Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) progress in implementing Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) requirements from October 1984 through December 31, 1985, specifically DOE efforts to identify locations for a second repository site.

GAO noted that NWPA required DOE to conduct a study of the need for a monitored retrievable storage facility to stop and monitor the waste prior to its permanent disposal in a repository. GAO found that DOE did not issue environmental assessments in 1985 because it needed additional time to revise its site-selection methodology. GAO also found that: (1) in December 1985, DOE issued a draft monitored retrievable storage proposal, but a federal district court prohibited DOE from submitting the proposal because it did not properly cooperate with the potential host state for a storage facility; (2) DOE developed a cost allocation proposal that established a fee for defense waste disposal; (3) the lack of cooperation among states resulted in a more costly waste management program; and (4) as of September 1986, there were 20 court cases challenging the DOE site-selection process and the decision to postpone site-specific work on the second repository.