LM International Collaboration Strengthens Legacy Site Management Practices

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management (LM) has not only committed to protecting human health and the environment in the United States, but also around the world. Since 2010, LM has collaborated with professionals and international groups to support long-term stewardship and remediation efforts across the globe and look for opportunities to help and improve communities through global leadership, technical assistance and exchange of scientific best practices.

Recently, LM Director Carmelo Melendez and other LM staff met with representatives from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), and the municipality of Port Hope - including the mayor - in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.

"LM's collaborations are important because it gives us a chance to share lessons and to understand and communicate best practices for managing legacy sites," said Melendez.

During the visit, LM staff shared the history of the LM program and its functions. They attended a roundtable with representatives of the municipality of Port Hope, where they discussed best management practices once the Port Hope disposal mound is closed. CNL provided a tour of the disposal mounds undergoing restoration in two locations: Port Granby in Clarington and Port Hope in Northumberland County.

This visit followed up on CNL's visit to Grand Junction, Colorado, and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where CNL staff toured LM sites to better understand how LM and its staff manage them.

"These discussions and visits not only help them, but us as well. We may be facing the same challenges, and we provide each other support and advice," Melendez said.

After the visit to Canada in July, LM and CNL met again in August and September at LM's Fernald Preserve near Cincinnati, Ohio and the Weldon Spring Site in St. Charles County, Missouri.

LM and CNL toured the Fernald Preserve in August and met with the site's stakeholders and regulators. CNL learned about the design, construction and performance of the Fernald Onsite Disposal Facility.

CNL, LM, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) then toured the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center and disposal cell in September. The group also visited USACE sites in the area that are currently being remediated under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program.

Afterwards, LM led a discussion involving public communication programs. They discussed interactions with the public, challenges, and various public and stakeholder engagements.

"It's very important that our partners get to see what a successful post-remediated site looks like and how we engage with the public and the surrounding area," Melendez said. "Our site managers have a chance to share their experiences and help our partners look at their own site challenges in a new way, and vice versa. I look forward to fostering this relationship with CNL and helping any way we can."