ECA Update October 7, 2020

 

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ECA UPDATE Oct 7, 2020

FEATURED ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP   Oak Ridge Clears Stored Waste in Advance of ETTP Cleanup Completion DOE-EM | 10/6/2020   Just as Oak Ridge crews have removed unneeded buildings at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), they also have disposed of wastes stored there, a critical step to completing cleanup at the site.   Wastes generated and handled at ETTP, the former Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, have been managed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) — laws that address the proper management of hazardous and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) wastes.   Those wastes at ETTP, generated from site operations or brought to Oak Ridge’s TSCA Incinerator for processing, were stored at various permitted locations across the site prior to treatment and disposal.   Previously, wastes were treated onsite at the TSCA Incinerator and offsite at commercial treatment facilities, depending on the type of waste. After the incinerator closed in 2009, all treatment took place at off-site facilities.   Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! CONTRACTS   Waste contract at Savannah River Site could be worth $21B The Sumter Item | 10/6/2020   The federal government is soliciting pitches to manage and clean up nuclear waste at the Savannah River Site, a contract that could be worth $21 billion over years.   The Aiken Standard reported the U.S. Department of Energy published a final request for proposals on Thursday.   The Department of Energy wrote that it wants to complete liquid waste cleanup at the Savannah River Site in 15 years and directs bidders to propose work plans to meet that goal.   The contract could hand off the work of two current contractors including Savannah River Remediation, which is in charge of handling and processing millions of gallons of radioactive waste at the site. A single contractor, officials have said, is in the best interest of the government and will ensure "maximum" reduction in environmental and financial risk.   Continue reading >> IN OTHER NEWS WASTE STORAGE Governor Greg Abbott writes letter opposing storage of high level nuclear waste in Andrews County  (News West, 10/6/2020)   DEFENSE US sees “important progress” in Helsinki nuclear arms talks (AP, 10/6/2020)   LEGISLATION Meadows says White House stimulus efforts ongoing amid Trump's back-and-forth (Politico, 10/7/2020) UPCOMING EVENTS Oct. 29 ECA Advancing Alliances: STEM and Workforce; Virtual Nov. 12 ECA and ECOS: Analyzing the 2020 Election; Virtual ECA PUBLICATIONS 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. ECA's Key Points on DOE HLW Interpretation ECA's FAQs on DOE HLW Interpretation Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications ECA BULLETIN 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 bulletin@energyca.org.    View current and previous editions of the ECA Bulletin at www.energyca.org/bulletin DOE SITE PROFILES  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.    Access your community's profile by visiting: www.energyca.org/site-profiles

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