As defined in LM’s 2020–2025 Strategic Plan, LM established a goal to “sustainably manage and optimize the use of land and assets.” The intent is to place DOE legacy sites and property in the most beneficial use consistent with LM’s mission. LM considers environmentally sound land uses for properties in its custody. Where possible, LM makes lands and facilities available for government, public, and private use consistent with the tenets of sustainability and good land management practices.

In 2017, LM revised its Beneficial Reuse Program and developed a Beneficial Reuse Management Plan (BRMP) to promote potential reuse opportunities associated with LM’s diverse mix of sites and assets.  The Beneficial Reuse Program supports and implements multiple-use scenarios in keeping with the vision of the surrounding communities and consistent with each site’s attributes. The BRMP outlines the types of reuse, goals and objectives of the program, criteria, metrics and planning of reuse activities.

LM’s beneficial reuse refers to the productive use of an LM-managed site (LM site), that no longer has a DOE mission after remediation, by LM or other entities, while being protective of human health and the environment. Reuse activities maintain protective use of lands and remedies, including revitalization of real property and disposal of land. Two main elements for reuse are:

1. Protectiveness—activities are compatible with long-term maintenance and ensure protection of public health and the environment
2. Environmentally sound—activities retain good stewardship of natural resources

LM’s goal to sustainably manage and optimize the use of land and assets, supports DOE’s overall asset reuse program. The intent is to place DOE legacy sites and property in the most beneficial use that is consistent with LM’s mission. DOE has a growing number of aging facilities and sites no longer required for mission activities. Those sites form the basis of LM’s real property asset portfolio. The objectives are to:

1. Dispose of surplus property held by the federal government
2. Maintain efficient use of government real property assets
3. Reduce the total square footage of domestic office and warehouse inventory

In order to support LM’s long-term surveillance and maintenance (LTS&M) mission and long-term stewardship of DOE assets, LM’s real property asset inventory will grow as sites are transitioned. Thus, LM’s transition approach includes initial assessments of the most effective uses or reuses of these properties that support LTS&M activities, while still protecting human health and the environment. Once a site becomes part of LM’s inventory, LM continues to make assessments on a periodic basis, as LTS&M activities progress and closure plans and strategies are implemented.

LM supports the beneficial reuse of its sites through the following reuse opportunities:

LM’s primary focus is on the LM sites that remain in federal ownership. However, LM may support partnership opportunities for beneficial reuse at non-LM-owned sites. Some LM sites are composed of multiple properties, thus the reuse program tracks individual properties at LM sites. As of March 2024, 51 properties were available for reuse with more than 95 percent of available LM sites in reuse.

The Beneficial Reuse Team works closely with both internal and external organizations to develop beneficial reuse opportunities. Collaboration can involve a wide range of external and internal working relationships. Reuse activities can include supporting the LM site itself or adjacent land uses on properties that are owned or managed by multiple entities.

While the ultimate responsibility regarding beneficial reuse decisions on LM lands rests with LM, it is recognized that individuals, communities, and governments working together toward commonly understood objectives can significantly improve the stewardship of LM lands. Building collaborative partnerships can improve communication, create a better understanding of different perspectives, and provide better solutions for addressing issues.