DOE/Local Government Statement of Principles

[Seth Kirshenberg <skirshen@energyca.org>]

Last week during the Energy Communities Alliance Annual Conference in
Washington, D.C. Secretary Pena signed the DOE and Local Government
Statement of Principles. The Principles outline the relationship between
local communities and DOE.

Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is a non-profit organization of local
governments surrounding or impacted by Department of Energy (DOE)
facilities and activities. The mission of ECA is to improve the quality of
life for its community members through a continuing dialogue with DOE,
Congress and the Administration on issues impacting local communities.

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES OUTLINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

PREAMBLE:

The primary purposes of local government are to protect public health and
safety, enhance citizens' quality of life, provide community services and
promote economic prosperity.

The Mission of the Department of Energy is to foster a secure and reliable
energy system that is environmentally and economically sustainable, to be
good and careful stewards of the Nation's nuclear weapons and the cleanup
of our own facilities, and to ensure that the United States retains its
leadership in science and technology.

The Department recognizes that local governments are important advisors to
its decision-making processes and offer important insights regarding
environmental, socioeconomic, and other community impacts of Departmental
actions.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PRINCIPLES:

Þ The Department views local governments as official public entities with
important community roles and responsibilities.

Þ The Department recognizes that local elected officials are democratically
elected to represent the views of their community. The Department commits
to work in partnership with locally elected officials.

Þ The Department commits to develop and implement a timely, open and
meaningful dialogue with local governments. Local governments will have
direct access to Department field, site and headquarters' officials.

Þ The Department commits to work closely with local government officials as
governmental partners on all DOE processes and activities which impact
local communities.

Þ The Department will utilize local governments as a central means for
communicating and interacting with affected communities when developing new
policies or local organizations impacting a communities health,
environment, or economy.

Þ The Department commits to work with local governments to ensure the
safety, health, and well being of local communities.

Þ The Department and local governments share equally the responsibility to
consult early and regularly with one another regarding actions that may
affect the other.

Þ The Department and local governments will seek to identify and remove
impediments that hinder a direct and mutually beneficial working 
relationship.

Þ The Department's field and site managers will be responsible for
implementing these policies at the local level.

 Signatures:

 Secretary Federico Pena and the Energy Communities Alliance Board of
Directors

Seth Kirshenberg
sethk@energyca.org