM initiatives and preparing the future workforce.
The benefits of relationship-building and respect – from the perspective of all parties – were also highlighted across various sessions. EM Chief of Staff Michael Nartker noted that the strength of the relationship with the local community at EM sites is essential to the success of the cleanup mission.
In building support for sites among their Congressional delegations, local government participants were encouraged to “go to DC, be bold in what you say, and share with them what you know to be true.”
DOE leadership was encouraged to ensure they seek out the whole picture, getting responses from all intergovernmental groups at sites, when making decisions that impact the complex as a whole.
Participants of the conference also heard industry and community insights on the future of policy and licensing for interim storage, spent nuclear fuel, and defense high-level waste, as well as discussion on DOE priorities for the EM program.
One such priority for all ECA members is the roll-out of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for local governments and communities. Additional information on how communities can receive this funding may be found using a new resource on the ECA webpage, which explains each relevant program’s recipients,
eligible uses, and timelines for when interested parties can apply for funding.
ECA greatly appreciates the opportunity to return to its roots in Carlsbad, and extends our gratitude to all speakers, panelists, and attendees of the Peer Exchange. We especially want to thank City Councilor JJ Chavez, former County Commissioner Susan Crockett, Jack Volpato, and the rest of the team in Carlsbad who helped make this conference a success!
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SAVE OUR DATES
September 21-23, 2022
NEW VENUE: CRYSTAL GATEWAY MARRIOTT IN ARLINGTON, VA!
We are pleased to host the 2022 National Cleanup Workshop at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. Join us to discuss a new era of cleanup success. Hear from senior DOE officials, local government officials, and industry leaders about DOE's cleanup priorities, the future of the workforce, and more.
Additional information on registration and hotel room blocks will be available in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing you in September!
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SAVE OUR DATES
August 3-5, 2022
Salt Lake City Marriott University Park
Recognizing the opportunity to address goals shared broadly among U.S. Department of Energy program offices and in frontline communities across the federal nuclear complex, the Energy Communities Alliance will host the ECA Forum: Hosting New Nuclear Development on August 3-5,
2022 at the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park.
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HEARINGS THIS WEEK
Thursday, May 19 at 9:30am ET - The Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the FY2023 budget request and future years defense program for the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Livestream here.
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DOE releases final EIS for Versatile Test Reactor
DOE Press Release | 5/13/2022
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the construction of the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR). The proposed VTR will be a sodium-cooled fast-neutron-spectrum test reactor that will enhance and accelerate research, development, and demonstration of innovative nuclear technologies that will play a crucial role in helping the United States reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The U.S. has not had a fast-reactor-based neutron source and testing capability for nearly three decades, effectively yielding leadership to Russia, China, and India who have this critical capability.
“VTR will provide U.S. researchers from industry, academia, and our national laboratories with a critical tool for developing transformational technologies that will expand nuclear energy’s contribution to abundant, carbon-free energy,” said Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. “VTR’s contribution to the fight against climate change begins with our commitment to designing, constructing, and operating the VTR in a way that protects the
environment and nearby communities.”
The Final VTR EIS, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), analyzes potential impacts of alternatives for the VTR and options for reactor fuel production on various environmental and community resources. The EIS evaluates:
- Construction and operation of the VTR at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This includes operating and performing experiments in the VTR, post-irradiation examination of irradiated test specimens in hot cell facilities and spent fuel conditioning and storage pending shipment for interim storage or permanent disposal.
- Production of fuel for the VTR at the Idaho National Laboratory and/or the Savannah River Site including preparing feedstock for the fuel, fabricating fuel pins, and assembling the fuel pins into reactor fuel.
- A no-action alternative under which DOE will not pursue the construction and operation of a VTR.
The Final VTR EIS identifies the construction and operation of the VTR at the INL Site as DOE's Preferred Alternative. To the extent possible, existing facilities will be used for VTR support facilities. DOE has not identified a preferred option for performing reactor fuel production activities.
The Final VTR EIS follows the December 2020 release of the Draft VTR EIS. During the review and comment period on the Draft VTR EIS, DOE held two web-based public hearings, and received comments from Federal and state agencies, American Indian tribes, and the public. A copy of the Final VTR EIS can be downloaded from the DOE website here and here.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will publish a Notice of Availability of the Final VTR EIS in the Federal Register on May 20, 2022. DOE will then issue a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days after the publication.
DOE will continue its technical evaluations that will lead to identification of a preferred option for performing reactor fuel production activities. Once a preferred reactor fuel production option has been identified, DOE will announce the preferred option in the Federal Register. A Record of Decision for reactor fuel production will be published no sooner than 30 days after DOE announces its preferred option in the Federal Register.
DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy established the VTR program in 2018 in response to the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA). NEICA and subsequently the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 directs DOE to establish a versatile reactor-based fast-neutron source with high neutron flux, irradiation flexibility, multiple experimental environment capabilities, and volume for many concurrent users.
DOE approved the mission need for VTR in February 2019 and approved Critical Decision 1 in September 2020. Critical Decision 1 is the second step in the formal process DOE uses to review and manage the design and construction of research infrastructure projects. The Department will make a final decision regarding VTR and issue a Record of Decision, which is expected later in 2022.
Find more information on the Office of Nuclear Energy and its programs here.
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Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email [email protected].
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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