LM director recognizes staff, partners for 20 years of work, points toward future
March 15, 2024
minute read time
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management Director Carmelo Melendez addresses those in attendance Thursday morning during the kickoff of Long-Term Stewardship Day at the Waste Management Symposia in Phoenix.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) Director Carmelo Melendez began Thursday’s Long-Term Stewardship (LTS) Day Thursday morning with a welcome to participants of the Waste Management Symposia in Phoenix.
With a theme of “Reflections of the past, visions for the future” and a celebration of LM’s 20-year anniversary, the day-long event also included a recorded welcome and congratulatory message from DOE Deputy Secretary David Turk and four panels that addressed various aspects of LM’s long-term stewardship mission.
Melendez congratulated former and current LM workers and Support Partner staff, whom he said all played a role in advancing the LM mission.
“I’ve had some great assignments and jobs in my career, but this one tips the scale as being the most rewarding because of what we do and who we do it with,” Melendez said. “Today, we’re here to celebrate and see how far we’ve come in the important work of long-term stewardship.”
Melendez thanked LM’s many partners — from regulators to tribal partners to other federal and state agencies to stakeholders.
Melendez summarized the scope of LM’s mission and identified milestones along the Office’s 20 years of operations. He also congratulated the Waste Management Symposia, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Melendez pointed out that the four LTS Day panels do not deal with technical issues. The panels topics are:
- Histories and Horizons of LTS within DOE.
- Partnering with Citizens and Regulators in LTS.
- Best Practices in LTS Activities.
- Collaboration with Interagency and International Organizations on LTS.
“What you will hear today is what some people would consider the ‘soft’ items,” said Melendez, who emphasized the importance of relationships that are fostered with effective education, communication, history, and outreach.
Melendez also recognized the growth of LM from 33 sites at its inception in 2003 to its current portfolio of 102 sites.
“On behalf of the LM staff, our partners, and the integrated team who helps us manage the 102 sites for which we have long-term stewardship responsibilities, I want to thank all of you for attending LTS Day, and I especially want to thank those who helped organize the day and made it possible,” Melendez said.