The Hanford Openness Workshops: Fostering Open and Transparent Long-Term Decision Making at the Department of Energy

Abstract

Openness is critical to long-term cleanup and stewardship of former nuclear weapons manufacturing facilities. Openness is especially challenging in such facilities because a culture of secrecy has dominated them since the earliest days of nuclear weapons development. This paper describes a multi-year effort at the Hanford Site called the Hanford Openness Workshops. The Workshops were convened to address and resolve issues impeding the availability and understanding of information important to public health, the environment, and decision–making. Lessons from the workshops can improve dialogue about nuclear waste cleanup and long-term stewardship among regulators, decision makers, stakeholders, and Tribes.

Citation

Drew, C.H., Kern, M., Martin, T., Power, M.S. and Faustman, E.M. (2006), "The Hanford Openness Workshops: Fostering Open and Transparent Long-Term Decision Making at the Department of Energy", Leschine, T.M. (Ed.) Long-Term Management of Contaminated Sites (Research in Social Problems and Public Policy, Vol. 13), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 13-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-1152(06)13001-X