Further Analysis of Issues at Western New York Nuclear Service Center

GAO was requested to address criticism made by the Sierra Club on a recent report concerning the efforts to clean up the Western New York Nuclear Service Center.

GAO believes that the Sierra Club's criticism is not warranted and that the report was based on the best and most current information available. Over the past 5 years, GAO has studied and reported on both the West Valley problem and the national low- and high-level waste problems. As a result, it has gained considerable expertise in these areas and stands behind the accuracy and logic supporting its conclusions. The different points of view involved should be considered. The Sierra Club approached the West Valley situation primarily from a state or local perspective. While GAO considered this perspective, it also evaluated the issues from a national perspective and attempted to offer a comprehensive alternative for dealing with the West Valley site. This alternative recognizes local concerns as well as national high- and low-level waste and spent-fuel storage requirements.