About the Consortium
The Common Ground consortium aims to improve mutual understanding of better practices in consent-based siting processes for critical infrastructure, with an emphasis on consolidated interim storage of spent nuclear fuel.
Consent-based siting is “an approach to siting facilities that focuses on prioritizing the needs and concerns of people and communities” (DOE, 2023). Spent nuclear fuel refers to “fuel that has been withdrawn from a nuclear reactor following irradiation, the constituent elements of which have not been separated by processing” (Ibid).
Led by Boise State’s Energy Policy Institute,** Common Ground engages with communities and others in conversations to develop recommendations for consent-based siting processes that may be used with spent nuclear fuel and more broadly for critical infrastructure, including the electric grid and power plants, hydrogen, etc. We draw from historical and current lessons on siting and related policy. The consortium focuses on improving the processes of consent-based siting in discussion with communities, Tribes, industry, policymakers, and technical experts to co-produce input and guidance.
**The Energy Policy Institute is the policy arm for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, a consortium of universities plus Idaho National Laboratory that focus on advancing energy research, education, and innovation. EPI is affiliated with the School of Public Service at Boise State University.
Major participants
We are one of twelve consortia, designated by the U.S. Department of Energy (see map). Common Ground is a collaboration of eight universities and the National Tribal Energy Association (NTEA), with additional cross-sectoral partners from government, industry and academia. This ‘networked learning’ hub includes Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado State, Idaho State, Montana State, University of Idaho, University of Wyoming, & University of Michigan plus NTEA. Additional partners include the National Association of State Energy Officials, Nuclear Energy Institute, Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition, Western Interstate Energy Board, and Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship to ensure that State, industry, and key groups are factored.
Partnering with communities and subject matter experts
Common Ground aims to build on lessons learned from historical and current experience with public engagement. By design, this project focuses on providing recommendations to the U.S. Department of Energy on consent-based siting processes and is not asked to designate a location or community for siting. In this 2 year project, we aim to have frank discussions and mutual learning with the public and subject matter experts that want to contribute to better understanding of consent-based siting. From this, we will develop general briefings that will be presented in public forums and writing. Quoting of individuals will only be done with their permission.
Seed Grant Opportunity
Deadline: Rolling submissions
We are pleased to announce a call for seed grant applications to support research and/or public discussions on consent for temporary storage of nuclear waste.
This program is supported by the Common Ground consortium, a community network of universities and a national tribal organization plus public and private sector partners. Common Ground focuses on mutual learning to provide feedback to the U.S. Department of Energy on ways to improve consent-based processes.
The call and additional information can be found here.
Methods
The project adopts a strategy to improve approaches to consent and participatory decision-making for different kinds of people and communities across geography, experience, and sector. It utilizes the qualitative strengths of interviewing/case analysis/historical record review for briefings, with geospatial modeling of siting considerations. Mutual gains approaches and ethnographic observation, Delphi ranking and pairwise comparisons may be used in discussions.
Special Speaker Series on Permitting and Siting
Decision-making and Engagement for Used Nuclear Fuel/Nuclear Waste
October 4th, 2024 12pm MT
- Dr. Thomas Webler, founding member and Senior Research Fellow, Social and Environmental Research Institute
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Views from Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairs on Permitting and Siting for Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel
December 9th, 2024 1pm MT
- Allison Macfarlane, Professor and Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia; and and former Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Richard Meserve, President Emeritus of the Carnegie Institution for Science; and former Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Senior counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Covington and Burling, LLP
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Engaging Communities when Siting and Permitting Energy Facilities
February 21st, 2025 11am MT
- Larry Susskind, MIT, Harvard Program on Negotiation, Consensus Building Institute
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Consent-based Siting of Nuclear Facilities in the US: Insights from National Consortia
March 20th, 2025 1pm MT
- Lisa Marshall, President, American Nuclear Society; Extension Assistant Professor, Director of Outreach, Retention & Engagement – North Carolina State University
- Jim Olson, Sr. Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Megan Harkema, Assistant Project Manager for Consent-based Siting Research – Vanderbilt University
- Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Register for the Mar. 20th Power Talk here
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act & Other Rules across Jurisdictions for Siting a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Used Nuclear Fuel
April 25th, 2025 1pm MT
- Temple Stoellinger, Associate Dean and Assoc Professor, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources/University of Wyoming College of Law
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Anticipated Outcomes of the Consortium
- A network-of-networks consisting of people wanting to engage
in forward thinking tied to consent-based siting of consolidated interim storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel & nuclear waste - Articles & briefings for communities, policymakers & industry
- A knowledge repository, training & tools, including
a framework for consent-based decision-making - Improved understanding across geography, experience and sector from different forms of knowledge-holders
- Identification of better practices
- Opportunity to restore credibility or trust and confidence with shared problem-solving
- More informed communities, training, and writing
Additional information
See these additional resources for more information.
News Articles about the project
- Boise State news, August 4, 2023
- University of Wyoming news, October 9, 2023
Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future
- Report to the Secretary of Energy, January 2012
- Testimony on the Blue Ribbon Commission Report, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, February 2, 2012
Federal Register Notice (FRN)
- 80 FR 79872, Invitation for Public Comment To Inform the Design of a Consent-Based Siting Process for Nuclear Waste Storage and Disposal Facilities, December 23, 2015.
- 82 FR 4333, Request for Public Comment on Draft Consent-Based Siting Process for Consolidated Storage and Disposal Facilities for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Wastes, January 13, 2017.
- 86 FR 68244, Notice of Request for Information (RFI) on Using a Consent-Based Siting Process to Identify Federal Interim Storage Facilities, December 1, 2021.
National Academy of Engineering
- Carnesale, A. Recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Commission: A Plan for Managing Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Nuclear Waste, National Academy of Engineering, The Bridge in Managing Nuclear Waste, volume 42, issue 2, June 15, 2012.
- Jenkins-Smith, H. et al. Enhancing the Acceptability and Credibility of a Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel, National Academy of Engineering, The Bridge in Managing Nuclear Waste, volume 42, issue 2, June 15, 2012.
- Kadak, A. Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel, National Academy of Engineering, The Bridge in Managing Nuclear Waste, volume 42, issue 2, June 15, 2012.
- Latanison, A. Managing Nuclear Waste, National Academy of Engineering, The Bridge in Managing Nuclear Waste, volume 42, issue 2, June 15, 2012.
- Rubenstone, J. Emerging Regulatory Challenges in the Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level Radioactive Waste, National Academy of Engineering, The Bridge in Managing Nuclear Waste, volume 42, issue 2, June 15, 2012.
U.S. Department of Energy
- Consent-based Siting Consortia, n.d.
- Consent-Based Siting for Interim Storage Program—Community Engagement Opportunities, Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0002575.
- Consent-Based Siting Process for Federal Consolidated Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel, April 25, 2023.
- Consent-Based Siting Request for Information Comment Summary and Analysis, September 15, 2022.
- Draft Consent-Based Siting Process for Consolidated Storage and Disposal Facilities for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High—Level Radioactive Waste, January 12, 2017.
- Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste, January 2013.
- Video: Spent Nuclear Fuel (1:33)
- Video: Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel (1:17)
Funding
This project is being funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy:
**Logo was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy to indicate receipt of DOE funding. Not an endorsement by DOE.
This webpage will be periodically updated. Last update: August 21, 2024.