Nuclear Waste: Department of Energy's Program for Financial Assistance

Highlights

GAO evaluated the Department of Energy's (DOE) program to provide grants under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, focusing on: (1) DOE decisions on who received grants and for what activities; (2) the level of assistance provided; and (3) DOE grant administration and oversight.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Energy	To help ensure consistent program evaluation, the Secretary of Energy should direct the Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM), to better define what activities should be funded in OCRWM internal grant guidelines for first- and second-repository states.	Closed – Implemented The Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 (NWPA) directed DOE to terminate financial assistance to states, except Nevada. DOE advised the project offices that no further financial assistance may be provided under NWPA to Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Consequently, consistency among financial assistance programs is no longer a relevant issue.
Department of Energy	To assist Congress in its oversight of the DOE financial assistance program under the act, the Secretary of Energy should specify, in future budget requests for the Nuclear Waste Fund, grant funding for the first repository program, second repository program, and other parties. The Secretary should also survey grantees as to their projected needs for the budget period, in order to make appropriate financial assistance estimates.	Closed – Implemented DOE specified grant funding as a separate item in its fiscal year (FY) 1988 budget request, submitted in January 1987. OCRWM directed its project offices to survey their eligible recipients for funding needs estimates, included in the FY 1987 budget request.
Department of Energy	To ensure management control over grant awards, the Secretary of Energy should ensure compliance with the requirements of DOE financial assistance regulations. These requirements could, of course, be waived if DOE determines that the conditions for granting a waiver are present.	Closed – Implemented OCRWM provided training in July 1986 to its staff administering financial assistance to ensure that they comply with DOE regulations. OCRWM instructed project offices to take actions to enforce compliance. DOE does not intend to seek a waiver of the requirements.

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Energy

Appropriated fundsBudget outlaysstate relationsFunds managementGrant administrationGrants to statesNative AmericansNuclear waste disposalReporting requirementsWaivers