Nuclear Waste

Recognizing that problems exist with its program to permanently dispose of highly radioactive waste, the Energy Department (DOE) recently undertook several review initiatives, including a review of past criticisms of the program, a financial and management evaluation of the repository project, and a public inquiry into the continued storage of waste by utilities at their nuclear power reactors after January 1988. Taken together, these efforts are too narrow in scope and are not objective enough to provide the thoughtful and thorough program evaluation that is needed. Many Members have called for a broad-based independent review of nuclear waste management, including the management of highly radioactive waste from civilian nuclear power reactors. This report discusses why GAO continues to believe that a comprehensive independent review of the disposal program and basic policies guiding the program is needed. Without a comprehensive independent review of the disposal program and its policies, millions--if not billions--of dollars could be wasted in implementing the program over the next several decades.

GAO found that: (1) the Secretary of Energy has undertaken several initiatives to address problems in the radioactive waste disposal program, including a review of program criticisms, a financial and management evaluation of the repository project, and a public inquiry into the continued storage of waste at nuclear power facilities after January 1998; (2) these initiatives are too narrow in scope and lack sufficient objectivity to provide the thorough program evaluation that is needed; (3) DOE development of a proposed disposal system before the final selection of a repository could cause economic and safety risks when the repository becomes available because the disposal containers may not be suitable to the site; (4) many members of Congress have called for an independent review of the disposal program; (5) an independent non-DOE entity with requisite expertise in public policy and administration should conduct a comprehensive review to help ensure that the program is implemented as efficiently and effectively as possible and provide Congress with the best possible information available for evaluating the program; and (6) the review could be conducted simultaneously with investigation activities at the proposed repository site.