Regional Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites - Progress Being Made but New Sites Will Probably Not Be Ready By 1986

摘要

Currently, three sites in Nevada, South Carolina, and Washington are used to dispose of all this country's commercial low-level nuclear wastes--materials contaminated with relatively low levels of radioactivity. The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 encouraged the States to form interstate compacts and establish new, regional, low-level waste disposal sites by January 1, 1986. GAO found, however, that new disposal sites will probably not be ready to operate in most regions until sometime between 1988-90. To resolve this time difference, the Federal Government could either extend the 1986 date or open existing Department of Energy disposal sites for commercial waste disposal. Currently, Department of Energy sites receive low-leve wastes generated only by nuclear defense activities. On the other hand, States could temporarily keep the three existing commercial disposal sites open to all States or store low-level wastes in centrally located, warehouse-type facilities until new disposal sites are opened.