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

2.9
Volume 2 is a compilation of appendix material. Volume 3 is a presentation of written
public and agency comments and Hearing Board recommendations on the draft Statement and
responses to these comments and recommendations.
During the reviews of the draft Statement, some commenters urged that the option of
shutting down all nuclear power plants be considered in the final Statement. Although such
an action is beyond the authority of the DOE and can be considered only by the NRC or by the
U.S. Congress, this Statement does present an analysis of managing only present inventories
of spent fuel. While the availability of adequate waste management methods should be con-
sidered by these institutions in contemplating such an action, many other far-broader
issues, such as national energy and economic requirements and the overall, safety and envi-
ronmental impacts of other energy systems, would also need to be considered. Due to the
extent of DOE's authority, the scope of this environmental impact statement is limited to
consideration of the impacts of successfully implemented programs for research and devel-
opment leading to permanent disposal of present and future high-level and TRU radioactive
wastes.