Idaho Cleanup Project CAB

09/16/2025

SAVE THE DATE!
Idaho CAB to meet in Idaho Falls
The Idaho Cleanup Project Citizens Advisory Board will meet Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Residence Inn in Idaho Falls for the board’s quarterly meeting.

More information will be provided in the coming weeks.

01/14/2025

Idaho CAB to meet in Twin Falls

The Idaho Cleanup Project Citizens Advisory Board will meet Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the TownPlace Suites in Twin Falls for the board’s quarterly meeting.

The all-day meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and will be available for in-person attendance at the TownPlace Suites, 175 Avenida Del Rio Dr, Twin Falls, or can be joined virtually via Zoom. If you would like to participate virtually, please contact ICP CAB Support Staff, Mariah Porter, mariah.porter@northwindgrp.com, no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18 for meeting details.

Topics to be discussed during the meeting include:
Recent public outreach
ICP progress update
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site groundwater monitoring
End State Contract Ten-Year Plan update and 2024 Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR)
Budget update and CAB recommendation discussion
Expanded INL Site hunting boundary update

Public comment will also be accepted during the meeting at 10:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. To sign up to offer comments, contact ICP CAB Support Staff, Mariah Porter, mariah.porter@northwindgrp.com, no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 18.

01/14/2025

Idaho Waste Treatment Facility Employs Successful Radiation Protection Program

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Since beginning radiological operations in April 2023, the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) at the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) has run a successful radiation protection program to control contamination and minimize personnel exposures while the plant converts liquid radioactive waste to a safer granular solid.

IWTU began operations on April 11, 2023, treating 68,000 gallons of the 900,000 gallons of sodium-bearing waste from three nearby underground tanks during the next five months.

During a subsequent outage for maintenance, team members opened IWTU’s cells to replace filters and conduct inspections and repairs. They also designed and built mock-ups, tent enclosures and one-of-a-kind tools; maximized ventilation controls; and continually decontaminated areas to keep personnel exposures to a minimum and contain contamination within the cells themselves.

IWTU Nuclear Operations Senior Director Jimmy Spells said he was pleased with everyone’s preparation and ex*****on of work.

“Preplanning and worker input ensured that our radiological outage was executed safely and efficiently,” he said. “This is especially notable since this was also the first actual radiological work experience for much of the IWTU team.”

Bill Kirby, chief operating officer for ICP contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC), agreed.

“Exceptional planning with the involvement of radiological engineering, operations, work control, and system engineering really made the difference,” he said. “Our use of mock-ups and dry runs gave people the confidence that this challenging work could be done safely, and they delivered.”

Process gas filter bundle replacement was particularly challenging because of high radiation and contamination levels. During radiological operations, gases along with light particles generated in the Denitration Mineralization Reformer — IWTU’s primary reaction vessel – are drawn to the process gas filter, which filters out fine solids. The process gas filter consists of 18 bundles containing long, cylindrical ceramic filters.

“Personnel successfully replaced all 18 process gas filter bundles and kept exposure levels an order of magnitude below allowable U.S. Department of Energy annual limits,” said Radiation Protection, Safety, Health & Fire Protection Senior Manager Allen Nellesen.

Since resuming radiological operations in August last year, IWTU has operated reliably and has treated more than 160,000 gallons of sodium-bearing waste — more than 228,000 gallons overall.

“The IWTU radiation protection monitoring program is paramount to that successful waste treatment track record,” Nellesen said.

The program continuously tracks and trends dose rates and contamination levels throughout the facility, which allows the organization to react to changing conditions before regulatory limits are reached or issues arise.

-Contributor: Erik Simpson

Cutline -- Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) employee McKay Lowder uses a manipulator to take process samples following the treatment of sodium-bearing waste at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit at the Idaho National Laboratory Site. IEC employee Alan Middleton, background, supports the effort

01/07/2025

Crews Take Down Hot Cell, Prepare to Demolish Idaho Naval Reactors Prototype

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho —The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) and its contractor at the Idaho Cleanup Project have removed an important support structure of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse (S1W) naval propulsion prototype as they prepare for the facility’s demolition.

EM contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) recently completed demolition of the S1W hot cell, the 7-foot-thick concrete structure where workers performed high-radiation work and materials inspections while the prototype operated at the Naval Reactors Facility at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.

Due to the thickness of the hot cell, S1W deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) crews originally planned to deploy targeted explosive charges to delaminate the outer few feet of the concrete. Delamination is the process of separating materials like concrete by its layers, a common practice in the demolition industry used to weaken some materials that are otherwise difficult to manage.

Crews conducted inspections to remove contaminated materials from the hot cell and ensure the safe deployment of the explosives. This essential step protects the workforce and the environment from the potential spread of any contaminants during demolition while ensuring risks are reduced.

During the inspections, crews investigated if the concrete walls could be removed more simply using heavy equipment, such as excavators and hydraulic hammers, eliminating the need for explosive demolition.

This adjustment proved to be successful, as the excavators and hydraulic hammers broke the concrete into manageable pieces. Crews used a spray truck to soak the concrete and control the spread of dust during demolition, a measure protective of the workforce and environment.

IEC D&D and Capital Projects Senior Director Mike Swartz commended the crews for improving the demolition plan and successfully completing this phase of D&D at the S1W.

“Our workforce has rapidly advanced through each stage of demolition at the S1W because they have been able to adjust to the demands of the project,” said Swartz. “Their commitment to safety has not only allowed us to successfully perform the work at S1W, but to do it while remaining true to our priorities to protect our workforce, the public and the environment.”

In coming weeks, D&D crews will continue to prepare for demolition of the high bay facility housing the prototype.

D&D of the S1W protype facility is expected to be completed in November.

-Contributor: Carter Harrison

Photo cutline: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management crews at the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse carefully demolish the facility’s hot cell, an important support structure that aided the prototype during operation.

12/17/2024

Collaboration, Communication Help Idaho Progress on Major Construction Project

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) crews at the Idaho Cleanup Project have benefited from collaboration, proper planning, and effective communication to advance toward completing a major construction project at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU).

Beginning in 2023, construction crews worked to build a second 20,000-square-foot concrete storage facility for liquid radioactive waste processed by IWTU, which surpassed an EM priority earlier this year.

Recent efforts have focused on laying large steel trusses on the partially constructed facility. Trusses provide structure for roofs, span long distances and transfer the weight of heavy loads to engineered supports in a building.

About 30 workers placed seven large steel trusses in five days. Each of those trusses weigh nearly 25,000 pounds and span 130 feet in length.

Kory Edelmayer, senior construction manager at IWTU, recognized the difficulty of the task but credited the crew and their planning efforts as contributors to success. The project applied lessons learned from the commercial industry to ensure safe emplacement of the trusses.

“Our crews are highly skilled and very experienced,” said Edelmayer. “The buildup and planning, including assembling the trusses and numbering them in an efficient sequence, was critical to moving through this phase quickly.”

While the crew’s planning efforts helped them complete the phase quicker than expected, Edelmayer recognized that collaboration from spent nuclear fuel crews at the neighboring Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center was invaluable.

“We were able to borrow a second crane, which helped us place and secure trusses,” said Edelmayer. “Without this second crane and the support from our colleagues, it may have taken twice as long to place and install the trusses and could have resulted in increased crane costs if the second, in-house crane was not available.”

Safety and effective communication are crucial to construction of the storage facility.

“This is one of the largest construction projects at the Idaho Cleanup Project over the last 20 years, second only to the IWTU construction, and I am amazed by the cooperation and teamwork of this crew,” Edelmayer said. “From our operators to our iron workers, everyone had a role to play and executed their job to the highest standard. Their commitment to safety and the mission allowed us to complete this phase of the project without incident.”

Once construction is complete, the second storage facility will house vaults full of stainless steel canisters containing sodium-bearing waste processed through the IWTU.

In coming months, workers will complete electrical work, construct a hot shop and a breezeway connection to the existing product storage building, and install the roof.

Idaho Environmental Coalition, EM’s contractor at the INL Site, expects to complete construction of the storage building in 2025.

-Contributor: Carter Harrison

Photo cutline: Crews move the first truss into position over the partially constructed storage building. Once completed, the building will store sodium-bearing waste processed by the Idaho National Laboratory Site’s Integrated Waste Treatment Unit.

11/30/2024

Idaho Facility Continues Progress Treating Waste, Surpasses EM 2024 Priority

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Cleanup Project crews have achieved a significant priority set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) by treating 100,000 cumulative gallons of radioactive sodium-bearing tank waste at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) this year.

The team has already far surpassed that total in 2024, processing over 142,000 gallons of the waste as of this week. In all, the facility has treated more than 210,000 gallons since the start of operations in 2023, which represents about 23% of the total 900,000 gallons of liquid waste stored in three underground tanks at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.

“The completion of this EM priority is significant because it underpins our commitment to the state of Idaho and demonstrates our intent to protect the underlying Snake River Plain Aquifer,” said DOE Idaho Operations Office EM Manager Mark Brown.

EM published a list of 33 priorities in January 2024 to complete during the calendar year, including construction milestones, progress or completion of cleanup projects, reducing the EM footprint, awarding accelerated progress contracts, and driving innovation and improving performance.

EM cleanup contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) resumed IWTU radiological operations in late August, following the completion of maintenance. Steam-reforming technology is used to convert the radioactive liquid waste to a safer granular solid.

The liquid waste was generated during the decontamination of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing equipment and transfer lines during the Cold War.

IEC Program Manager Dan Coyne thanked his crews for reaching this milestone.

“Everyone from the operators, engineers, to support staff have been committed to this project from the beginning,” he said. “This benchmark represents the first of many to follow. Thank you.”

-Contributor: Erik Simpson

Cutline -- Integrated Waste Treatment Unit operators monitor radiological operations during the current waste treatment campaign at the facility at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.

11/23/2024

The Department of Energy, in collaboration with the state of Idaho and Environmental Protection Agency, has proposed to expand the current hunting boundary at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site to mitigate offsite agricultural losses due to elk and pronghorn that reside on the Site. The boundary would be increased by 79.8 square miles on both the western and eastern portions of the INL Site, including 7.8 square miles designated as low-hazard institutional control (IC) areas for unexploded ordnance, which may be present following the INL Site’s past mission as a naval gunnery and test bomb range. To date, no ordnance has been found in these low-hazard IC areas.

The boundary changes, requested by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, will provide hunters greater access to elk and pronghorn herds that have been using the INL Site as a sanctuary when not feeding on adjacent standing and harvested crops.

The DOE will release an Explanation of Significant Differences document for a 30-day public comment period, beginning on November 22, 2024, and ending December 21, 2024. In addition to the proposed boundary changes, the document also lists proposed institutional controls that may be required to enter the proposed hunting expansion area including requirements to complete ordnance identification training, possess INL maps, and become familiar with boundary signs.

For more information, please visit: Home - Idaho Environmental Coalition

In 2021, Idaho Environmental Coalition, LLC was selected by the DOE to manage cleanup operations at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site under a ten-year, $6.4 billion contract. IEC, a contractor formed by Jacobs, North Wind Portage, and our team of integrated small business subcontractors, Nava...

11/19/2024

Spent Nuclear Fuel Facility Modifications Mark Progress on Commitment to Idaho

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Crews at the Idaho Cleanup Project will modify a Cold War-era facility to transfer, repackage and place spent nuclear fuel in a “road ready” state to prepare for its eventual removal from Idaho.

Early stages of the Road Ready Demonstration project at the Idaho National Laboratory Site are focused on modifying the Irradiated Fuel Storage Facility and installing a new transfer car insert, which is a large cask-handling device that moves the fuel through the facility.

During recent work, crews cut access points into the metal insert, allowing future equipment maintenance to be completed safely. They also completed other modifications that help rotate large fuel casks to facilitate easier access during operations.

“These modifications are necessary before we can install the transfer car insert,” said Tyson Woolstenhulme, a project manager for the demonstration. “The insert is larger than our existing equipment and will give our workforce the versatility to handle anticipated fuel types throughout the Road Ready Demonstration project, including heavy casks weighing approximately 130 tons.”

During the demonstration, the transfer car insert will help move the fuel through the facility for repackaging into U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) standard canisters. Once repackaged, the fuel will be staged to prepare for permanent disposal outside the state — a commitment to Idaho by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM).

Woolstenhulme expects all transfer car insert modifications to be completed by the end of 2024, allowing installation to begin early next year.

Other modifications include important components to the facility, such as a truck bay ramp and permanent containment structure, which encloses the transfer car and protects the workforce from radiation exposure. Crews will expand that structure’s door and fill in the truck bay ramp in fiscal year 2025, fortifying the facility’s infrastructure to ensure safe fuel handling and transport.

Woolstenhulme credits the spent nuclear fuel workforce for the progress to date.

“We have such a committed group of professionals supporting this project,” Woolstenhulme said. “By completing targeted modifications to the facility, we will be better equipped to fulfill our mission.”

The 1995 Idaho Settlement Agreement, a binding document that sets enforceable milestones on cleanup progress in Idaho, requires that spent nuclear fuel is shipped out of the state for permanent disposal. Bill Kirby, chief operating officer for EM cleanup contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC), recognizes that this project brings IEC a step closer to fulfilling its commitment to the state of Idaho and its residents.

“Progress on the Road Ready Demonstration allows IEC to continue being responsible neighbors and stewards of the environment,” said Kirby. “Our commitment to the state of Idaho is incredibly important to me and our workforce, and I look forward to watching this project develop.”

-Contributor: Carter Harrison

Photo cutline -- The Irradiated Fuel Storage Facility is used primarily for dry storage for spent nuclear fuel from the Idaho National Laboratory Site’s Advanced Test Reactor.

11/12/2024

Cold War Landfill in Idaho Moves a Major Step Closer to Final Closure

Teardown of buildings goes down in Idaho Cleanup Project history as single largest demolition project (See video in comments)

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Crews at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site recently completed the single largest demolition project in Idaho Cleanup Project history three months ahead of schedule and under budget.

In total, workers demolished more than 520,000 square feet of building space — about three times the footprint of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. — and checked off a 2024 priority for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM).

The landfill accepted INL Site-generated radioactive and hazardous waste beginning in 1952, and waste from the former Rocky Flats Plant near Denver, Colorado, and other waste generator sites from 1954 to 1970. In 2008, the DOE, state of Idaho and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to exhume targeted radioactive and hazardous waste from the landfill. The waste from nine areas of the landfill covering a total of 5.69 acres included filters and molds, solidified sludge and a reactive uranium material called “roaster oxides.”

The exhumation project was completed 18 months early. To date, more than 90% of the exhumed waste has been shipped out of Idaho for permanent disposal.

Following completion of waste exhumation at two of the enclosures, the buildings were repurposed for crews to reduce the size of waste boxes from Rocky Flats and large gloveboxes from the former Mound Site in Miamisburg, Ohio. Later, the enclosures were used to treat and repackage sludge waste originating from Rocky Flats. A third enclosure was used to condition the roaster oxides from Rocky Flats before workers at the facility began targeted waste exhumation.

To prepare for the demolition of each enclosure, crews removed internal equipment and performed extensive decontamination activities on the highly contaminated structures to allow for safe demolition. They covered the exhumation footprint with clean soil and removed the facility ventilation system.

Final steps included applying fixatives, removing the exterior skin and weakening the support components of the buildings through an engineered approach. Large bulldozers pulled the skeletal frames over. Following the sizing of the metal structures with heavy equipment, the contaminated debris was buried, and clean cover material was placed over each former waste exhumation footprint.

Eventually an engineered cover containing native materials will be constructed over the entire landfill to ensure long term protection of the underlying Snake River Plain Aquifer.

“Removing these enclosures from the Subsurface Disposal Area puts us a step closer to closing the final chapter on the Subsurface Disposal Area landfill,” EM Idaho Cleanup Project Manager Mark Brown said. “This was a combined effort by a very talented contractor workforce, with effective management by our cleanup contractor, IEC, and excellent oversight by my federal staff.”

IEC President Dan Coyne was equally appreciative.

“The dedication of our workforce is exemplified every day in the risks we reduce to our communities and environment,” he said. “Thank you all for completing this important work safely and be proud of what you have accomplished.”

-Contributor: Erik Simpson

11/12/2024

Maria Mitchell-Williams named DOE-ID Deputy Manager

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) has selected Maria Mitchell-Williams as the next Deputy Manager of the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP). She is filling the vacancy created when Mark Brown became the current ICP Manager in March of 2024.

Maria, who previously served as the Assistant Manager of Business and Acquisition Management for ICP, brings more than 20 years of professional experience providing leadership, meaningful partnership, effective contract management, budget formulation and ex*****on, and workforce management to her new role as Deputy Manager. Maria brings strong leadership skills focused on strategic planning, workforce development and promoting diverse ideas and information exchange to influence an environment of trust to bolster EM’s mission and vision.

As Assistant Manager, Maria was responsible for budget formulation and ex*****on, ongoing evaluation of contractor performance, leading complex contract negotiations, and leading the oversight and ex*****on of the ICP’s $6.4B contract. As a result of Maria’s leadership and resource management, ICP is recognized as one of the leading sites across the EM complex in successfully executing the End State Contract Model as evidenced with meaningful mission scope completed on time and within budget, while being accountable for risk reduction for EM’s environmental liabilities and footprint.

Maria contributed to the successful negotiation of cost-plus incentive fee task orders, with no contract changes to date, focused on accelerated decommissioning and dismantling (D&D) of nuclear facilities at the Subsurface Disposal Area to support the upcoming construction of an evapotranspiration cap, and D&D of nuclear reactor prototypes at the Naval Reactors Facility. Maria and her team received the 2022 Secretarial Award for Idaho’s implementation of EM’s End State Contract Model.

Maria has focused on workforce development, diversity, and inclusion throughout her career, serving as the primary DOE Idaho representative for the Idaho Hispanic Youth Symposium.

Prior to her federal experience, Maria was employed at the Idaho National Laboratory in the human resources field while attending college full-time. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management from Idaho State University and maintains her Level III Certifications in Acquisition and Financial Assistance required under the Acquisition Career Management Program.

11/05/2024

EM Set to Demolish Second Submarine Reactor Prototype in Idaho

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) team is set to decommission and demolish (D&D) a second submarine reactor prototype at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site’s Naval Reactors Facility (NRF).

The Submarine 5th Generation General Electric (S5G) prototype is a defueled land-based reactor vessel that served as an important training ground for prospective U.S. Navy submariners. D&D plans at S5G are consistent with a 2019 agreement between EM and the U.S. Office of Naval Reactors that created a path for EM’s current D&D efforts at the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse (S1W) and Aircraft Carrier 1st Generation Westinghouse (A1W) legacy prototypes at NRF.

A ceremony commemorating the transfer of the defueled S5G prototype from Naval Reactors to EM was held on Oct. 30 at NRF. Jeff Avery, EM principal deputy assistant secretary, attended the ceremony and commended the efforts of EM crews in Idaho.

Idaho Cleanup Project Manager Mark Brown said the EM team is excited to continue its close partnership with Naval Reactors.

“Our cleanup contractor, Idaho Environmental Coalition LLC (IEC), has a well-trained and motivated workforce that has demonstrated huge progress in safely demolishing the first NRF submarine prototype, S1W,” Brown said. “This same workforce will maintain demolition momentum at the S5G prototype.”

Gil Pratt, Naval Reactors Idaho Branch Office manager, values EM’s expertise and partnership in the D&D projects at NRF. He also recognizes the significant place the S5G prototype has in Naval Reactors history.

“S5G was a testbed for multiple technologies that are still used today, ensuring our submarine fleet can operate anywhere, anytime, virtually undetected,” said Pratt. “Naval Reactors is preserving the legacy of S5G through oral histories, written records and artifacts from the prototype.”

Constructed in 1965, the S5G prototype was built to simulate the operations of a nuclear reactor within a submarine. During operations, it was submerged in thousands of gallons of water to mimic ocean-like conditions. The prototype also was used to train nearly 12,000 naval officers and enlisted personnel to operate the propulsion plants of nuclear-powered submarines. The prototype was shut down in 1995 and its reactor vessel was defueled in 1999.

EM, with concurrence from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Idaho, has released an engineering evaluation and cost analysis on the final end state for D&D of the S5G prototype. The public can comment on the documents through Nov. 14. Click here for more information.

D&D of the S5G prototype warranted an evaluation separate from the S1W and A1W prototypes because the S5G prototype was constructed belowground, unlike the other two.

Following the public comment period, a memorandum will be prepared to document the final end-state decision for the S5G prototype. Four alternatives are detailed in the evaluation and analysis. EM anticipates signing that memorandum next year.

-Contributor: Carter Harrison

Photo cutline -- Mark Brown, left, manager of Idaho Cleanup Project, and Gil Pratt, manager of the Naval Reactors Idaho Branch Office, stand with a plaque commemorating the 30-year operational history of the Submarine 5th Generation General Electric prototype.

10/22/2024

Bob Skinner Leads Idaho Citizens Advisory Board
By Teri Ehresman

Robert L “Bob” Skinner of Idaho Falls has assumed the role as chairman of the Idaho Cleanup Project’s Citizens Advisory Board for the October meeting.

Skinner, who served the past year as vice chair of the board, replaces Teri Ehresman of Island Park who completed her term as chair of the board. Debi Farber of Boise is the new vice chair of the CAB.

Skinner retired from CH2M-WG Idaho, LLC in 2006 as department manager for radioactive waste operations. He was responsible for all solid low-level radioactive waste disposal at the Idaho site. Skinner spent over 40 years working in various capacities in the nuclear industry. He also worked for Bechtel BWXT Idaho, Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies, Westinghouse Idaho Nuclear Company, and Exxon Nuclear. He has a Bachelor of Science in General Science from the University of Nebraska and a Science diploma from Mesa State College. He served eight years in the United States Nuclear Navy and 30 years in the United States Navy Reserve, retiring at the rank of Captain in 2007. He is associated with the American Nuclear Society, American Legion, National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists, Bonneville County Veterans Commission, Military Affairs Committee, and the Military Officers Association. Skinner speaks to schools on a wide variety of topics and is a guest lecturer at Idaho State University and the College of Eastern Idaho.

Ms. Farber is a principal geologist with Arcadis U.S. Inc., a large engineering consulting firm. She works within the chemical and manufacturing arenas with projects focusing on hydrogeology, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Ms. Farber is a native Idahoan and natural scientist with 18 years of experience as a geologist. She received her Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Idaho and her Master of Science in Geoscience from Texas Tech University. With a solid understanding of geological/hydrogeological systems, Ms. Farber is interested in ensuring the environment is being protected and maintained.

The Idaho Cleanup Project Citizens Advisory Board (ICP CAB)operates as part of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB). The EM SSAB was developed to involve stakeholders more directly in DOE EM cleanup decisions. While only one Federal Advisory Committee Act-chartered EM SSAB exists, eight local Boards under the EM SSAB umbrella charter have been organized for EM activities at Hanford in Washington State, Idaho, Northern New Mexico, Nevada, Oak Ridge in Tennessee, Paducah in Kentucky, Portsmouth in Ohio, and Savannah River in South Carolina.

Under the EM SSAB charter, the ICP CAB is a stakeholder board that provides the Assistant Secretary of EM, and designees, with advice, information, and recommendations on issues affecting the EM program at various sites. These issues include: Cleanup standards and environmental restoration, waste management and disposition, stabilization and disposition of non-stockpile nuclear materials, excess facilities, future land use and long-term stewardship, risk assessment and management, and cleanup science and technology activities.