EM Weekly Report - 09/29/00

[Susan Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WEEKLY REPORT

September 29, 2000

I.	Schedule

10/3	Dr. Huntoon will speak at the Weapons Complex Monitor
Decisionmakers Forum.
10/4	Dr. Huntoon will speak at the NAAG-NGA Conference in Idaho Falls,
ID.
10/5	Dr. Huntoon will speak at the ECA Conference in Idaho Falls, ID.
Mr. Owendoff will be Acting Assistant Secretary in her absence.

II.	Key Departmental News

EM Integrated Safety Management Commitment Met:  On September 29,
Assistant Secretary Huntoon declared implementation of the Integrated
Safety Management Systems at EM sites and Headquarters.  The declaration
is responsive to the criteria established by the Deputy Secretary on
October 25, 1999, to complete all aspects of implementation by the end
of FY00.  This represents a major accomplishment on the part of Field
and Headquarters personnel.
Media Interest:  None
Program Contact:  Hank Himpler, 202-586-0675

Completion of Tri-Party Agreement (TPA) Milestone M-19-00:  Fluor
Hanford, Inc., (FHI) has reported completion of M-19-00, i.e., treat
and/or directly dispose of at least 246 cubic meters of CH-MLLW by
September 2000, 822 cubic meters by September 2001, and 1,644 cubic
meters by September 2002.  FHI has completed this milestone two-years
ahead of schedule by treating 1,654 cubic meters of MLLW as of this
week.  Richland will notify the regulators of this milestone completion
shortly. 
Media Interest:  None
Program Contact:  Gene Chou, 301-903-7159

Mound Bioassay Investigation Status:  The investigation of the
Miamisburg Environmental Management Project bioassay program is
complete.  During the week of September 11, the investigation team
provided a final debrief to the Partnership Council and a draft report
for factual accuracy review.  Comments are being compiled and will be
provided to the team this week.  Planning has begun to identify
resources and personnel that will be tasked with developing a
comprehensive corrective action plan.  
Media Interest:  Inside Energy and the Energy Daily
Program Contact:  Terry Tracy, 301-903-2173

Pilot Project Management Oversight Program Established at the Savannah
River Operations Office (SR):  SR has established a Project Management
Oversight (PMO) pilot program to provide project management observations
and recommendations to the Manager, SR.  The services of a senior
project manager from the private sector have been competitively
procured.  The establishment of this pilot fulfills a Congressional
requirement contained in the Fiscal Year 2000 authorization bill
directing the Secretary of Energy to carry out a pilot on the use of
project management oversight services for construction projects having a
capital construction cost not less than $25 million. 
Media Interest:  None
Program Contact:  Charlie Hansen, 803-725-2277

Project Status at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP):  The
Project is currently feeding the melter and pouring the tenth canister
for fiscal year 2000.  High-level waste transfers from Tank 8D-2 to the
Vitrification Facility were completed on September 22 and September 26.
In addition, the WVDP initiated the first low-level waste shipment
directly via rail from the site to Envirocare for disposal on September
22.  The ability for the WVDP to ship directly by rail was made
available as a result of repairs completed earlier this year to the 1.8
mile spur leading into the site, done to support the spent fuel shipment
planned for next year.
Media Interest:  None
Program Contact:  Alice C. Williams, 716-942-4312

Brownfields 2000 Conference to Be Held October 10-13 in Atlantic City,
NJ: As part of a cooperative agreement with the National Energy
Technology Laboratory (NETL), the National Institute for Environmental
Renewal (NIER) is developing procedures to transfer surplus DOE
properties to local communities. Representatives from NIER's
subcontractors, Washington State University and Carnegie Mellon
University, will present information on  the financial analysis of
brownfield development deals, and the involvement of stakeholder groups
in brownfield decisionmaking.  One of the most significant presentations
will focus on the Economic Analysis Calculator, a software
decision?support tool used to evaluate the relative economic benefit of
candidate land reuse options.  Background information about the
development of this tool and the benefits of its use will be explained.
An estimated 1,000 persons are expected to attend the conference.
Media Interest:  Possible
Program Contact:  Craig Hustwit, 412-386-4532

Environmental Management Advisory Board Meeting (EMAB):  The next
meeting of EMAB is scheduled for October 12-13 in Washington, DC.
Media Interest:  None.
Program Contact:  James T. Melillo, 202-586-4400

III.	Work on Secretarial Initiatives		

IV.	Press Inquiries

V.	FOIA Requests

VI.	Grants, Economic Announcements and Publications

VII.	Climate Change

VIII.	Disaster Assistance

-- 
.....................................................
Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director
Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee
                       -----                       
The August issue of "Insights" is now on our Web site
http://www.local-oversight.org - E-mail loc@icx.net 
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