Reports

The Board’s seventh report provides a nontechnical approach for those not familiar with the details of the DOE’s high-level nuclear waste management program. It highlights three important policy issues: the program is driven by unrealistic deadlines, there is no integrated waste management plan, and program management needs improvement. The Board makes three specific recommendations: amend the current schedule to include realistic intermediate milestones; develop a comprehensive, well-integrated plan for the overall management of all spent nuclear fuel and high-level defense waste from generation to disposal; and implement an independent evaluation of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management’s (OCRWM) organization and management. These recommendations should be implemented without slowing the progress of site-characterization activities at Yucca Mountain.