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The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in the Areas of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management in 1990 and the subsequent establishment of the JCCEM ushered in an unprecedented era of cooperation on the solution of environmental problems common to both countries. The MOC forms the basis for this cooperation between the United States and Russia in these areas.
The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in the Areas of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management in 1990 and the subsequent establishment of the JCCEM ushered in an unprecedented era of cooperation on the solution of environmental problems common to both countries. The MOC forms the basis for this cooperation between the United States and Russia in these areas. The Joint Coordinating Committee for Environmental Restoration and Waste Management (JCCEM), as the managing body for the MOC, meets annually to review and approve proposals, assess program progress, make determinations as to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and data transmission, and determine the level of effort for future activities. The JCCEM Co-Chairs representing the U.S. and Russian sides are responsible for the implementation of the JCCEM program. The 11th JCCEM meeting was conducted in St. Petersburg, Russia on 3-4 September 2001. In 2002, it was decided that a Technical Review Meeting (TRM), in lieu of a JCCEM meeting, be conducted in San Francisco, California, on November 12-14. A complete list of the JCCEM meetings since 1990 along with the Records of Meeting is presented at the Development of the JCCEM Program section of this website. In 2000, the JCCEM Program marked 10 years of U.S. - Russian Cooperation in the Area of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management. During the 10th JCCEM meeting it was agreed that a joint report to be prepared to summarize the work performed during the 10-year history of the program and discuss the major achievements. This JCCEM Anniversary Report highlights the program's significant accomplishments, which have contributed to the reputation of the JCCEM as a highly successful U.S.- Russian cooperative program. Active participation by the Environmental Management (EM) Office of Science and Technology (OST) of DOE (see http://www.em.doe.gov) in the JCCEM program ensures that the critical needs of the EM Focus Areas are met. All JCCEM projects are reviewed and evaluated by Focus Area technical staff for scientific merit, applicability to key DOE site needs, and the expressed interest of a DOE user. Funding for this cooperative work with Russia comes from the DOE Focus Areas. Managing this work through MINATOM provides improved access to needed technical information, early guidance in the development of cost-saving technologies, continued dialogue among technical specialists, and possible access to commercial opportunities with Russia. Florida State University (FSU), through its Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research (IICER), provides general technical and organizational support to DOE for the JCCEM program. Through direct contact with the Russian and U.S. principal investigators, and their colleagues, IICER assures that the JCCEM cooperative projects proceed on schedule, and that technical issues are resolved quickly and effectively. For more information about IICER, see http://www.iicer.fsu.edu/.
The JCCEM identifies and helps to meet the unique challenges that Russian technologies face as they move from development to deployment at U.S. sites. The DOE contracts directly with Russian institutes in full compliance with both U.S. Government procurement practices and the laws of the Russian Federation. Statements of Work are written as Fixed Price Contracts, and contract payments are made through the DOE Office of Accounting, and are based on the receipt of monthly progress reports and other scheduled deliverables. This contracting approach ensures fiscal accountability and control without the cost associated with contractor or national laboratory overhead expenses, resulting in a 30-40% cost-savings. All projects are developed and funded by the EM Focus Area managers. Focus Area needs are communicated to Russian scientists during technical workshops in Russia and the United States. Russian proposals that reflect Focus Area needs are prepared and reviewed at the Russian institutes. They are transmitted to DOE for technical review. Since the funding for Russian projects comes directly from the Focus Areas, JCCEM projects must meet the same technical specifications required of all competing contractors, including U.S. contractors. Projects under the JCCEM undergo a technology development process to ensure applicability to the critical needs of the Focus Areas. For example, technologies are demonstrated in Russia on simulated U.S. waste, then in the U.S. on simulated waste, and eventually small-scale demonstrations are conducted on actual waste in the U.S. at DOE sites. Currently, seven technologies have been demonstrated in the U.S. on a laboratory scale.
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