Engineering and Technology Road-map
- Mark Gilbertson, Office of Engineering and Technology, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy (United States)
Throughout its existence, the Environmental Management (EM) program has required a strong technology component to accomplish its mission, one that is focused on developing technologies to enhance safety, effectiveness, and efficiency. Although the Department of Energy (DOE) has made great progress toward safely disposing of the legacies of the Cold War, much remains to be done. These past accomplishments provide a guide for future success; however, the unique nature of many of the remaining challenges will require a strong and responsive applied research and engineering program. The Engineering and Technology Road-map was developed to address this need and guide the EM Engineering and Technology Program. The Road-map identifies the technical risks and uncertainties that the EM program faces over the next ten years; the strategies EM will use to reduce those risks; and the planned outcomes of implementing those strategies. Input for this Road-map was provided by EM Federal Project Directors, Stakeholders, Site Contractors, National Laboratories and the National Academy of Science. To accomplish this work, EM has designated federal Strategic Initiative Managers who will work with Federal Project Directors to develop, refine and implement a detailed scope and schedule for each initiative, as well as identify the point at which the technologies developed will be inserted into EM cleanup projects. The starting point for the Road-map was technical project risk and uncertainty. Risks are defined as known technical issues that could prevent project success. Uncertainties are indefinite or unpredictable technical aspects of a project. Risks included in the Road-map were identified in three ways: 1) By the Projects - EM's operations are performed within a culture of disciplined project management, based on DOE Order 413.3A, Program and Project Management for the Acquisition of Capital Assets. As such, technical risks and uncertainties affecting each cleanup project are identified early in the project life cycle, are captured in project risk assessments, and often lead to applied technology development activities. 2) By reviews and assessments - EM utilizes experts to review the progress of its major cleanup projects and to assess the maturity of evolving technologies. These reviews include External Technical Reviews and Technology Readiness Assessments. They transcend the project's baseline and often identify opportunities for reducing technical risk through development and deployment of innovative or enhanced technologies. 3) By the sites - EM periodically asks EM sites to identify technical risks and uncertainties in the form of technical needs. The Road-map divides EM risks into six program areas: Waste Processing, Groundwater and Soil Remediation, Deactivation and Decommissioning (D and D) and Facility Engineering, Spent Nuclear Fuel, Challenging Materials, and Integration. Tables 1-6 show those risks and uncertainties, as well as the 13 strategic initiatives established to address those risks. In conclusion, the Engineering and Technology Road-map presents an integrated approach to reducing the technical risks and uncertainties facing the EM program in a manner consistent with its disciplined approach to project management. The risks include challenges in waste processing, groundwater and soil remediation, deactivation and decommissioning, spent nuclear fuel, challenging materials, and integration. The EM Engineering and Technology Program will address these risks, and will use applied research and engineering to improve technologies and processes at sites across the country. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21319771
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-10-WM-08245; TRN: US10V0486061962
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2008 Waste Management Symposium - WM2008/WM'08: HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, Mixed, Hazardous Wastes and Environmental Management - Phoenix Rising: Moving Forward in Waste Management, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 24-28 Feb 2008; Other Information: Country of input: France
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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