In January 1994, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management introduced an integrated approach for addressing waste issues based on five focus, or problem, areas. A sixth focus area was added in 1995. In addition, there are three crosscutting technology areas that support the focus areas. This national focus on solving environmental remediation problems is designed to:
The focus areas are managed by a multidisciplinary team of representatives from DOE's Office of Science and Technology (EM-50), Waste Management (EM-30), Environmental Restoration (EM-40), and Nuclear Material and Facility Stabilization (EM-60); DOE technical programs; and stakeholders. The wide range of focus area management team members will link technical and non-technical offices within the DOE community. The focus areas represent the application of business principles to technology development through emphasis on return on investment and cost avoidance.
