The
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is
located in Southeastern Idaho.INL was established in 1949 as the National Reactor
Testing Station with the objective of furthering the development
of nuclear reactors.Today
the INL, which is administered by the Department of Energy Idaho
Operations Office, is a leading center for nuclear safety
research, defense programs, nuclear waste technology and advanced
energy concepts.
In
1975 the mostly pristine land within the INL’s borders became
the nation’s second National Environmental
Research Park (NERP). All
lands within the Park are protected and preserved as an ecological
field laboratory where scientists from government agencies,
universities, and private foundations may set up long-term
experiments which answer questions about man’s impact on the
natural environment.The
INL Idaho NERP covers 890 square miles on the upper Snake River
Plain.
ESER team
members conduct ecological and radioecological
research and environmental surveillance in this unique setting.The team will study the impacts of natural phenomena,
including fire and drought.Staff will also continue vegetation and wildlife surveys within
the NERP’s boundaries.
About INL