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Strategic Plan Contents:

I. Introduction

II. Program Goals and Management Strategy

III. Science Elements

IV. Cross-Cutting Elements

V. The NABIR Field Research Center (FRC)

VI. Linkages to Genomics Programs in Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

VII. Interface with the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences

VIII. Interface with the DOE Office of Environmental Management

IX. Coordination With Other Federal Agencies

X. Points of Contact for NABIR Program

VII. Interface with the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences

The NABIR program focuses on the biological aspects of subsurface science related to contaminant fate and transport. The Office of Basic Energy Sciences within DOE's Office of Science has activities in Geosciences and Heavy Element Chemistry, which include a strong focus on the fundamental physics and chemistry of metal and radionuclide transport in the environment. The Geosciences activity seeks to develop a fundamental understanding of the geochemical processes and properties that control interactions among solutes, groundwater, and mineral surfaces, and methods for studying them. The activity also develops geophysical methods to improve imaging and tracking of dynamic subsurface processes, and improved analytical facilities for investigations of fundamental mineral-fluid interactions.

The primary goal of the Heavy Element Chemistry activity is to develop a fundamental understanding of the role of 4-f electrons in bonding. The activity supports a broad range of research relevant to the behavior of radionuclides in the environment, including studies on the aqueous and solid-state coordination chemistry of actinides; solution and solid-state speciation and reaction kinetics; measurements of chemical and thermodynamic properties; synthesis of actinide-containing materials; and the development of theoretical methods for the prediction of heavy element electronic and molecular structure and reactivity.