Organizational Mission Statements

The mission of the Office of Environmental Management (EM) is to complete the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy brought about from five decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. The program is one of the largest and most diverse and technically complex environmental cleanup programs in the world and includes responsibility for the cleanup of 108 contaminated nuclear weapons manufacturing and testing sites across the United States. Specified in that responsibility is the need to:

• Safely disposition large volumes of nuclear wastes;
• Safeguard materials that could be used in nuclear weapons; and,
• Deactivate and decommission several thousand contaminated facilities no longer needed to support the Department's mission and remediate extensive surface and groundwater contamination.

The mission of the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary is to assist the Assistant Secretary in carrying out program and policy direction under EM’s jurisdiction and serves as alter ego for the Assistant Secretary. The Principal Deputy ensures integrated coordination of corporate initiatives across the Department and provides daily oversight of the Deputy Assistant Secretaries’ programs.

The Executive Officer assists the EM-1 in communications with EM-2/-3, and the Deputy Assistant Secretaries, as well as monitors the progress and implementation of EM-1 policies and initiatives.

The mission of the Office of Communications and External Affairs is to provide clear, timely and consistent communication of what the Office of Environmental Management (EM) goals are and how EM is progressing towards meeting these goals. The Office provides communications to EM’s stakeholders both inside and outside the Department, and ensures that the totality of EM communications is being handled in an integrated, consistent manner and that consistent and informative messages and strategies are being disseminated throughout the organization.

The Office of Management Analysis will serve as the single focal point for management analysis of all processes and practices for the entire EM enterprise. Policy integration and dissemination includes all policies and practices of critical EM mission and mission support activities. This Office also provides management capability to examine organizational roles, responsibilities, authorities and accountability for facilitating, coordinating, creating and tracking management initiatives cross-cutting the entire EM organization.

The Chief Operations Officer assists the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management(EM) in carrying out oversight responsibilities for sites under EM’s jurisdiction. The Office provides day-to-day operational oversight and management of the environmental health and safety, safeguards and security, emergency management, packaging and transportation and Standards and Quality Assurance operations at EM sites and facilities. The Office ensures overall site integration and operations to ensure line management accountability.

The mission of the Office of Project Recovery is to provide additional focus on at risk projects assigned by EM-1 when there is concern about the project’s performance. The Office will have the lead responsibility to evaluate the wholistic view of tank waste processing, bulk vitrification, other alternative technologies, and the option forward on the Waste Treatment Plant.

The mission of the Office of Safety Management and Operations is to manage DOE/EM-wide Integrated Safety Management implementation oversight activities, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) recommendations and issues, standards assurance for major project planning and execution, operational safety and awareness programs, quality assurance programs, DOE-wide radioactive materials packaging/certification program, transportation policy and operational logistics, and various EM line management assessments. The mission also includes serving as the senior executive official and focal point for providing day-to-day safety operational oversight, feedback, interface, and direction to the EM field/operations offices. The DAS will be the Headquarters Certifying Official for the hazardous (including radioactive) materials package certifications and the associated audits and inspections. The DAS represents EM in frequent interfaces with the DNFSB and its senior staff and the Chief of Nuclear Safety for the Under Secretary.

The mission of the Office of Safety Management is to ensure proper implementation and continuous improvement of Integrated Safety Management Systems in the EM complex and to serve as a focal point for EM safety standards and policy development, interpretation, and interfaces with internal/external oversight organizations. It serves as the focal point (liaison function) within EM on all Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) related issues and ensures timely and technically sound resolution of its recommendations and concerns.

The mission of the Operations Oversight Office is to manage the EM operational safety, health and quality assurance programs such as Conduct of Operations, startup/restart of nuclear facilities, operational readiness reviews, and occurrence reporting information, as well as providing oversight of all EM safety operations. The office also manages the EM FRAM and assessment activities. The operational site leads provide day-to-day oversight of operational safety issues and maintain awareness of site issues and events of their respective sites.

The mission of the Office of Packaging and Transportation is to develop, manage and coordinate policies and procedures for packaging and transportation activities for DOE materials, including hazardous materials (particularly radioactive), substances and wastes; to develop the systems and technologies to ensure packaging and transportation activities are safe, economical, efficient, secure, and meet applicable regulatory requirements; and to resolve packaging and transportation issues economically, safely, and promptly.

The mission of the Office of Standards and Quality Assurance is to ensure that the necessary technical, safety, and quality requirements and standards are properly identified and adequately implemented for all line-item EM capital projects and major operating projects and facilities in a timely and technically defensible manner. The Office serves as the focal point for developing key criteria and attributes for evaluating the quality and technical rigor of implementation of the appropriate requirements and standards to support a decision making process for the critical phases of a project. The Office provides leadership and management of a corporate quality assurance (QA) evaluation program to oversee the field implementation of the specific QA and quality control processes applied to the major EM projects, including waste quality matters subject to the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management program.

The mission of the Office of Safeguards and Security/Emergency Management is to develop and oversee the implementation of policy and guidance with respect to security and emergency management. It also serves as a liaison with sites and other agencies on security issues.

The Office of Site Support is responsible for effectively implementing EM responsibilities, obligations, and activities at the larger non-EM and non-DOE sites and for increasing management accountability at those sites; transition of non-EM sites to the responsible landlord organizations or to the Office of Legacy Management upon completion of EM activities; and for working with the other EM offices to expedite issues.

The Office of Small Sites Projects is responsible for effectively implementing EM responsibilities, obligations, and activities at the smaller non-EM and non-DOE sites and for increasing management accountability at those sites; transition of non-EM sites to the responsible landlord organizations or to the Office of Legacy Management upon completion of EM activities; and for working with the other EM offices to expedite issues.

The mission of the Office of Regulatory Compliance is the lead on matters related to EM’s legal and regulatory responsibilities defined by law, negotiated or stipulated compliance agreements, DOE policies and Orders, and DNFSB milestones. This Office also supports the implementation of EM waste and materials disposition activities in the field. This office will support resolution of issues related to actual disposal operations and, where appropriate, provide the complex-wide integration of operational disposition activities. In addition, this Office will serve as the primary interface with stakeholder groups both within and outside the Department; perform analyses and develop and recommend program strategies integrated across the full spectrum of EM mission decisions to inform program management, strategic planning and budget formulation; and leads efforts to develop strategies for the disposition of strategic, industrial and special nuclear materials (SNM), and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from within the EM complex and analysis, and materials and waste disposition planning.

The mission of the Office of Compliance is to develop policy and guidance on regulatory compliance. It is also responsible for conducting analysis and evaluation of compliance with requirements of regulatory and compliance agreements and including achievement of milestones. It is responsible for interaction with all external regulators.

The mission of the Office of Disposal Operations is to ensure that disposal operations are carried out smoothly. It is responsible for review and approval of waste disposal and waste management plans. It is responsible for development of policy and guidance with respect to waste management and disposal.

The mission of the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Accountability is to develop guidance, and monitor and ensure implementation of the Department’s Public Participation Policy, DOE Policy 141.2 and of the Department’s American Indian and Alaska Native Policy, DOE Order 1230.2. The Office will coordinate EM’s interactions with intergovernmental groups, advisory boards, tribal nations, and other affected entities and stakeholders.

The mission of the Office of Nuclear Materials Disposition is to perform analyses and develop and recommend program strategies integrated across the full spectrum of EM mission decisions to inform program management, strategic planning and budget formulation. The Office leads efforts to develop strategies for the disposition of strategic, industrial and special nuclear materials (SNM), and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from within the EM complex. Responsibilities include development and maintenance of integrated management and disposition strategy documents and tools (including complex-wide inventories and databases, and disposition maps for SNM and SNF); conducting trade studies and performing life-cycle alternatives analysis; providing out-year budget integration support; coordinating the development of EM program planning and reporting documents; and interfacing with other DOE program offices, such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (NE) to assure timely coordination on key issues and planning.

The mission of the Office of Engineering and Technology is to identify and advance technologies, processes, and technical practices that improve the performance of Environmental Management projects over their entire lifecycle, from planning to disposal. The Office provides the highest level of interdisciplinary engineering consultation, guidance, expertise, and continuity in the organization. It provides EM with development and implementation of engineering concepts, practices, programs and advance technologies for improvement of design, construction, and system/facilities management activities. The Office develops policy and guidance, and provides advice and technology assistance to all of EM. These policies are in keeping with laws, regulations, and higher-level DOE policy requiring responsible engineering practices that ensure that system/facilities designs meet appropriate standards. The Office works to reduce total cleanup costs by promoting cross-site integration, standardizing best technical practice, solutions, materials and processes. The Office maintains a cadre of subject matter experts that work to reduce planning, design, construction costs and maintenance and operation costs, provide innovative transition to state of the art, beneficial technology and research and development, and leverage lessons learned and feedback.

The mission of the Office of Waste Processing is to perform assessments, establish technical criteria and cross-site integration. The office develops guidance and conducts oversight of EM’s waste processing operations and is responsible for the development of technology needed to address waste processing problems. It is also responsible for providing technical direction and/or assistance to sites to address difficult technical problems.

The mission of the Office of Groundwater and Soil Remediation is to perform assessments, establish technical criteria and cross-site integration. The office provides guidance for the development and implementation of plans for remediation of groundwater and is responsible for development of technologies needed to address groundwater remediation problems. It is also responsible for providing technical direction and/or assistance to sites for resolving difficult technical problems.

The mission of the Office of Decontamination and Decommissioning and Facility Engineering is to perform assessments, establish technical criteria, and cross-site integration. The office develops guidance and provides support on the decontamination and decommissioning activities across the EM complex. It also conducts technology development programs to address decontamination and decommissioning problems and is responsible for providing technical direction and/or assistance to resolving difficult technical problems.

The mission of the Office of Program Planning and Budget is to manage, integrate and coordinate planning and budget support for the Office of Environmental Management (EM). This support includes budget development and execution and strategic planning.

The mission of the Office of Budget is to manage the EM formulation, justification, and execution of the budget, provide programmatic guidance and direction, resource allocation, and ensuring compliance with the budget process and all budgetary reporting requirements of the Financial Integrity Act.

The mission of the Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis is to perform strategic planning and critical analysis for the EM mission. It is also responsible for developing performance measures and ensuring that those standards are met, and to support all Congressional deliverables. It is also responsible for cleanup end states and transition of completed EM sites to other organizations.

The mission of the Office of Human Capital and Business Services is four-fold: 1) the development and implementation of the EM enterprise human capital program; 2) the development and implementation of EM’s information technology and cyber security programs; 3) the management of human resources liaison services; and 4) infrastructure support in the areas of procurement, records management, executive services, federal purchase cards; foreign travel; permanent change of station; training administration; space and logistics; executive correspondence; and Freedom of Information Act.

The Office of Human Capital ensures that EM has the workforce necessary, both now and in the future, to accomplish the cleanup of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) sites. The Office ensures that the human capital program is aligned with refining and improving internal business processes in the areas of safety, environmental compliance and remediation, project management, performance, occupational health, contract planning and execution, and human capital.

The mission of the Office of Corporate Information and Services is as the principal advisor for the Department on matters related to standards and procedures for cyber security, IT capital investment planning, web content management and management support services. This office also provides administrative direction in the areas of HQ management services, to include: procurement and contract administration; federal purchase cards; records management; foreign travel; permanent change of station; training administration; space and logistics; executive correspondence; and Freedom of Information Act. The Office is the principal information management and information technology Executive for the Office of Environmental Management. The Office provides advice and assistance to the Deputy Assistant Secretary, top EM leaders and other senior managers to ensure that information technology is acquired and information resources are managed in a manner that implements that policies and procedures of legislation, including the Paperwork Reduction Act and the Clinger Cohen Act; the e-government initiative of the President's Management Agenda (PMA); and, the priorities established by the Assistant Secretary. As the principal change agent for corporate perspective throughout EM information activities and champions EM initiatives to effectively plan and manage information and to provide for corporate systems that add value to the business lines of the EM.

The mission of the Office of Acquisition and Project Management is to assure effective acquisition and project management in the execution of the EM program. It is also responsible for developing and implementing site and project specific acquisition and contract strategies, interacting with the Consolidated Business Center (CBC) on procurements at sites under its procurement authority, overseeing the execution of contracts including the execution of all cleanup and closure contracts in the field, as well as the implementation of project management of projects. Serves as the primary interface with DOE’s Office of Management.

The mission of the Office of Procurement Planning is to assure that there is adequate long-range and strategic planning and preparation for the future execution of the EM program. This includes conducting strategic planning, contract development, and adequate project planning to achieve Critical Decision 0. It is the lead office for overall EM acquisition strategy, as well as lead to coordinate site and project specific acquisition and contract strategy. It interacts with the CBC on procurements at sites under its purview.

The mission of the Office of Contract and Project Execution is to manage, integrate, and coordinate, and oversee the execution of contracts within the Office of Environmental Management (EM). This includes the execution of all cleanup and closure contracts in the field as well as complex-wide (i.e., multi-site) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts. It serves as the focal point within EM on all contract executions and interfaces with the Office of Procurement in all contract execution decisions within EM.

The mission of the Office of Project Management is to manage, integrate, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of project management within EM. This includes development of policy, defining project requirements, analyzing and overseeing project execution, and reporting to senior management on project execution.