MESHING SITE-SPECIFIC AND CROSS-CUTTING SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS: CASE STUDIES FROM KURCHATOV INSTITUTE, VNIIEF, AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supports Material Protection Control and Accountability (MPC&A) upgrades in the Russian Federation through a number of site-specific and functional, cross-cutting project teams, all working toward common programmatic goals. Implementing security upgrades that are sustainable and transitioning related operations to sustainability mode is an important goal. Sustainability activities at all sites are based on a common programmatic sustainability framework. However, the emphasis and specific implementation of sustainability activities may vary considerably from site to site, so the framework can be adapted to each site’s unique mission, resources, infrastructure, culture, and environment. Differences in the scope and emphasis between site-specific and national cross-cutting team sustainability efforts may be even more pronounced, since cross-cutting projects must consider regional and national issues that transcend a site’s boundary. It is important that these individual sustainability programs fit and work together. Recognizing this, DOE has encouraged early coordination and engagement between site teams and cross-cutting project teams to mesh their efforts for a more effective overall sustainability program. This paper describes the experience of the cross-cutting Transportation Security Project (TSP) team with two MPC&A site teams, the Kurchatov Institute (KI) and VNIIEF teams in such an effort to identify potential interface issues and resolve them. The sustainability framework developed by the Operations and Sustainability support team of the Office of National Infrastructure and Sustainability (ONIS) provided an essential tool in this effort. Sustainability plans and activities for each site and the cross-cut project are compared and contrasted. We describe our assessment process, interface issues that were identified, and approaches to addressing them. We also offer some general observations and lessons learned on the coordination, assessment, and resolution processes. The need for a clear understanding of each organization’s roles and responsibilities is a recurring theme.