CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION GRANT – A FIRST FOR DOE

摘要

A consolidated transportation grant would be a “first” for the Department of Energy (DOE). Currently, individual DOE Programs shipping non-classified radiological material (radioactive nuclear material and waste) provide transportation assistance to States and Tribes primarily on a campaign-by-campaign basis. This approach has resulted in overlap and inefficiencies. States and Tribes located along transportation routes introduced the concept of a consolidated transportation grant that would help them prepare for Department shipments and respond in the event of a transportation incident. Following discussion with State and Tribal representatives, DOE investigated a consolidated funding approach. This unified funding concept has been discussed among staff from various DOE Programs involved in transporting non-classified radioactive material. This proposed funding approach would be in lieu of Program-specific funding on an individual shipping campaign basis. In August 2000, the Secretary of Energy approved continued development of a consolidated grant approach with the participation of the DOE Program Offices currently shipping or planning to ship nonclassified radiological material. If implemented, it would change the current DOE ad hoc Program-by- Program, shipment-by-shipment approach now in place, and it would implement a unified policy across DOE programmatic offices shipping non-classified radiological material.