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Nuclear Waste: Yucca Mountain Project Behind Schedule and Facing Major Scientific Uncertainties

RCED-93-124 Published: May 21, 1993. Publicly Released: May 27, 1993.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed whether: (1) funding levels for the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository were adequate to support investigations; and (2) the Department of Energy's (DOE) streamlining initiatives could affect the scientific quality of investigations.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
In view of the current status of the disposal program, Congress should defer consideration of legislation that would change how funds are provided to DOE from the Nuclear Waste Fund for use on the disposal program until: (1) the Secretary of Energy has completed the review of the program; (2) an independent review of the program, such as that recommended by the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, has been completed; and (3) appropriate legislative, policy, and programmatic changes to the program have been implemented.
Closed – Implemented
In conjunction with the Administration's budget request for fiscal year 1995, DOE asked for authority to establish a revolving fund within the Nuclear Waste Fund that would have permitted it to obtain increasing amounts of funds for the disposal program each year without the need for specific annual appropriations by Congress. Congress, however, did not act on this request for legislation.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy Because of concerns over the slow pace and fragmented direction of the nuclear waste disposal program, the Secretary of Energy should review the program's goals and objectives in the context of the present program's low funding priority. Such a review should address the sufficiency of the program's emphasis on the scientific investigation of Yucca Mountain and how that project can be conducted more efficiently without sacrificing the technical quality of the investigation.
Closed – Implemented
In December 1994 and in May 1996, DOE published initial and revised program plans for the disposal program, including the Yucca Mountain Repository Project. The plans, according to DOE, align repository project goals and objectives with realistic funding expectations. Moreover, DOE said, the initial and revised program plans have enhanced the efficiency of the project by concentrating future work on the most important issues to be resolved in determining if Yucca Mountain is suitable for use as a disposal facility for highly-radioactive nuclear waste.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should review the project's technical, schedule, and cost baselines each year and adjust them as appropriate in view of actual allotments of funds to the project, realistic assessments of future funding for the project, and progress in resolving technical issues.
Closed – Implemented
In December 1994 and in May 1996, DOE published initial and revised program plans for the disposal program, including the Yucca Mountain Repository Project. The plans, according to DOE, align repository project goals and objectives with realistic funding expectations. Moreover, DOE said, the initial and revised program plans have enhanced the efficiency of the project by concentrating future work on the most important issues to be resolved in determining if Yucca Mountain is suitable for use as a disposal facility for highly-radioactive nuclear waste.

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Topics

Cost controlData collectionFunds managementGovernment facility constructionInvestigations by federal agenciesNuclear waste disposalNuclear waste managementNuclear waste storageRadioactive wastesSite selection