Innovative Stakeholder Involvement Processes in Department of Energy Programs - A Selective Accounting

The Blue Ribbon Commission staff requested this paper cataloging innovative stakeholder involvement programs within the Department of Energy (DOE). I reviewed a variety of material on public involvement, including papers and presentations on stakeholder involvement in DOE programs, published presentations and comments to the BRC, and research reports on stakeholder and public involvement. The process also included interviews with selected stakeholders, including representatives of non-governmental organizations, state regional group staff and former and current DOE contractors and researchers. The paper is written from a practitioner’s perspective and is based on my experience with transportation stakeholder involvement programs as a DOE employee working in the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) and the Environmental Management (EM) Programs from 1985 until 2007. The DOE programs selected for this paper illustrate principles and themes documented by the National Research Council (NRC) and have elements that could serve as models or cautionary tales for future spent fuel management programs. The definition of stakeholders used in this paper is ―interested and affected parties (state, local, tribal officials, nongovernmental organizations, industry and labor representatives and interested members of the public) impacted by a government program and who have something aside from a financial stake in public policy outcomes.‖