Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) process for budgeting funds for financial assistance to Nevada for independent testing and monitoring activities at the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste disposal site.

GAO found that: (1) DOE did not evaluate Nevada's funding needs in developing its financial assistance budget; (2) DOE could have to fund Nevada's testing activities regardless of whether it adequately budgeted for them, since a court decided that DOE could not decline to fund the activities if they met certain criteria; (3) DOE could not meet its commitment to support an appropriate amount of grant funds to Nevada for independent technical oversight of DOE activities without evaluating Nevada's grant request; and (4) Nevada had difficulty submitting a detailed grant request early enough for DOE to evaluate the request because it needed specific information about DOE activities.