The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published its Strategic Plan in 2003 with four strategic and seven general goals for the nation. These include strategic goals aimed at defense, energy, science, and environment. The initial premise of the Idaho National Laboratory Strategic Plan is that "Nuclear energy holds enormous potential for the future and will benefit America and the world with safe, secure, environmentally responsible, and affordable energy . . ."
"Provide world-class scientific research capacity needed to . . . advance the frontiers of knowledge in physical sciences and areas of biological, medical, environmental and computational sciences; . . ." - DOE General Goal World-Class Scientific Research Capacity
INL has a long history of involvement in the environmental sector, beginning in the 1970s and continuing largely until 2002, when the Laboratory was designated the Nuclear Energy Center for the nation, leading the resurgence in nuclear power. In the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that INL’s past environmental market is unlikely to be its future market.
"Improve energy security by developing technologies that foster a diverse supply of reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy . . .." - DOE General Goal 4: Energy Security
Xtreme Xylanase, the most thermal- and acid-stable xylanase enzyme known, was discovered by INL researchers in a catalogued bacterium originally isolated from Nymph Creek in Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin.
The commercial environmental market follows global energy growth and is predicted to do so throughout the 21st century. Two-thirds of the growth in energy demand will be in developing countries through 2050. Understanding the environmental impacts and the development of technology to diminish the environmental effects of increased energy and water use is a major current and future market.
The focus of this business line highlights the following projects:
- Environmental Remediation Science & Technology
- Bioremediation
- Groundwater Remediation
- Mine Waste Remediation
- Environmental Monitoring and Characterization
- Subsurface Science
- Carbon Sequestration
- Nuclear Materials Management
- Waste Treatment Technology
- Waste Energy Conversion
Past large, complex environmental programs and demonstrations at INL include:
- Mixed Waste Focus Area
- Plutonium Focus Area
- National Low Level Waste Program
- Center of Excellence for Low Level and Mixed Low Level Waste
- National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program
- D&D Large Scale Demonstration
- Large Scale Infiltration Demonstration.
Some of the expertise associated with these projects moved with the large INL cleanup program to CH2M-WGIdaho, LLC, but a significant amount remains with INL.
INL’s most notable expertise in environmental science and technology includes:
- Chemical Separations
- Contaminant Assay and Characterization
- Environmental Measurements and Monitoring Systems
- Extremophile Microbiology
- Geo-Microbiology
- Nuclear Material Management and Disposition
- Waste Processing/Treatment Engineering.
Related Links:
- Applied Geosciences
- Biotechnology
- Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation (CAMS)
- Energy Efficiency Technologies
- Fossil Energy Technology
- Industrial and Material Technologies
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Subsurface Science
- Transportation Technology
- Contacts:
- Richard Rankin, (208) 526-3049, Send E-mail