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Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory's Environmental Policy       

It is the policy of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct research, environmental remediation, and operations at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) in a manner that protects human health and the environment and is in full compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

The INEEL achieves this by integrating environmental requirements and pollution prevention into all work planning and execution, and by taking actions to minimize the environmental impacts of operations. Through employee involvement and management commitment to environmental excellence, the INEEL will:

• Protect the unique natural, biological, and cultural resources of the INEEL.
• Conduct operations and manage hazardous and radioactive materials and wastes in a safe, compliant, and cost-effective manner. This is done by establishing and communicating environmental responsibilities, by providing environmental training to the workforce, and by implementing controls to mitigate environmental hazards.
• Conduct environmental remediation to address contamination from legacy activities and minimize impacts on human health and the environment.
• Develop and deploy new and enhanced environmental technologies and share this expertise with other DOE sites, the local community, and external customers.
• Integrate pollution prevention into project planning, design, and construction to minimize toxicity and volume of waste generated; conserve natural resources and energy; and minimize environmental impacts.
• Conserve natural resources by reusing and recycling materials, purchasing recycled materials, and using recyclable materials.
• Promptly identify noncompliant conditions and encourage full disclosure and open discussion regarding compliance issues. Aggressively work to resolve identified issues.
• Establish documented environmental objectives and milestones, and update them as necessary to reflect the changing needs, missions, and goals of the INEEL.
• Consider the input of stakeholders when weighing options.
• Measure environmental performance and monitor impacts on the environment, and communicate the results to employees and stakeholders.
• Continuously improve the INEEL environmental management system through self assessment and corrective action.

This policy applies to all business units and all employees. Every employee and subcontractor is expected to follow this policy and to report environmental concerns to management. Managers shall promote environmental stewardship, take prompt action to address concerns and issues, and have zero tolerance for noncompliance.
 

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