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DOCUMENT RESUME
02777 - [A1933006]
Cleaning Up the Remains of Nuclear Facilities: A Multibillion
Dollar Problem. EMD-77-46; B-164052. June 16, 1977. 28 pp. + 2
appendices (5 pp.).
Report to the Conqress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Energy (1600); Energy: Making Nuclea r Fission a
Substantial Energy Source (I108).
Contact: Energy and Minerals Div.
Budget Function: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy:
Energy (305).
Organizatiou Concerned: Energy Research and Development
Administration; Environmental Protection Agency; Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.
Congressional Relevance: Congress.
Authority: H.R. 6181 (95th Cong.).
The disposal of nuclear facilities has becoe a special
problem because of the growing number of these facilities and
the radioactivity associated with them. The Energy Research and
Development Administration (ERDA) and the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) have the chief respoasibilities in this matter
with help from the Environmental Protection Agency and the
states. Findings/Conclusions: ERDA, which is responsible for
disposing of, or decommissioning, its own facilities, has not
compiled relevant details for assessing problems, and facilities
in need of decommissioning have been accumulating. NRC,
responsible for i'egu!ating private users of nuclear materials,
has done little to plan for decommissioning, and does not
require owners of nuclear facilities, except for uranium mills,
to develop plans or make financial provisions for future
decommissioiing. Thus, the State governments can be asked to pay
for these problems. Only seven States reguire bonding or advance
accumulation of funds for decommissioning. Before a strategy for
meeting these problems is developed, basic questions must be
answered pertaining to costs, methods of decommissioning,
standards and limits for radiation levels, and the role of the
States. A proposed bill directing ERDA to study decommissioning
comprehensively is a possible vehicle for providing this
information. Recommendations: Congress should designate NRC as
the lead Federal agency for overall decommissioning strategy.
ERDA should continue research and development efforts to find
alternatives, expand its present program, and plan for future
decommissioning. NRC should plan for decommissioning at the time
of licensing, determine acceptable radiation levels, and
encourage States to follow its lead in adopting comprehensive
planning. (HTW)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaclb0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)