WASHINGTON, D.C. – The topic of startup and commissioning of several facilities critical to EM’s cleanup progress takes center stage on Wed., June 8 at an event on Capitol Hill for the bipartisan House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus.

   EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Whitney is one of three panelists partaking in a discussion titled, “Turning the Key on DOE Facilities: How can DOE be More Effective on Starting up Major Projects.” The event is open to the public.

   The panel will discuss how EM is approaching the startup, restart, and commissioning of key facilities, including the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) at the Savannah River Site, Direct Feed Low Activity Waste System and the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) at the Hanford Site, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. The panel will highlight past lessons being applied to the projects and steps being taken to enable safe, smooth, and successful startups of facilities.

   The other two panelists are WTP Project Director Peggy McCullough and SWPF Project Manager Frank Sheppard. DOE announced today that construction of SWPF is complete, bringing the facility one step closer to full operation planned for late 2018. 

   The caucus serves to advocate for EM’s cleanup and provide updates on the program to members of Congress. It will be the second event for the caucus this year after EM Assistant Secretary Monica Regalbuto joined a panel in April to discuss forging a path to clean up more than 2,000 excess facilities in the Department’s inventory — a number expected to grow by 1,000 in the next 10 years.

   The panel discussion is sponsored by the Energy Facility Contractors GroupEnergy Technology and Environmental Business Association, and Nuclear Energy Institute

   Wednesday’s event is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building, 45 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C., 20515.

   A third caucus event is scheduled for Sept. 14.