State perspectives contained in report on innovative technology deployment

The U.S. Department of Energy needs to at least double its funding for deployment assistance activities to maximize the number of innovative technologies that get used in the cleanup process. That and more than 15 other recommendations were made in a report issued in November 2000. The report, Approaches to Improve Innovative Technology Deployment at the U.S. Department of Energy: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for a Path Forward, evolved as a result of three workshops held on the subject of technology deployment within the Environmental Management program at DOE. The workshops brought together state and interstate groups, regulators, DOE site contractors, federal officials, and stakeholder groups with the goal of facilitating dialogue about the deployment process.

The technology deployment workshops and production of the report were conducted under the auspices of the Western Governors’ Association, the Southern States Energy Board, and the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Cooperation Work Group. Pacific Rim Enterprise Center served as project manager and publisher.

“This is the first comprehensive overview of EM’s past programs,” notes project manager and contributing author, Michael Jacobson, “and it draws on a number of different perspectives. Due to this diverse participation, the report offers a broad spectrum of recommendations for improving the deployment process. At the same time, it reveals certain universal themes that emerged during the workshops and describes the collective proposals that arose as a result.”

Approaches provides an overview of the significant achievements made and challenges faced by OST during the first decade of its program. Based largely upon the workshops’ findings, the report captures the concerns of the various participants and identifies opportunities to improve the working relationships between DOE and its stakeholders. In addition, Approaches offers suggestions for paths forward with regard to nine aspects of the technology development and deployment process, such as technology assessment, information management, contract reform, and regulatory acceptance.

Key recommendations made in the report relate to improving environmental contracting, continuing the Accelerated Site Technology Deployment initiative, requiring third-party verification of technologies intended for a DOE site, and continued support of the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Cooperation Work Group.

To view an online copy of Approaches to Improve Innovative Technology Deployment at the U.S. Department of Energy: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for a Path Forward, go to http://www.pacific-rim.org/pub/approaches.pdf.