The Idaho Cleanup Project Citizen's Advisory Board | What Is It and Why Is It Important?

The Idaho Cleanup Project Citizen’s Advisory Board (ICP CAB) was created to involve community members and stakeholders more directly in environmental management cleanup decisions at the Idaho National Laboratory Site (INL Site).  When stakeholders share their opinions by becoming involved in cleanup discussions, federal decision-making and cleanup activities are improved. Public input helps agencies to make decisions that are cost effective, community specific and environmentally sound, which leads to faster, safer cleanups.

The ICP CAB exists to provide INL Site leadership with information, advice, and recommendations concerning issues affecting surrounding communities and the INL Site.  Specifically, at the request of the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Environmental Management (EM) or the site manager, the board may provide advice and recommendations concerning the following EM INL Site specific issues: clean-up activities and environmental restoration; waste and nuclear materials management and disposition; excess facilities; future land use and long-term stewardship; risk assessment; and communications.

The ICP CAB is part of the larger EM Site Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), which includes similar citizen’s advisory boards from across the DOE complex.  The EM SSAB’s activities are governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which was enacted to ensure that the general public has access to advisory board deliberations and recommendations.  While only one FACA-chartered EM SSAB exists, eight local boards have been organized under its umbrella charter, including the ICP Citizen’s Advisory Board.

The ICP board membership consists of 10-15 members, who reflect a diversity of views, cultures and demographics from surrounding communities and regions, is composed primarily of people who are directly affected by site cleanup activities. Members include stakeholders from local governments, the Shoshone Bannock Tribes, environmental and civic groups, labor organizations, local universities, industry, and other interested citizens.

ICP CAB meetings are open to the public and are held periodically in surrounding communities such as Idaho Falls, Fort Hall, Sun Valley, Boise, and Twin Falls.  Meetings are held both virtually and in-person in support of maximum public participation opportunities. For a full schedule of upcoming meetings, visit the ICP CAB website.