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2 Welcoming Remarks Frank L. Parker, Vanderbilt University On behalf of the U.S. National Academies, I am pleased to welcome you to this International Workshop on Cleaning Up Sites Contaminated with Radioac- tive Materials, organized by the U.S. National Academies and the Russian Acad- emy of Sciences. This workshop is a continuation of a series of joint workshops carried out by the academies in the field of nuclear science and technology. Recent interacademy activities on disposal of radioactive material have included two earlier workshops devoted to the proposed International Site for Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel. The analyses of the location and operation of this potential site in Siberia have provided important information that is relevant to widespread interest in consolidation of spent nuclear fuel on an international basis. Those workshops were also supported by the Russell Family Foundation. In addition, joint studies supported by other sponsors have been directed to (1) U.S.-Russian collaboration in combating radiological terrorism, which was com- pleted in 2007 and emphasized appropriate stewardship, including disposal of ionizing radiation sources; and (2) many aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, a study that is still under way. Indeed, since the late 1990s, more than 10 interacademy workshops and joint studies have addressed various aspects of developments in the nuclear field. It is important for the governments of the countries represented at this work- shop to have independent scientific and engineering advice from their top experts
CLEANING UP SITES CONTAMINATED WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS on issues of economic and security importance. My colleagues from the United States and I are delighted to be here. We look forward to our interactions with our colleagues from Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan and from the International Science and Technology Center as we strive to increase mutual understanding and collaboration in a critically important field.
