Observations concerning the management of high-level radioactive waste material: Report to the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy

Technical Report · Wed May 29 04:00:00 EDT 1968

OSTI ID:5258329

The General Accounting Office have made a review of selected aspects of high-level radioactive waste management activities of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The radioactive waste management program, as discussed in this report, is related to the actions taken by AEC and its prime contractors to assure that radioactive waste effluents from AEC's chemical-processing plants will not constitute a hazard to life forms. Our review was directed toward an examination of AEC contractor management of these high-level radioactive wastes because of their concentration of long-lived isotopes and the need to assure their containment for extended periods of time. We did not examine in detail the planned management of high-level wastes expected to be generated by the expanding civilian nuclear power industry, or the technology which is being developed by AEC for the treatment and long-term storage of these waste materials. As part of our examination, we reviewed applicable legislative history and AEC's policies and procedures. We also obtained the views of various AEC and contractor employees who were knowledgeable of, and responsible for, activities relating to the management of high-level wastes. At AEC Headquaters, we obtained information on the radioactive waste research and development projects conducted by AEC laboratories. 14 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Office of the Comptroller General, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5258329
• Report Number(s): B-164052-Summ.; ON: TI88900482
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
CONTAINERS
DESIGN
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLANNING
PROCESSING
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
STORAGE
TANKS
US AEC
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES