Federal Facilities Task Force 2019 Spring Meeting on Nuclear Weapons Waste Cleanup

Augusta, GA | May 21 – 22, 2019

The National Governors Association leads the Federal Facilities Task Force, a group of governor’s appointees from a dozen states tasked with collaborating, regulating, and working with DOE on the cleanup of nuclear weapons waste at sites in their state. 

The National Governors Association hosted the Federal Facilities Task Force (FFTF) Spring Meeting from May 21-22, 2019 in Augusta, GA that featured expert speakers from the Department of Energy (DOE), the FFTF, and the Savannah River Site (SRS). Meeting attendees also attended a tour of the SRS. Sixteen FFTF members from twelve different states attended.

Topics discussed included: state perspectives on the revised interpretation of High Level Waste; how the states and DOE-EM can effectively collaborate to achieve cleanup milestones; best practices from across the complex to address communications and coordination challenges and how to replicate those successes; and end-state contracting and procurement.

AGENDA 

Tuesday, May 21

Registration and Breakfast

Site Tour – Savannah River Site

Wednesday, May 22

States Only Sessions

Welcome and Introductions

Update on Events and Issues Since Last Meeting

• Speakers:
  • Andy Chinn, Associate, Ross Strategic
  • Heather Martin, Research Associate, Ross Strategic

Roundtable on State-Specific Issues

• Moderator:
  • Bevin Buchheister, Senior Policy Analyst, National Governors Association

FFTF Planning Session:

• Moderator:
  • Dan Lauf, Program Director, National Governors Association

Joint Sessions with the U.S. Department of Energy

Lunch Presentations: DOE Update

• Moderator:
  • Dan Lauf, Program Director, NGA

DOE Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Speaker:
  • Elizabeth Lisann, Intergovernmental Program Manager, Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE EM)

Updates from DOE Office of Environmental Management

• Speaker:
  • Elizabeth Connell, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Regulatory and Policy Affairs, DOE EM

Discussion of DOE High Level Waste Interpretation

Improving Communications and Collaboration Between the States and the Department of Energy

• Speakers:
  • Henry Porter, Chief Bureau of Land and Waste Management, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) 
  • Brian T. Hennessey, Federal Facility Agreement Program Manager, DOE-Savannah River 
  • Dena D. Brett, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Regulatory Technical Liaison 
  • Jeanne Beard, Information Systems Director, DOE EM 
• Moderator:
  • Bevin Buchheister, Senior Policy Analyst, NGA

End-State Contracting and Procurement 

• Speakers:
  • Norbert S. Doyle, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acquisition & Project Management DOE EM  
  • Alex Smith, Nuclear Waste Program Manager, Washington State Department of Ecology  
• Moderator: 
  • Dan Lauf, Program Director, NGA