Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Management Program Web Site

The U.S. Department of Energy uses the Web and E-mail to support the EIS process, and to provide a major information resource for management of the U.S. supply of depleted uranium hexafluoride.

Need/Opportunity

• Extend geographic reach of EIS-related public information and participation
• Increase cost-efficiency of document distribution
• Provide permanent, convenient access to documents
• Provide timely event notification
• Provide online mechanism for public comment and feedback

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for managing its inventory of depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6), a product of the uranium enrichment process. The management effort required preparation of one programmatic EIS and two project-specific EISs to analyze the potential impacts of long-term activities at several locations. The EIS process required significant public participation among stakeholders across the country, access to numerous EIS-related documents, and opportunities for public comment.

Approach

• Create a public information/involvement web site
• Provide documents in searchable PDF format
• Automated tools for news updates and e-mail notification
• Slide and media presentations on DUF6 and management issues
• Online public comment

The DUF6 Management Program Information Network web site supports the DUF6 EIS process and management activities, and provides a permanent information resource for interested stakeholders. It features a document repository with downloadable EIS-related documents, media presentations, and online notification of public meetings and other events. Public comments on EISs were submitted via the Web and are managed through the Comment Response Management System (CRMS), web-enabled software designed specifically for this purpose. An e-mail-based mailing list notifies interested parties of program developments and events.

Results

• More than 60,000 visitors per year
• More than 100,000 documents downloaded
• Web site award from USA Today

Since initial launch in 1997, the DUF6 Management Program Information Network web site has consistently exceeded expectations, with more than 1,400,000 page requests by more than 185,000 visitors in the last three years, and well over 400,000 visitors since launch. In addition to providing program management information, the web site supported site-specific EISs for DUF6 management and facilitated partnerships between DOE and the private sector that are critical to successful DUF6 management. The web site received a "Hot Site" award from USA Today in 1998.

Benefits

• Reaches more stakeholders
• Eliminates distance barriers to participation
• Reduces document production and distribution costs
• Provides timely notification of events
• Reduces comment management costs

The Internet is an excellent medium for public information and involvement in the EIS process. It lowers the barriers to participation by allowing the public to participate regardless of where they are located, and affords significant cost savings to the agencies responsible for EIS development. E-mail notification provides an effective, low-cost method for distributing information. Electronic processing of public comments reduces management costs. As the medium and the underlying technologies mature, the Internet will be used routinely for public involvement in the EIS process.