LINE - Leadership in Nuclear Energy Commission - Full Report

Recognizing that Idaho has a major strategic and economic interest in maintaining INL’s leadership role and in helping
the nuclear energy industry successfully meet these broader challenges, Idaho governor C.L. “Butch” Otter established
the Leadership in Nuclear Energy or “LINE” Commission in February 2012.

The Governor recognized that recent national developments in the nuclear energy sector will cause the State of Idaho to
face important choices in the future and that he needed to understand the best options available.

Consistent with the direction outlined in Governor Otter’s executive order [see Appendix I], the Commission focused
on three issues of immediate importance to the future of the nuclear energy industries sector in Idaho:
• Ensuring that the unique research capabilities of INL continue to play an important role in supporting Idaho’s economic
growth and the nation’s energy security going forward.
• Protecting the environment of Idaho and the health of its citizens by completing a comprehensive cleanup of the INL
site and working for the safe management and permanent disposition of all nuclear legacy materials and wastes
currently in Idaho.
• Building the technological, infrastructure, and workforce assets needed to position Idaho as a major player in future
domestic and global markets for reliable, carbon-free nuclear energy.

To thoroughly explore these issues and develop recommendations for the full group to consider, the
Commission established subcommittees on: (1) safety and the environment, (2) current and future technology, (3)
education and workforce needs, (4) infrastructure, and (5) the national and global landscape for nuclear energy more
broadly. The subcommittees added additional subject matter experts to the committees and were asked to answer and
research strategic questions. The specific questions posed to each subcommittee are discussed in detail in Appendix II of
this report.

The LINE Commission sought to gather as much information as possible in the most balanced, transparent, and focused manner
possible. The Commission was of the view that this approach was most likely to do justice to the complex, yet significant, relevance of the nuclear industry to the State of Idaho. Specific steps in the Commission’s deliberative process are
outlined below:
• National and local experts were sought, when possible, on every topic addressed by the Commission. The Commission
was very fortunate to receive support and expert testimony from some of the most knowledgeable officials and industry
experts in the nation.
• Meetings were held around the state (in Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Moscow) to ensure that the Commission
heard from citizens across all regions.
• Public input was critical to the process. Time was extended in each meeting for public comment, and a LINE Commission
website was established to encourage additional comment and to serve as a repository for all of the key documents associated
with the LINE Commission’s work.
• Meetings were held in a public setting and, where possible, were broadcast live via web streaming or made available
using video-conferencing technology to ensure the process was open and transparent.
• A Progress Report on the work of the Commission and its subcommittees was issued for public review and comment
in early December 2012. The Commission received hundreds of comments by the January 4th comment date
and considered those in the preparation of its final report. This report sets forth the final recommendations from the
Commission to the Governor. Readers should note that this report to the Governor is strictly advisory in nature. The
Commission is not authorized to set policy for the state of Idaho.