Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

2.5
Since waste forms and conditions are different at the three sites, programmatic state-
ments covering development programs for final waste treatment and final disposal are being
prepared for each site.
Transuranic wastes resulting from national defense activities are also stored at the
sites listed above and at Los Alamos, New Mexico; the Nevada Test Site; and the Oak Ridge
National Laboratory in Tennessee. Statements covering waste treatment and final disposal of
material now stored at these sites will also be prepared.
This Statement does not directly address management and disposal of radioactive wastes
related to national defense programs. However, in a generic sense, systems that can ade-
quately dispose of commercial radioactive wastes have the capability to adequately dispose
of wastes resulting from defense programs.
2.1.9 National Plan for Nuclear Waste Management
The President, in his nuclear waste policy statement of February 12, 1980, stated that
the safe disposal of radioactive waste, generated from both national defense and commercial
activities, is a national responsibility. In fulfillment of his responsibility, the Presi-
dent has directed the Department of Energy, in its role as lead agency for the management
and disposal of radioactive wastes, to prepare a comprehensive National Plan for Radioac-
tive Waste Management. This National Plan is being prepared in cooperation with other
involved Federal agencies, primarily the Departments of Interior and Transportation, the
Environmental Protection Agency, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The State Planning
Council, which was established by the President, will also be involved in the development
of the National Plan.(a) This Plan will provide a road map for all parties and give the
public an opportunity to review DOE's entire program. The Plan will be comprehensive in
scope and include relevant activities of the Federal agencies, states, and local govern-
ments. The Plan will cover all types and sources of radioactive waste and present the
strategy and sequence of events to manage effectively and dispose of radioactive wastes and
associated regulatory activities.
Methods of communication between and among Federal agencies, states and local govern-
ments, and the general public will be presented to show current and proposed interactions
and the nature and degree of public participation in the planning and decisionmaking pro-
cess, including the preparation of the National Plan. The National Plan will be updated
every 2 years in recognition of and response to results of R&D programs, actual operations,
and guidance from institutions such as Federal agencies, state governments, the State Plan-
ning Council and others that might be affected by programs and proposed actions.
A draft of the comprehensive National Plan will be distributed by the Secretary of
Energy in the fall of 1980, for congressional and general public review and comment. After
reviewing public comments and revising the National Plan, a final version of the National
(a) The Council will provide advice and recommendations to the President and the Secretary
of Energy on nuclear waste management issues.