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Nuclear Waste: Institutional Relations Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982

RCED-87-14 Published: Feb 09, 1987. Publicly Released: Feb 09, 1987.
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Highlights

In response to a congressional request to assess the Department of Energy's (DOE) relations with the states and Indian tribes that its Nuclear Waste Repository Program affects, GAO: (1) identified the states' and tribes' concerns with the program, including their level of participation in the decisionmaking process for waste sites; (2) examined the DOE program for involving states and tribes and the DOE positions on their concerns; and (3) determined what steps DOE should take to improve its program.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should take steps to improve DOE efforts to involve affected states and Indian tribes in the nuclear waste program and to enhance the overall credibility of the program by providing states and tribes access, at least on a trial basis, to all of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management's (OCRWM) coordinating group meetings.
Closed – Implemented
DOE completed action to provide affected states and Inian tribes access to all OCRWM coordinating group meetings. In January 1987, DOE informed the states and Indian tribes that meetings of all coordinating groups would be open to their representatives.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should take steps to improve DOE efforts to involve affected states and Indian tribes in the nuclear waste program and to enhance the overall credibility of the program by employing independent advisory groups during site characterization and other program activities.
Closed – Implemented
In May 1987, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) submitted a proposal to DOE to review the technical portions of site characterization for the three potential sites. DOE plans to employ NAS as an independent advisory group during its site characterization, which will continue through 1994. The new amendments provide for an appointed review panel to monitor relations between Nevada and DOE.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should take steps to improve DOE efforts to involve affected states and Indian tribes in the nuclear waste program and to enhance the overall credibility of the program by adopting a strategy of negotiating incremental agreements with the states and tribes in an effort to build a foundation for resolving controversial issues.
Closed – Implemented
DOE pursued interim cooperational consultation agreements with Nevada, but the state declined to participate.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should take steps to improve DOE efforts to involve affected states and Indian tribes in the nuclear waste program and to enhance the overall credibility of the program by better defining consultation and cooperation in the Mission Plan.
Closed – Implemented
During a May 27, 1987, meeting with affected states/Indian tribes, DOE initiated discussions to arrive at a mutually acceptable redefinition of consultation/cooperation. Since then, DOE has reported to Congress that it plans to work with Nevada to establish a forum and format by which operating principles governing consultation/cooperation will be developed. Nevada has been uncooperative.

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Topics

Environmental policiesstate relationsIndian landsNuclear facility safetyNuclear waste disposalNuclear waste managementNuclear waste storageProgram managementRadioactive wastesNuclear waste