When the Idaho Legislature established the Oversight program in 1989, it clearly set out its goals. Among them was "to ensure that the INL continues to contribute positively to the nation and to Idaho's society and economy."

Oversight also plays a small but significant role in economic development through the 1995 Settlement Agreement. The Agreement is best known for setting out deadlines for treatment and disposal of certain types of nuclear waste, but it also required the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to pay $30 million to the state to reduce eastern Idaho's dependence on the INL.

The state turns some of the money over to the Regional Development Alliance. Companies interested in a grant or loan from Settlement Fund dollars submit proposals to the Alliance. The Alliance's 15-member non-partisan board evaluates the proposals, looking for projects that provide a good return on investment, contribute to long-term economic stability, and provide opportunities for employment. It sometimes partners with other cooperative efforts, like the state Department of Commerce, the contractor that runs the site for the DOE, Idaho colleges and universities, or local economic development organizations. Read more about RDA-funded projects.

Although most decisions on allocation of Settlement Agreement economic development funds are made by the Regional Development Alliance, the state also has a role. The state has dedicated funds to certain projects, like helping the University of Idaho build a Science and Technology Center in Idaho Falls, and funding the Accelerator Center at Idaho State University. These proposals, too, are evaluated for return on investment, long-term economic stability, and employment opportunities.

The INL contractor also makes investments in the region's economy, as do local business and industry. Read more about INL's contractor and investments in reactor research. These efforts and partnerships, when paired with the Department of Energy's designation of the INL as the nation's lead nuclear laboratory, should help ensure that the nation and eastern Idaho continue to benefit from the INL.