Nuclear Legacy Cleanup Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 81.065
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Grant awards
- 65 $140,934,537 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Formula Grant
- Block Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 89-5227-0-2-271
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Energy funds nuclear waste disposal activities and environmental restoration work under CFDA 81.065, with the most recent grant award disbursed on October 1, 2023. The program supports activities related to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, including cleanup at Department of Energy facilities and coordination between DOE and affected states, local governments, and American Indian tribes on radioactive waste transportation and nuclear waste management issues.
The program has sustained activity over three decades, with 65 total awards since 1990 and combined federal obligations of $140.9 million. Award cadence has slowed in recent years—one award in 2023, three in 2013, and three in 2012—compared to historical peaks of four awards annually around 2008. The most recent award was a Project Grant of $4.97 million to the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management for environmental restoration and regulatory oversight at the Santa Susanna Field Laboratory site, running through September 2028.
Assistance-type distribution is dominated by Cooperative Agreements, which comprise 71 percent of awards (46 of 65), with Project Grants accounting for 26 percent (17 awards), and single Formula and Block grants rounding out the portfolio. Funding is concentrated entirely within the Department of Energy: the parent agency provided 59 awards totaling $129.1 million, while the DOE Office of Environmental Management supplied 6 awards totaling $11.9 million. Award sizes vary substantially—recent examples include a $4.97 million project grant for Santa Susanna environmental work and historical mega-awards such as a $27.5 million cooperative agreement for CRESP III nuclear waste cleanup and a $24.97 million award for independent scientific and engineering studies of the Yucca Mountain repository. Smaller awards range from $124 thousand to $370 thousand, as seen in recent grants for regional radioactive waste transportation coordination and state collaboration initiatives. The program requires applicants to submit a letter of inquiry before formal proposal submission and uses standard OMB Circular A-102 application forms. Recipients must maintain auditable records for three years following the final financial report, and award schedules are negotiated individually with DOE.
Objective and description
- Objective
For nuclear waste disposal activities to carry out the purposes of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, Public Law 97-425, as amended (NWPA); to conduct appropriate activities and participate in licensing activities in accordance with the NWPA.
- Description
Environmental Restoration and Regulatory Oversight at the Santa Susanna Field Laboratory (SSFL) site
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Local governments, elected officials and affected Indian Tribes surrounding DOE facilities. Designation of a local government or Tribe as an "Affected Unit of Local Government" or "Affected Tribe is done pursuant to the NWPA.
- Beneficiary eligibility
States, affected units of local government and affected American Indian Tribes will benefit, as well as the cleanup work at the Department of Energy.
- Uses of assistance
Financial and technical assistance is provided by Direct Payments for Specified Uses or Project Grants (cooperative agreements) to review and analyze potential economic, social, public health and safety, and environmental impacts; develop requests for impact and mitigation assistance; engage in any monitoring, testing, communication or evaluation activities; provide information to the public; and request information and make comments, recommendations. Any salary or travel expense that would ordinarily be incurred by such State, political subdivision of such State, or an Indian tribe may not be considered eligible for funding under this program.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
The schedule of DOE payment is arranged at the time of grant negotiations. Length and time phasing of assistance will vary with DOE program phase and activity.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
A letter of inquiry describing the proposed work and eligibility of the proposer to do the work under a project grant (cooperative agreement) is desirable before preparation of a detailed formal proposal. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. Neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. An environmental impact statement/assessment is required for nuclear waste siting, but is not required in connection with the receipt or expenditure of these funds.
- Award procedure
The proposal may be forwarded for internal and external review and then, if approved, to a DOE procurement office for grant development.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Normally 6 to 12 months for Project Grants (cooperative agreements).
- Renewals
Proposals for renewal are subject to both internal and external evaluation.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 65 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University | $27,470,136 | 19% |
| 2 | Nevada System Of Higher Education Board Of Regents | $24,969,850 | 18% |
| 3 | NYE County | $12,668,924 | 9% |
| 4 | State Of California Department Of Toxic Substances Control | $9,580,957 | 7% |
| 5 | Case Western Reserve University | $9,012,530 | 6% |
| 6 | National Governors Association Center For Best Practices | $4,465,797 | 3% |
| 7 | County Of Inyo | $4,028,531 | 3% |
| 8 | The Unlv Research Foundation | $2,427,379 | 2% |
| 9 | The Council Of State Governments LTD. | $2,366,167 | 2% |
| 10 | Energy Communities Alliance Inc. | $1,695,500 | 1% |
10 of 23 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $1,990,155 |
| FY2023 | $2,985,000 |
| FY2020 | $5,872,836 |
| FY2019 | $10,719,959 |
| FY2018 | $11,135,701 |
| FY2017 | $5,245,298 |
| FY2016 | $5,882,065 |
| FY2015 | $5,879,486 |
| FY2014 | $9,212,582 |
| FY2013 | $5,210,112 |
| FY2012 | $5,082,500 |
| FY2011 | $7,417,242 |
| FY2010 | $10,155,781 |
| FY2009 | $17,163,000 |
| FY2008 | $8,464,806 |
| FY2007 | $10,851,464 |
| FY2006 | $16,166,979 |
| FY2005 | $14,848,787 |
| FY2004 | $19,948,301 |
| FY2003 | $11,457,007 |
| FY2002 | $18,702,510 |
| FY2001 | $6,522,064 |
Show all 22
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 81.065?
Assistance Listing 81.065 is Nuclear Legacy Cleanup Program, a federal grant program run by Department of Energy.
What is the CFDA number for Nuclear Legacy Cleanup Program?
Its CFDA number is 81.065: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 81.065 awarded?
65 grant awards under 81.065 have obligated $140,934,537 in federal funds to 23 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 81.065?
The recipients obligated the most under Nuclear Legacy Cleanup Program are Vanderbilt University ($27,470,136), Nevada System Of Higher Education Board Of Regents ($24,969,850) and NYE County ($12,668,924).
How much did 81.065 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 81.065 obligated $1,990,155 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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