Environmental Management Fact Sheets. INSTITUTION Department of Energy, Washington, D.C
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 383 566 SE 056 510 TITLE Environmental Management Fact Sheets. INSTITUTION Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO DOE/EM-0071P PUB DATE Aug 94 NOTE 84p.; Photographs may not reproduce well. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MFO1 /PC04 Pius Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Energy Education; Environmental Education; *Federal Legislation; *Hazardous Materials; Nuclear Energy; *Pollution; Radiation; Solid Wastes; Technology; *Waste Disposal IDENTIFIERS *Department of Energy; Environmental Law; Environmental Management; Environmental Protection' *Fact Sheets ABSTRACT In recent years, the need for nuclear materials has decreased and the Department of Energy (DOE) has focused greater attention on cleaning up contamination left from past activities. The Office of Environmental Management (EM) within DOE is responsible for managing waste and cleaning up contamination at DOE sites across the nation. This collection of 40 EM Fact Sheets contains information on DOE .nd EM activities in technology development, facility transition and management, radiation in the environment, and related programs and activities. Three major sections contain fact sheets on laws and regulations, waste management, and environmental restoration. Regulations covered include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act or "Superfund"; the National Environmental Policy Act; and additional statutes affecting DOE's Environmental Management Program. Other tact sheets contain definitions of waste management and environmental restoration and cover activities at DOE regional operations offices. Fact Sheets are a major component of EM's Public Participation Program, which attempts to educate stakeholders in DOE-related environmental issues. EM also sponsors educational progr ms, special topic workshops, and science units for schools. (LZ) ********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. k********************************************************************** ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FACT SHEETS "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS U S DEPARTMENT OP EDUCATION MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY OIIK. rrl F OucaliOnal FIICh And IffipeOssmitnt EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION 1;c4G, CENTER (ERIC) h. COCunOni %.s been rorodocd vsisIrom lb* Dotson or oroaro:soon angtnattng .t CI Mow chamois nave Mon made to oorwovo ,TTOrooluohoo dullty TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES POrOt Of .,0, or of:Amon Mated .0 'his dog, INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) mnt do not ncaldy oboonI offico OE RI KAMo a Poke" U.S. Department of Energy August 1994 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Environmental Management (EM) Fact Sheets DOE Office of Environmental ManagementDOE/EM-0071P ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION (green) DOE EM Sites DOE/EM-0063P What is Environmental Restoration? DOE/EM-0667P EM Public Participation Activities DOE/EM-0183P Environmental Restoration Activities echnology Development DOE/EM-0184P at Albuquerque Operations Office DOE/EM-0041P Facility Transition and Management DOE/EM-0185P at Chicago Operations Office DOE/EM-0042P Radiation in the Environment DOE/EM-0065P - at Fernald Environmental Management Related Programs and Activities DOE/EM-0186P Project DOE/EM-0043P - at Idaho Operations Office DOE/EM-0044P LAWS AND REGULATIONS (yellow) - at Nevada Operations Office DOE/EM-0045P Resource Conservation and Recovery ActDOE/EM-0037P - at Oak Ridge Operations Office DOE/EM-0046P Comprehensive Environmental Response, - at Oakland Operations Office DOE/EM-0049P Compensation, and Liability Act or - at Richland Operations Office DOE/EM-0047P "Superfund" DOE/EM-0038P - at Rocky Flats Office DOE/EM-0048P National Environmental Policy Act DOE/EM-0187P - at Savannah River Operations Office DOE/EM-0050P Additional Statutes Affecting DOE's Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Environmental Management Program DOE/EM-0039P Action Program DOE/EM-0052P Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project DOE/EM-0053P WASTE MANAGEMENT (blue) What is Waste Management ? DOE/EM-0066P Definitions of Environmental Management Managed Wastes and Spent Nuclear Fuel DOE/EM-0188P Pollution Prevention DOE/EM-0189P Spent Nuclear Fuel DOEJEM-0191P Waste Management Activities - at Albuquerque OperationsOffice DOE/EM-0025P - at Chicago OperationsOffice DOE/EM-0026P - at Idaho OperationsOffice DOE/EM-0027P at Nevada Operations Office DOE/EM-0028P at Oak Ridge Operations Office DOE/EM-0029P at Oakland Operations Office DOE/EM-0032P at Richland Operations Office DOE/EM-0030P at Rocky Flats Office DOEJEM-0031P at Savannah River Operations Office DOE/EM-0033P Vitrification Processes DOE/EM-0190P Waste Isolation Pilot Plant DOE/EM-0036P For more information about the U.S. Department of Energy's Environmental Management Program, please call the Center for Environmental Management Information at 1-800-736-3282. DOE/EM-0071P (Revision 1) DOE Office of Environmental Management Responsible for cleaning up DOE's contamination and managing DOE's waste Mission: to protect human health and the environment The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) faces management, technology development, and the nation's largest environmental, facility transition and management. managerial, and technical challenge since the space race of the 1960's. For 50 years, the Public participation is a new way of doing United States produced nuclear materials for business that invoives those who have a stake weapons. In recent years, the need for these in DOE's activities in decisions and outcomes. materials has decreased, and DOE has turnedEM has a public participation plan that goes its attention to cleaning up contamination left beyond the requirements specified by law to from these past activities. include citizens, Congress, state and local governments, regulators, and Indian Nations in DOE is responsible for providing the scientific its planning and decision making activities. foundation, technology, and leadership to achieve efficiency in the nation's energy use, Environmental restoration is the process of diversity in energy sources, improved cleaning up contamination at inactive sites. environmental quality, and a secure national Some areas have been contaminated by defense. In the past, DOE's approach wa-, unwanted releases or spills into the characterized by defense-oriented standards. environment, or by past practices believed safe Information was shared only on a need-to- and adequate at the time. Today's standards for know basis, and decision making was protecting human health and the environment compartmentalized. Today, DOE is are much higher, and some old sites must be environment-oriented, has an integrated cleaned up again to meet these standards. organization and an open, consensus-based Some facilities that were used to produce decision making process that includes the ruclear materials are no longer needed. These public. DOE has initiated a collaborative total will be cleaned up and either demolished or quality management strategy designed to reused for nonnuclear purposes. improve its functioning. Waste management is the minimization, The Office of Environmental Management treatment, storage, and disposal of waste at (EM) within DOE is responsible for managing DOE sites. EM manages radioactive, waste and cleaning up contamination at DOE hazardous, mixed (radioactive and hazardous sites across the nation. As the Department's waste combined), and sanitary waste as well as biggest program, EM must safely minimize, spent nuclear fuel. handle, treat, store, transport, and dispose of DOE waste. EM must also ensure that risks Technology development activities are to human health and safety and the research, development, demonstration, testing, environment posed by DOE facilities are and evaluation projects to develop cleanup eliminated or reduced to publicly acceptable technologies that are safer and more time and levels. All EM activities must be conducted in cost-effective than those currently available. compliance with federa!, state, local, and Indian Nation environmental and health and Facility transition and management is the safety laws and regulations. EM's stabilization and transfer of old DOE facilities responsibilities include public participation, from production activities to environmental environmental restoration, waste management activities. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management August 1994 With a mission of protecting human health and and upgrades are planned at many sites by the environment, EM aims to accomplish the 1995. By the year 2000, EM hopes to serve as following six goals: the model for public management of environmental protection activities. Eliminate and manage urgent risks in DOE's system, EM's job is to shape a program that will withstand 'ong-term pressures. A clear Provide a safe workplace and emphasize strategy followed by a strong commitment to health and safety for both DOE workers results will gain the trust and confidence of and the public, Congress, the states, Indian Nations, and Establish a system that is under control citizens. With a work force that includes some managerially and financially, the most talented technical professionals in the nation and a clear mandate from citizens and Demonstrate tangible results by being government to move forward to clean up more outcome oriented, contamination and manage waste, EM will Focus technology development program accomplish its goals. on DOE's major environmental management