Christopher A. Kouts, Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management

Welcome to the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management's Web site.

Our goal is to keep stakeholders informed of what we’re doing to further our mission:

• To manage and dispose of the nation’s military and civilian high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in a manner that protects the health and safety of the public without harming the environment

We have met many milestones since Congress passed the Nuclear Waste Policy Act in 1982.  Our most recent is the June 2008 submission of a license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build a deep-underground repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

This 8,000-page application documents more than 20 years of scientific analyses and engineering, and demonstrates that the nation's inventory of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste can be isolated from the environment and disposed of safely.  It reflects a massive science and technology effort, encompassing the work of thousands of people representing numerous national laboratories, internationally renowned science and engineering firms, universities, and the Department of Energy.  

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will grant a license to build the repository only if it concludes that the repository will protect the health and safety of the public now and into the far future.

Our focus is now on preparing for the construction and eventual operation of the repository.  We are also focused on assuring the safe transportation of nuclear materials to Yucca Mountain from 39 states. This includes building and operating a rail line in Nevada as well as developing and operating the national transportation system for waste coming from more than 120 sites across the nation to Yucca Mountain.  

We know that you may have questions about our Program, and we have addressed many topics on our Web site.  We strive to keep information timely, accurate, and relevant.  Please look through our Web pages for a better understanding of how the repository will work both to protect people and the environment as well as to solve our nation's nuclear waste problem.

Let us know how we can make this Web site better.

Sincerely,

Chris Kouts, Acting Director

Last reviewed: 01/09