Policy Concentrates RESEARCH FUNDING
Cutting edge for nuclear waste New multi-investigator research centers to receive $40 million, focus on weapon production sites Four new research centers announced last week by the Department of Energy will collectively get up to $40 million to focus on a decades-old environmental problem: cleaning up nuclear waste from weapons production. The centers will zero in on chemical separation of nuclear waste streams and materials development for long-term containment. Millions of cubic meters of nuclear waste remain at DOE sites from nuclear weapon research and production during the Cold War. Decades into remediation, the department has spent billions of dollars on cleanup efforts already, and optimistic estimates say the work could continue for another half-century. Many believe the effort has taken too long and cost too much, says Andrew R. Schwartz, a senior adviser for DOE’s Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) program. Tapping into emerging science could
help the agency accelerate the process and do it in safer and more cost-effective ways, he adds. EFRCs are meant to work quickly on big energy problems. But the new centers’ basic research is not expected to have an impact on cleanup during the next year or two, Schwartz says. “If we do this science now and the projects lead to new fundamental understanding, that might change the way we approach the cleanup problem in the future,” he says. The multidisciplinary, multi-investigator EFRCs on nuclear waste cleanup will be led from Florida State University, Ohio State University, the University of South Carolina, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Respectively, the centers will design, synthesize, and characterize new waste forms; analyze waste form degradation; seek fundamental understanding of waste materials at the nanoscale; and
Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt, who studies transuranium elements at Florida State University, will lead the Center for Actinide Science & Technology, one of the new EFRCs. study reactions at interfaces in complex environments like those found in a waste storage tank. DOE says it will spend up to $40 million on the nuclear waste cleanup centers, awarding $2 million to $4 million per year to each for up to four years.—JESSICA
MORRISON
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
Grounding the drones The Senate gave final congressional approval on July 13 to bipartisan legislation that paves the way for restrictions on the operation of drones near chemical plants, oil refineries, and other “critical infrastructure” facilities. The legislation would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish procedures for chemical plants and refineries, as well as for energy production, transmission, and distribution facilities, to petition the agency to limit or ban operation of unmanned aircraft close to a facility. The provision is included in a bill (H.R. 636) that authorizes FAA programs at current funding levels through September 2017. The House of Representatives approved the measure on July 11, and the Senate passed the legislation by a vote of 90-4 on July 13. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on July 15.
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C&EN | CEN.ACS.ORG | JULY 25, 2016
Drones, unmanned aircraft flown remotely, have surged in recreational popularity. This has raised concerns that a drone could accidentally crash into an industrial facility, hit power lines, or be used by a terrorist to surveil potential targets. Another worry is the Congress has authorized the Federal Aviation threat of industrial espionage Administration to restrict the use of drones near through aerial photography. chemical plants and refineries. Industry’s anxiety is focused on the possibility that “enterprising in“Drones photographing units can comdividuals will take aerial photos at these promise facility trade secrets.” Durkay tells sites and try to sell them to competitors,” C&EN. says John J. Durkay, legal counsel for the The American Chemistry Council, which International Safety Training Council, represents major U.S. chemical companies, which trains contractors and employees at urged Congress to restrict drone use around chemical and refining plants in southeastthe industry’s facilities.—GLENN HESS, ern Texas. special to C&EN
CREDIT: SAMANTHA CARY (ALBRECHTSCHMITT); SHUTTERSTOCK (DRONE)
Congress allows FAA to limit flights near chemical plants
