About the EM Site-Specific Advisory Board

When stakeholders want to share information and become involved in the environmental decision-making process, the cleanup activities at Federal facilities benefit. The Department of Energy (DOE) continues its commitment to involving stakeholders early and often in decision-making regarding the DOE program. This involvement helps agencies make cost-efficient and environmentally sound decisions, which lead to faster, safer cleanups.

What Are Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Boards?

Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Boards were developed to involve stakeholders more directly in DOE EM cleanup decisions. While only one Federal Advisory Committee Act-chartered Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB) exists, 8 local Boards under the EM SSAB umbrella charter have been organized at Hanford in Washington State, Idaho, Northern New Mexico, Nevada, Oak Ridge in Tennessee, Paducah in Kentucky, Portsmouth in Ohio, and Savannah River in South Carolina. (See Map below)

What Do The Local Site Boards Do?

The local site Boards provide the Assistant Secretary for EM & Field Managers with policy information, advice, and recommendations concerning environmental restoration, waste management, and technology development activities. They provide input and recommendations on difficult and sometimes controversial national and site-specific issues such as future use, risk management, cleanup levels, economic development, and budget prioritization activities. Since their inception, local site Boards have helped establish public trust and confidence in the EM program and DOE.

At the request of the Assistant Secretary or the Field Managers, the EM SSAB may provide advice and recommendations concerning the following EM site-specific issues: clean-up standards and environmental restoration; waste management and disposition; stabilization and disposition of non-stockpile nuclear materials; excess facilities; future land use and long term stewardship; risk assessment and management; and clean-up science and technology activities.

Who Serves On The Local Site Boards?

Local site Board membership, which reflects a full diversity of views, cultures, and demographics from affected communities and regions, is composed primarily of people who are directly affected by site cleanup activities. Members include stakeholders from local governments, Tribal Nations, environmental and civic groups, labor organizations, universities, industry, and other interested citizens.

What Are Local Site Board Responsibilities?

• Submitting advice and recommendations to EM on site-specific issues.

• Representing and communicating the diversity of community views in their discussions.

• Keeping the public informed on key issues, upcoming decisions, and board recommendations.

DOE's obligations to the local site boards include:

• Keeping the boards informed about key issues and upcoming decisions.

• Requesting advice well in advance of DOE deadlines.

• Considering and responding in a timely manner to all Board recommendations.

• Providing adequate funding for administrative and technical support.

Are They Working?

Since 1994, the local site Boards have met numerous times, providing DOE with hundreds of recommendations. Many of these recommendations have proven highly effective in redirecting EM efforts in ways that have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

• At Hanford, the local site Board recommended that the DOE reduce indirect and overhead costs, saving more than $200 million. Additionally, the Board recommended against DOE building six new double-shelled tanks. As a result, the Energy Department avoided approximately $375 million in unnecessary costs.

• At the Idaho National Laboratory, the Board recommended that DOE use the most efficient and cost-effective method available for remediating ground water contaminated with hazardous chemicals — resulting in a savings of more than $6.5 million.

• At Savannah River, the local Board has assisted in accelerating the closure of the Old Radioactive Waste Burial Ground (ORWBG), the highest risk site in the Savannah River Site's Environmental Restoration Program. With their input and recommendations, SRS has proposed a final remedy for this waste unit that combines remedies from three nearby radioactive waste basins with the closure of the ORWBG.

• At Paducah, waste disposition has been one of the local Board's primary focuses. They have performed in-depth studies on a potential on-site disposal facility, ultimately aiding in the selection of its future location. The Board continues to stay abreast of the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility study and currently is focused on the on-site sanitary landfill and a myriad of regulatory issues. It is also preparing comments on actions resulting from the Accelerated Cleanup Plan.

• At Oak Ridge, the Board submitted its Comprehensive Closure Proposal identifying two projects for accelerated closure. Its proposed disposition of low-level radioactive waste will produce an $8 - $9 million savings. In another project, two high school classes wrote summaries of the Oak Ridge Reservation Stakeholders Reports on Stewardship as a way to educate other students about stewardship.

How Can You Get Involved?

Advisory Board meetings serve as a two-way exchange between members of the public and DOE. They always include a public comment and question/answer period through which you can voice your issues or submit written questions. DOE responds to the comments and considers them during decision-making.

If you are interested in serving on a local board, contact the office nearest you listed below.

Department of Energy Contacts

The lists that follow contain a comprehensive list of Federal and Board offices. You can write or call the site nearest you for information about meetings and activities, or serving on a board.

EM SSAB Offices and Administrative Contacts
Hanford Hanford Advisory Board 713 Jadwin Ave., Suite 4 Richland, WA 99352 Contact: Barbara Wise or Sharon Braswell Phone: (509) 372-3269 or (509) 376-9292 Fax: (509) 376-5343 E-mail: Barbara_K_Wise@rl.gov or Sharon_M_Braswell@rl.gov Website: www.hanford.gov/page.cfm/hab	Oak Ridge Oak Ridge SSAB P.O. Box 2001 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Contact: Pete Osborne Phone: (865) 241-4583 Fax: (865) 574-3521 E-mail: osbornepl@oro.doe.gov Website: www.oakridge.doe.gov/em/ssab/
Idaho Idaho National Laboratory Site EM Citizens Advisory Board c/o North Wind, Inc. 1425 Higham Street Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Contact: Peggy Hinman Phone (208) 557-7885 Fax: (208) 528-8714 E-mail: phinman@northwindgrp.com Website: http://inlcab.energy.gov/	Paducah & Portsmouth Paducah Citizens Advisory Board Portsmouth SSAB c/o EHI Consultants, Inc. 111 Memorial Drive, Paducah, KY, 42001 Contact: Eric Roberts Phone: (270) 554-3004 Fax: (270) 554-3248 E-mail: eric@pgdpcab.org Website: www.pgdpcab.energy.gov/IndexCab.html www.ports-ssab.energy.org
Nevada Nevada SSAB c/o Navaro, Inc. 232 Energy Way Las Vegas, NV 89030 Contact: Denise Rupp Phone: (702) 630-0522 Fax: (702) 295-5300 E-mail: nssab@nv.doe.gov Website: http://nv.energy.gov/NSSAB/default.aspx	Savannah River Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board P.O. Box A Building 730-B/Room 3396 Aiken, SC 29802 Contact: Erica Williams Phone: (803) 952-9188 Fax: (803) 952-9228 E-mail: erica.williams@srs.gov Website: www.srs.gov/general/outreach/srs-cab/srs-cab.html
Northern New Mexico (Los Alamos) Northern New Mexico Citizens' Advisory Board 94 Cities of Gold Road Santa Fe, NM 87506 Contact: Menice Santistevan Phone: (505) 995-0393 Fax: (505) 989-1752 E-mail: msantistevan@doeal.gov Website: http://www.nnmcab.energy.gov