Coordination with other Department of Energy offices and other Federal agencies on environmental management research

(a) In general The Secretary, in cooperation with the Network, shall improve coordination across the Department and the Federal Government on science and technology efforts applicable to the environmental cleanup mission of the Office of Environmental Management as necessary to procure sufficient expertise and resources to address the full range of research challenges and needs identified by the Office. (b) Interagency Working Advisory on Technology Excellence in Environmental Cleanup (1) In general The Secretary shall establish an advisory group to be known as the Interagency Advisory Group on Technology Excellence in Environmental Cleanup, which shall— (A) coordinate relevant technology transfer activities among the National Laboratories, the Technology Transfer Working Group of the Department, and other appropriate Federal agencies; (B) facilitate the exchange of mission-relevant information and best practices, including information on technology transfer practices, developments in environmental remediation science and treatment methods, and alternative approaches to radioactive waste management; (C) identify and recommend technologies developed within and outside of the jurisdiction of the Department with potential applications for the Office of Environmental Management; (D) identify and recommend opportunities to utilize the services and expertise of the Network to assist in addressing cleanup challenges at locations where the Office of Environmental Management does not have cleanup responsibilities, as described in section 3(i); and (E) develop and disseminate to the public and prospective technology partners information about opportunities and procedures for technology transfer with the Network. (2) Composition (A) Members The Advisory Group shall be comprised of representatives selected from— (i) the Core National Laboratories; (ii) the Office of Environmental Management; (iii) the Office of Legacy Management; (iv) the Office of Nuclear Energy; (v) the Office of Science; (vi) the National Nuclear Security Administration; (vii) the Environmental Protection Agency; (viii) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (ix) the Bureau of Land Management; (x) the National Park Service; (xi) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (xii) the United States Forest Service; (xiii) such other Federal agencies with relevant science and technology expertise, as the Secretary determines, including agencies within the Department involved in technology development relating to radioactive waste disposal or environmental remediation; (xiv) State and Tribal governments; (xv) academia; and (xvi) the private sector. (3) Chair The Assistant Secretary shall serve as the Chair of the Advisory Group. (4) Meetings The Advisory Group shall meet not less frequently than once every 180 days. (5) Inapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Advisory Committee Act), shall not apply with respect to the Advisory Group or the activities of the Advisory Group. (c) Partnership with Office of Science (1) Memorandum of understanding Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary and the Director of the Office of Science of the Department shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to facilitate improved coordination and cooperation between the Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Science on areas of basic research that are applicable to the environmental cleanup mission of the Office of Environmental Management. (2) Basic research needs workshops Not later than 180 days after the Memorandum takes effect, and on a periodic basis thereafter, the Director of the Office of Science, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary and the Network, shall administer a workshop to solicit the input of relevant Federal agencies, academia, industry, the National Laboratories, and other relevant entities— (A) to identify the major basic research needs of the Office of Environmental Management; and (B) to develop strategic research plans to advance knowledge and technological capabilities to address the basic research needs identified in subparagraph (A). (3) Reports (A) Initial workshop report Not later than 180 days after the date of the initial workshop described in paragraph (2), the Assistant Secretary and the Director of the Office of Science shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report summarizing the major findings of the workshop, including gaps in basic research knowledge relating to the environmental cleanup mission of the Office of Environmental Management. (B) Not later than 1 year after the Memorandum takes effect, the Assistant Secretary and the Director of the Office of Science shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report summarizing the steps that the Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Science have taken to fulfill the obligations of the Memorandum.