Nuclear Science: Developing Technology to Reduce Radioactive Waste May Take Decades and Be Costly

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed U.S. research on radioactive waste transmutation technology, focusing on: (1) U.S. efforts to develop the waste transmutation technology; (2) the estimated timing and cost of developing this technology; and (3) the prospects for practical application of the technology to highly radioactive defense and commercial waste.