The Problem of Cleaning Up the Remains of Nuclear Facilities

When nuclear facilities are shut down, cleaning up the remains presents special problems because of radioactivity. Responsibility for this cleaning up rests primarily with the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with additional help from the Environmental Protection Agency and the states. ERDA has not given enough attention to its facilities that are now obsolete, which have been accumulating. ERDA estimated the cost for decommissioning (disposing of) present excess facilities at $25 to $30 million a year for the next 100 years. GAO does not believe that ERDA has sufficient data to support this estimate. NRC has done little to provide guidance for decommissioning commercial nuclear facilities. It does not require owners of most nuclear facilities to cover costs of future decommissioning, and thus costs could be assumed by Federal or State Governments. Questions that have not been answered by Federal agencies are how much it will cost to decommission facilities, who will pay costs, and how many facilities are involved. Other questions which must be answered relate to methods for decommissioning, possible changes in radiation standards, and the future role of nuclear power. Congress should designate one lead Federal agency to approve and monitor an overall decommissioning strategy. Although it was thought that ERDA should continue research and development efforts, NRC was considered uniquely suited for the lead role.