The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a $50 million science program to advance the department's weapons cleanup program. According to a news release dated February 14, this initiative is a partnership between DOE's Environmental Management and Energy Research offices. The new program will carry out a long-term research agenda focusing on the fundamental science needed to develop less costly, innovative cleanup methods and reduce risks to cleanup workers and communities near weapons cleanup sites. In addressing the department's major environmental problems, the program will operate in conjunction with EM's focus areas.
DOE's Acting Under Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Thomas P. Grumbly said, "We are calling on the nation's research community to fill this important need in the department's environmental management." Martha A. Krebs, director of the Office of Energy Research, said, "This new program will close the gap between the broad fundamental research that has wide-ranging applicability performed in DOE's Office of Energy Research and the applied technology development conducted in the Office of Environmental Management."
The program responds to a congressional mandate to invest in long-term, basic science research as the basis for developing innovative and cost-effective cleanup methods. The decision to create the program also follows through on recommendations from stakeholder groups, including environmental experts from the National Academy of Sciences and the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. To ensure the success of the science program, DOE will create a science subcommittee to the Environmental Management Advisory Board and continue to involve the National Academy of Sciences for programmatic review.
The first initiative under this program is to provide $20 million in grants to organizations interested in performing "innovative, fundamental research to support the management and disposal of DOE radioactive, hazardous chemical, and mixed wastes." For more information about this solicitation, see the February 9 issue of the Federal Register.
