THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE), OFFICE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY (NE), OFFICE OF INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT (DOE-IWM) AND RECIPIENT IS TO FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THE EASTERN REGION OF THE UNITED STATES AND DOE-IWM IN PLANNING FOR FUTURE LARGE-SCALE DOE TRANSPORTATION OF COMMERCIAL SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL (SNF) AND HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE (HLW) TO STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES, WHEN SUCH FACILITIES BECOME AVAILABLE, AND RELATED DOE PROGRAM ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT A STATE OR REGION. THIS FACILITATION IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A SUCCESSFUL LARGE-SCALE SNF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT IS SAFE, SECURE, AND THAT MERITS PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.