Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order

{{Expansion depth limit exceeded|ProgramName=Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order |ProgramType=Program |OrgSponsor=National Nuclear Security Administration/Nevada Field Office |TopOrganization=Department of Energy |CreationLegislation=None |Purpose=The Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order oversees the environmental cleanup of contaminated sites in Nevada, primarily the Nevada National Security Site, by coordinating corrective actions among federal and state entities. It aims to protect public health and the environment by identifying and remediating historical contamination from nuclear testing and related activities. |Website=https://www.nnss.gov/environmental-compliance/ |ProgramStart=1996 |InitialFunding=Not publicly specified |Duration=Ongoing |Historic=false }}

The Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (FFACO) is a Department of Energy program established to manage the comprehensive cleanup of contaminated sites in Nevada, focusing on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), parts of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), Tonopah Test Range (TTR), and off-site areas like the Central Nevada Test Area (CNTA) and Project Shoal Area (PSA). Signed on May 10, 1996, by the DOE, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), it addresses over 2,000 corrective action sites (CASs) impacted by nuclear weapons testing and waste management from the 1950s to 1992, with more than half closed by 2025.Expansion depth limit exceeded The FFACO provides a legal framework for risk-based corrective actions, ensuring compliance with federal and state environmental laws like CERCLA and RCRA.

{{Expansion depth limit exceeded|url=https://www.nnss.gov/environmental-compliance/}}

Goals

Identify and remediate contaminated sites to meet federal and state environmental standards.
Protect Nevada’s public health and ecosystems through risk-based cleanup strategies.
Complete corrective actions efficiently, targeting closure of all identified sites over decades.Expansion depth limit exceeded

Organization

The FFACO is administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration/Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO), with oversight shared among DOE’s Office of Legacy Management (for off-sites), the Department of Defense (for specific NTTR and TTR areas), and NDEP’s Bureau of Federal Facilities. A Program Manager within NNSA/NFO leads the effort, coordinating with state regulators and federal partners via a formal agreement structure.Expansion depth limit exceeded Funding comes from DOE appropriations, with NDEP enforcing compliance and approving site closures.

Partners

History

The FFACO was formalized on May 10, 1996, following years of negotiations prompted by Nevada’s concerns over contamination from decades of nuclear testing at NNSS, ending with the 1992 moratorium.Expansion depth limit exceeded It replaced earlier inconsistent cleanup efforts with a unified framework under CERCLA and RCRA, evolving through amendments (e.g., 2006, 2016) to refine risk-based corrective action processes. By 2025, over 1,200 of 2,075 CASs were closed, with milestones adapting to new scientific standards and community input. The program continues with no set end, planning further site closures into the 2030s.

Funding

Initial funding in 1996 was not publicly detailed but integrated into DOE’s Environmental Management budget, with ongoing support through annual appropriations.Expansion depth limit exceeded Costs cover site investigations, remediation, and monitoring, fluctuating with site complexity—e.g., soil cleanups versus groundwater challenges at CNTA. No termination date exists, as funding aligns with long-term cleanup goals.

Implementation

The FFACO executes cleanup via a tiered process: site identification, investigation, risk assessment, and remediation or closure, managed through the Corrective Action Strategy.Expansion depth limit exceeded It employs risk-based corrective actions (RBCA), updated since 1996, with over 1,200 sites closed by 2025 via methods like soil excavation or institutional controls. The program is ongoing, adapting to new data and regulatory shifts, with no fixed end date.

External links

Social media

References