Nuclear Waste

The expenditures of the Nuclear Waste Negotiator's office were consistent with the administrative provisions of the legislation that created the office. The Negotiator was empowered to find a state or an Indian tribe willing to host a repository or a monitored retrievable storage facility for storing hazardous waste. The Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 gives the Negotiator considerable discretion in managing office procedures, such as hiring and paying staff and entering into leases and contracts. The Department of Energy's (DOE) awards of grants to counties and Indian tribes were consistent with the objectives of the monitored retrievable storage program. DOE has adequately reviewed grant applications and has monitored grantees' expenditures.

GAO found that: (1) the office's expenditures are consistent with legislative requirements; (2) the office has substantial discretionary authority in hiring employees, obtaining services, promulgating rules and regulations to carry out its functions, and entering into contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, and other transactions for administrative functions; (3) payroll is the largest single expenditure; (4) DOE MRS grant awards to counties and Indian tribes are consistent with MRS program objectives; (5) DOE has adequately reviewed grant applications and monitored grantees' expenditures; (6) DOE has awarded 10 phase I grants totalling $942,000 and 3 phase II grants totalling $200,000; and (7) grantees have used MRS grant funds to travel to nuclear facilities, attend technical conferences, contract for outside experts and vendors, publish reports on their findings, and disseminate information.