These are selections from the comments and questions we have received from readers of Initiatives.
Comment: I will access Initiatives over the Internet from now on. Please keep my name, but don't send the paper copy.
Jerry Stauffer
Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Comment: Rather than making Initiatives available by download via Internet, why not just send it as a subscription?
Thomas Turney
Newcap Partners, Inc., Los Angeles, California
Response:We can't please all the people all the time, but we can try. that's why Initiatives will remain available on the Internet and through the mail. Initiatives Online is more than just the text of the printed version. Among other features, it offers links to other related documents available on the Internet that you can view by clicking on highlighted words in the text. To access Initiatives Online, use a World Wide Web browser such as Netscape or Mosaic and enter the URL: http://www.wpi.org/ and click on the Initiatives logo. Let us know if you prefer the electronic version, and we'll stop sending you the printed newsletter.
Q: Given the capital-intensive nature of technology development especially for plant-oriented solutions, does DOE help emerging environmental technology companies identify potential corporate partners?
Todd Pride
Randalls-McCray Energy, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
A: DOE's Office of Technology Development is in the process of establishing several programs to assist small businesses that are developing environmental technologies. One program provides business planning assistance to small companies and helps them locate partners to provide venture capital. Another program is the Global Environment and Technology Enterprise, which was created to leverage DOE-funded environmental technologies with private-sector capabilities. Under the GETE cooperative agreement, a technology-matching capability is being built that will electronically link environmental technology users and developers. This capability will help small companies find appropriate federal and non-federal partners.
Joe Paladino
Program Manager, Technology Exchange Division
Office of Technology Transfer and Program Integration, DOE
For more information about how the Office of Technology Development works with small businesses, see the interview with Joe Paladino. Ed.
Q:Why is there not a single reference or article on re-inventing or re-engineering government at DOE? Where is the more-for-less culture at DOE and other agencies this president and administration are calling for?
A: In a press release from DOE dated February 6, 1995, Secretary Hazel O'Leary said DOE's $17.8 billion budget for fiscal year 1996 "Proves we can deliver more for less, and will prepare the department to contribute $14.1 billion over five years toward President Clinton's plan to cut taxes for the middle class and reduce the nation's deficit." O'Leary said DOE "is able to make the largest federal agency contribution to deficit reduction because in the last two years we have shown we can cut waste, bring down costs, and work smarter on our critical national security, science, environment, and energy missions."
In a separate release about turning over tank waste treatment at DOE's Hanford, Washington site to the private sector also dated February 6, the secretary stated, "Consistent with President Clinton's re-inventing government initiatives, we believe that many department operations can be profitable for the private sector ...." According to the release, if the initiative is approved, it will be the largest effort by the environmental management program to require a contractor to share the financial, technical, and operational risk of a program, rather than U.S. taxpayers. Thomas P. Grumbly, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, was quoted in the release saying, "On-going, smaller privatization efforts like the remediation of liquid waste project at Savannah River will save hundreds of millions of dollars ...."
Initiatives will keep readers apprised of developments in DOE's environmental program that are in keeping with re-inventing government.
Q: When you have enough information available, could you provide notes on DOE reorganization or other proposed changes?
J.C. Torio
American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
A: In a memorandum dated January 26, Clyde Frank, Deputy Assistant Secretary for DOE's Office of Technology Development, made the following management assignments "To expedite technology development focus area work and to support upcoming budget preparations and hearings."
In addition, John "Mac" Lankford will serve as the lead manager for OTD's crosscutting programs (robotics, characterization, separations) and for program integration and technology transfer. These changes do not constitute a formal reorganization of OTD.
As definite information about other changes in DOE's technology development program structure becomes available, Initiatives will pass it on to you.
Q: Could you publish the telephone numbers or e-mail addresses for the various DOE program managers?
Malur Sundareshan
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
A: If you have a question for a DOE program manager, the best place to start is by calling the Office of Environmental Management's toll-free number: (800) 7EM-DATA (736-3282). Staff at the number will either answer your question, find an answer for you, or direct your question to the appropriate person. They also have access to written information they can send if it will help you. Initiatives staff have found the people working at the number efficient and responsive. If they don't know an answer immediately, they will call back after they've done some research.
