PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW

OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

With the end of the Cold War, the Department of Energy (DOE) is focusing on understanding and eliminating the enormous environmental problems created by the Department's historical mission of nuclear weapons production.  The DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM) seeks to eliminate these threats to human health and the environment, as well as to prevent pollution from on-going activities.  The goals for waste management and environmental remediation include meeting regulatory compliance agreements, reducing the cost and risk associated with waste treatment and disposal, and expediently deploying technologies to accomplish these activities.  While radioactive contaminants are the prime concern, hazardous metals and organics, as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), are also important.

The responsibilities of DOE's Office of EM include the deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) of thousands of contaminated facilities.  In addition to radioactive materials, many of the facilities are contaminated with hazardous materials, such as mercury, asbestos, and lead.  DOE needs to reduce the volume of contaminated materials; therefore, new or improved technologies are needed to separate contaminates from surfaces such as concrete.  These facilities also require continued monitoring and maintenance because deterioration could make them unsafe for workers to enter or increase the risk of contaminant release to the environment.  DOE also needs to reduce risks to workers from potential exposures associated with D&D activities.  Therefore, new or improved technologies are needed for monitors and/or sensors, especially for detecting airborne particulates containing metals, organics, or radionuclides.

The following topic solicits grant applications to develop technologies for D&D operations of facilities.  The subtopics provide more detailed descriptions of specific needs.

For additional information regarding the Office of Environmental Management priorities, click here.

TOPICS:

                6. Decontamination and Decommissioning of Facilities in the DOE Complex

a)  Separation Technologies for the Removal of Contaminants from Concrete

b)  Control of Airborne Radiological Contamination

c).  Monitoring Within DOE Facilities for Hazardous Contaminants, Especially to Protect Workers, and Determining Potential
      Hazardous Conditions

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Return to the Complete List of Topics

 

|  Program Information, Instructions and Requirements  |  Technical Topic Descriptions  |  View Example Forms  |  Download Program Information  | Download Technical Topics |