Overview

In the United States, the nuclear arms race resulted in the development of a vast research, production, and testing network that came to be known as the "nuclear weapons complex." This complex, managed primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), involves a number of major facilities spanning at least twelve states. By 1990, production of new nuclear weapons had ceased and, today, the DOE complex is focused on maintaining existing strategic capacity (as defined by weapons treaties) and addressing the environmental legacy of nearly five decades of nuclear weapons production.

DOE's Environmental Management (EM) program is responsible for cleaning up the contamination and waste across the complex. State agencies and officials play a prominent role in the design and enforcement of cleanup objectives at sites within the complex. This ambitious project--measured by level of hazard, scope of activity, and financial outlay--is considered to be the largest environmental management effort in the world.

Focus of Center Activity

Since 1993, the NGA Center for Best Practices has been working with states hosting weapons production and research facilities to aid them in discussing and negotiating waste and disposal issues among themselves and with DOE. This work led to the successful negotiation in 1995 of approximately forty-eight cleanup agreements between states (or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and DOE. It also provides an opportunity for continuing dialogue on waste treatment, nuclear materials disposition, and waste disposal options. A Task Force composed of state regulators and Governors' policy advisors guides project activities. Project activities revolve around periodic task force meetings that are open to federal and state regulators. Topics to be explored through this project include:

• treatment and disposal of mixed, low-level, and transuranic waste and disposition of nuclear materials;  
• long-term stewardship of sites;  
• DOE budget requests and their effect on environmental cleanup and compliance at DOE facilities;  
• and interstate waste and materials shipments.

Related Links:

• Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW)
  
• Council on Environmental Quality(CEQ)
  
• Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
  
• DOE Office of Environmental Management
  
• Environmental Management Advisory Board
  
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Radiation Protection Programs
  
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
  
• OCRWM Yucca Mountain Project Studies
  
• U.S Department of Energy Foreign Research Reactor Spent Fuel Program
  
• U.S. Department of Energy -- DOE: (DOE Headquarters Home Page)
  
• U.S. Department of Energy NEPA Web Page
  

• Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER)
  
• Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC)
  
• Nuclear Control Institute
  
• Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
  
• Nuclear Engineering And Radiological Science -- Nuclear Links Page
  
• Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS)
  
• Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)
  
• The American Nuclear Society (ANS)

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  
• Hanford site
  
• Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
  
• INEEL Oversight Program
  
• INEEL Vadose Zone Project
  
• New Mexico Environment Department DOE Oversight Bureau
  
• New York State Energy Research & Development Authority
  
• Ohio EPA Office of Federal Facilities Oversight
  
• Pantex Plant
  
• Savannah River Site
  
• Tennessee Department of Energy Oversight Division
  
• Washington Department of Ecology Nuclear Waste Program
  

• Clark County (Las Vegas) Nuclear Waste Division
  
• Energy Communities Alliance
  
• Eureka County Nevada - Nuclear Waste Page
  
• Inyo County Yucca Mountain Repository Assessment Office
  
• National Association of Attorneys General
  
• Nevada State Legislature Web Site
  
• Nye County Nuclear Waste Repository Project Web Site