The Department of Energy has missed giving several important updates to the Savannah River Site Citizen’s Advisory Board on time, and that may be hampering the CAB and public trust in the Department, the Board says. The CAB found out about several noteworthy issues through media reports, according to a draft recommendation released this week. That includes the potential import of highly enriched uranium from Germany, potential fines from the state for missed cleanup milestones and safety concerns raised by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. “In order for the Citizens Advisory Board to be able to provide meaningful input and formal written recommendations to the Department of Energy, as required by law, its members need to be informed of situations at the Site in a timely manner. The failure of the Department to do such is threatening to erode public trust and hampering the effectiveness of the Board,” states the draft recommendation, which will be voted on at the next CAB meeting in September.
Normally information is communicated from DOE to the CAB through formal presentations at bimonthly meetings. “Key information about the Site could be delivered in a timely manner by simply building on existing communication methods between the Department and the Board, resulting in an increased opportunity for open dialogue and developing a stronger relationship,” the draft recommendation states. It also asks for e-mail updates “when a situation arises” so that information does not appear in the press “before the Board is informed in a meeting environment.”