DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR DOE NEEDS

摘要

Environmental restoration and waste management activities at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities are diverse and complex. Contamination at DOE sites and facilities includes radionuclides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, non-aqueous phase liquids, and heavy metals, among others. Soil and groundwater contamination are major areas of concern and DOE has focused very significant efforts in these areas. Relevant technology development activities are being conducted at DOE's own national laboratories, as well as through collaborative efforts with other federal agencies and the private sector. These activities span research and development (R&D) of new concepts and techniques to demonstration and commercialization of mature technologies. Since 1990, DOE has also supported R&D of innovative technologies through interagency agreements with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and others.This paper summarizes DOE's environmental technology development efforts through participation in EPA's Hazardous Substances Research Centers (HSRC) Program. It examines the R&D progress to date and discusses the status of the promising innovative technologies and their applicability to environmental remediation problems.