Meeting of the Federal Facilities Task Force: Summer Meeting 2018

June 26 – 28, 2018 | Idaho Falls, ID

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices’ (NGA Center) Federal Facilities Task Force (FFTF) held its 2018 Summer Meeting on June 26 – 28 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The meeting provided FFTF members with an opportunity to meet with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) and other invited guests to discuss key issues relevant to states impacted by the ongoing cleanup of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex.

As part of the meeting, the FFTF traveled to the Idaho Nuclear Technology & Engineering Center. The group toured sites where spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste is stored and learned firsthand about the remote handled low-level waste treatment facility.

June 26, 2018

Tour of Idaho Nuclear Technology & Engineering Center

June 27, 2018

Welcome & Introductions

Moderator:

  • Dan Lauf, program director, NGA Center for Best Practices

FFTF Group Discussion on Waste Disposition & Accelerating Cleanup Efforts

Moderator:

  • Bevin Buchheister, senior policy analyst, NGA Center for Best Practices

Welcome Remarks from the U.S. Department of Energy

Speaker:

  • Elizabeth Lisann, program manager, Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Programs, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Updates on Events & Issues Since Last Meeting

Speaker:

  • Andy Chinn, associate, Ross Strategic
  • Molly Spiller, research associate, Ross Strategic

Moderator:

  • Bevin Buchheister, senior policy analyst, NGA Center

FFTF Session with Environmental Management Leadership

Discussion Participants:

  • Ken Niles, Assistant director for nuclear safety, Oregon Department of Energy
  • Shelly Wilson, permitting and federal facilities liaison, South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control
  • Ken Picha, acting associate principal deputy assistant secretary for field operations, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderator:

  • Dan Lauf, program director, NGA Center

Idaho Welcome & Overview of the Idaho National Laboratory

Speakers:

  • Mayor Rebecca Casper, Idaho Falls
  • Amy Lientz, director of partnerships, engagement & technology deployment, Idaho National Laboratory

Moderator:

  • Susan Burke, INL coordinator, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program

Speaker:

  • Chris Henvit, lead, Program Management & External Affairs, Naval Reactors Idaho Branch Office

Moderator:

  • Susan Burke, INL coordinator, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

June 28, 2018

View from U.S. Department of Energy Senior Leadership

Discussion Participants:

  • Paul M. Dabbar, undersecretary for science, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderator:

  • Ken Niles, Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety, Oregon Department of Energy

Environmental Management Program Update

Speakers:

  • Ken Picha, acting associate principal deputy assistant secretary for field operations, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Mark Gilbertson, associate principal deputy assistant Secretary for Regulatory & Policy Affairs, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderator:

  • Ken Niles, assistant director for nuclear safety, Oregon Department of Energy

Department of Energy, States & Tribes Working Together to Advance the Cleanup Mission: Perspectives from Idaho

Speakers:

  • Talia Martin, director of tribal/DOE-AIP, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Tribal Department of Energy
  • Kerry Martin, INL oversight program regional manager, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
  • Brad Bugger, tribal liaison, DOE Idaho Operations Office

Moderator:

  • Mindy Bridges, STGWG coordinator and policy specialist, National Conference of State Legislatures

Long-term Stewardship & Closure for the Seventh Generation

Speakers:

  • David Shafer, director, Office of Site Operations, DOE-LM
  • Mark Gilbertson, associate principal deputy assistant secretary for regulatory & policy affairs, DOE-EM

Moderators:

  • Peter Chestnut, attorney for Pueblo de San Ildefonso
  • Branden Doster, section chief, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Budget Update from U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management

Speaker:

  • Mark Gilbertson, associate principal deputy assistant secretary for regulatory & policy affairs, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Moderator:

  • Dan Lauf, program manager, NGA Center

FFTF Spring Meeting Wrap-up Discussion & Next Steps

Moderator:

Dan Lauf, program manager, NGA Center for Best Practices