Intergovernmental and International Involvement Intergovernmental Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) - established in 1992, ECA brings together elected and appointed local government officials in energy communities, to share and exchange information, establish policy positions, and advocate community interests in the DOE arena. The Department of Energy supports the ECA Newsletter and the Peer Exchange Program. Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) - The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) is the national non-profit, non-partisan association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders. National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) - NAAG and DOE have established a working group of Assistant Attorneys General and key DOE staff to discuss current regulatory and statutory enforcement/compliance issues.  As the parties work towards their common goals of ensuring the protection of human health and the environment through the clean-up and the proper management of DOE activities, the continuation of this productive workgroup is of importance to state Attorneys General and has also been found to be mutually beneficial to the state and to DOE. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - The Department of Energy funds a cooperative agreement with NCSL that provides both logistical and staff support for the State and Tribal Government Working Group (STGWG) as well as meeting with elected legislatures from states with particular interests in EM activities.  With the support of this agreement, the NCSL serves as a conduit for informational exchange regarding the cleanup of the nuclear weapons complex between the Department, state legislatures, legislative staff, state executive branch staff, and tribal government representatives. National Governors Association/Federal Facilities Task Force - The NGA/DOE Task Force, which is supported by the Department of Energy, consists of Department officials and representatives from Governors' offices from states which host DOE facilities. The purpose of the task force is to assist the Department of Energy in improving coordination of its major program decisions with Governors' offices and state regulators and to ensure such decisions reflect input from these key state officials and stakeholders. The State and Tribal Government Working Group (STGWG) - helps ensure that the Department of Energy (DOE) facilities and sites are operated and cleaned up in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and Tribal rights including those retained by treaty, and conferred by statute and the trust responsibility; as well as in a manner that protects human health, safety and the environment. International The Office of Environmental Management (EM) International Program seeks out international technical experts to support EM’s mission of accelerated risk reduction and cleanup of the environmental legacy of the nation's nuclear weapons program and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. To achieve this, EM pursues collaborations with foreign government organizations, educational institutions, and private industry to identify technologies that can address the site cleanup needs of the U.S. Department of Energy. Statement of Intent between the Department of Energy of the United States and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Exchange of Information Concerning Management of Radioactive Waste. Joint Convention Activities - Following the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a need arose for formal international agreements to promote a global culture for the safe use of nuclear materials.  During the drafting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, directed at the safety of Nuclear Power Plant operations, it became apparent that another agreement was needed to cover facilities other than Nuclear Power Plants - specifically those used to manage spent fuel and radioactive waste.  To meet this need the Joint Convention was drafted and adopted at a Diplomatic Conference in September 1997.  It went into force on June 18, 2001, when 25 countries ratified and deposited articles with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  The United States ratified the Joint Convention and became a formal party on July 14, 2003. More information on the Joint Convention is available from IAEA .