History of nuclear waste program
Spent nuclear fuel is the radioactive by-product of making
electricity at commercial nuclear power plants and high-level
radioactive waste is the by-product from production at defense
facilities. In 1982, Congress established a national policy to solve
the problem of nuclear waste disposal. This policy is a federal law
called the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Congress based this policy on
what most scientists worldwide agreed is the best way to dispose of
nuclear waste.
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act made the U.S. Department of Energy
responsible for finding a site, building, and operating an
underground disposal facility called a geologic repository. The
recommendation to use a geologic repository dates back to 1957 when
the National Academy of Sciences recommended that the best means of
protecting the environment and public health and safety would be to
dispose of the waste in rock deep underground.
In 1983, the DOE selected nine locations in six states for
consideration as potential repository sites. This was based on data
collected for nearly 10 years. The nine sites were studied and
results of these preliminary studies were reported in 1985. Based on
these reports, the president approved three sites for intensive
scientific study called site characterization. The three sites were
Hanford, Washington; Deaf Smith County, Texas; and Yucca Mountain,
Nevada.
In 1987, Congress amended the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and
directed DOE to study only Yucca Mountain. The Act stressed that if,
at any time, Yucca Mountain is found unsuitable, studies will be
stopped immediately. If that happens, the site will be restored and
DOE will seek new direction from Congress.
To read about the history of the nuclear waste program in the
United States and steps leading to the Yucca Mountain Project,
download Appendix B of
the Program Plan (pdf).
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