Status of the Department of Energy's Implementation of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 as of December 31, 1984
RCED-85-65: Published: Jan 31, 1985. Publicly Released: Jan 31, 1985.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
In response to a congressional request, GAO reported on the Department of Energy's (DOE) implementation of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act for the quarter ending December 31, 1984. The report discussed DOE progress in meeting legislative deadlines, the status of the Nuclear Waste Fund, program management, information system development, and federal relations with the states and tribes.
GAO found that delays have occurred in meeting key requirements of the act. DOE issued its final guidelines for choosing disposal repository sites 17 months after the deadline. Furthermore, environmental assessments of the sites and the mission plan have yet to be completed. However, during the quarter, DOE reviewed a draft report of recommendations for alternative management approaches, reviewed comments on a report dealing with high-level defense wastes, issued a document on transportation options, received comments on a document for selecting a site for the second repository, and worked on a proposal for a monitored retrievable storage system. During the quarter: (1) four lawsuits were filed questioning the site selection process; (2) DOE continued to improve its financial reporting system; (3) DOE made efforts to improve communication with affected states and Indian tribes; and (4) about $90.4 million was paid into the Nuclear Waste Fund from user fees, but no one-time user fees were paid. DOE spent $46.1 million for various program activities during the quarter. About 70 percent of these costs were for repository development activities, and most Nuclear Waste Fund obligations were made to contractors. As of December 31, 1984, DOE had unpaid obligations of about $213.4 million and a cash balance of about $242.8 million. In addition, it owed the Treasury about $258.4 million plus interest for the appropriations it received.
Dec 10, 2020
Uranium Management:
Actions to Mitigate Risks to Domestic Supply Chain Could Be Better Planned and CoordinatedGAO-21-28: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020.
Dec 8, 2020
-
Offshore Wind Energy:
Planned Projects May Lead to Construction of New Vessels in the U.S., but Industry Has Made Few Decisions amid UncertaintiesGAO-21-153: Published: Dec 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 8, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
-
Nuclear Waste Disposal:
Better Planning Needed to Avoid Potential Disruptions at Waste Isolation Pilot PlantGAO-21-48: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
-
Nuclear Safety:
DOE and the Safety Board Should Collaborate to Develop a Written Agreement to Enhance OversightGAO-21-141: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Oct 15, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Plans to Modernize Critical Depleted Uranium Capabilities and Improve Program ManagementGAO-21-16: Published: Oct 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 15, 2020.
Jul 24, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
Action Needed to Address the W80-4 Warhead Program's Schedule ConstraintsGAO-20-409: Published: Jul 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 24, 2020.
Jun 24, 2020
-
National Nuclear Security Administration:
Analyzing Cost Savings Program Could Result in Wider Use and Additional Contractor EfficienciesGAO-20-451: Published: Jun 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 24, 2020.
Jun 9, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Needs to Incorporate Additional Management Controls Over Its Microelectronics ActivitiesGAO-20-357: Published: Jun 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 9, 2020.
May 13, 2020
-
Environmental Liabilities:
DOE Needs to Better Plan for Post-Cleanup Challenges Facing SitesGAO-20-373: Published: May 13, 2020. Publicly Released: May 13, 2020.
May 12, 2020
-
Hanford Waste Treatment Plant:
DOE Is Pursuing Pretreatment Alternatives, but Its Strategy Is Unclear While Costs Continue to RiseGAO-20-363: Published: May 12, 2020. Publicly Released: May 12, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Energy
- Air Quality
- Climate Change Funding and Management
- Climate Change Response
- Department of Energy's Contract Management for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management - High Risk Issue
- Economic Sanctions
- Electricity Markets, Grid Security and Resilience
- Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands
- Improving Federal Programs that Serve Tribes and Their Members - High Risk Issue
- Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks - High Risk Issue
- Management of Federal Oil and Gas Resources - High Risk Issue
- Managing Federal Lands and Waters
- Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Nonproliferation
- Nuclear Waste Disposal
- Nuclear Weapons and Forces Sustainment and Modernization
- Oil, Natural Gas, and Alternative Fuels
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Security of Radioactive Materials
- Tribal and Native American Issues
- Understanding Climate Change
- U.S. Arctic Interests
Explore our other Key Issues here
