September 26, 2001

Dissemination of Research from the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

In response to a 1995 Office of Inspector General report entitled, Audit of Department of Energy's Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), Department of Energy officials stated that the laboratory would offer unique interactive and synergistic scientific exploration capabilities and would be equipped with state-of-the-art and first-of-a-kind equipment. Subsequently, the Department constructed and currently operates the EMSL in Richland, Washington. The $229 million EMSL opened in October 1997 as a National User Facility. Under contract with the Richland Operations Office (Richland), Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) operates the EMSL as well as Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.