Full Title: Nuclear Waste Disposal: Better Planning Needed to Avoid Potential Disruptions at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
Author(s): United States Government Accountability Office
Publisher(s): United States Government Accountability Office
Publication Date: November 19, 2020
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
This report examines nuclear waste disposal and plans to avoid disruptions during the disposal process. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the nation’s only repository for certain waste from nuclear weapons research and production.
The facility is expected to run out of disposal space by 2025. The Department of Energy plans to expand it, but work may not be completed before existing space is full.
Accidents in 2014 reduced the plant’s operations, and Energy is constructing a new ventilation system so that full operations can resume. This work has been delayed and the office managing it has many vacancies.
This report recommends that Energy improve its planning for adding space and analyze what additional incentives could help fill vacancies.