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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Nuclear waste

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5538756

This paper discusses the status of the Department of Energy's (DOE) program for conducting tests at its Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The facility is intended for the underground disposal of transuranic (TRU) waste generated and currently stored at facilities in DOE's defense complex. In summary, DOE has constructed a repository for the disposal of TRU waste at WIPP that it cannot use for that purpose until: the facility meets environmental requirements for repositories and DOE has resolved certain safety concerns. Because of delays and technical problems in addressing these requirements and concerns, DOE will not be ready to dispose of wastes for several more years. This situation is largely of DOE's making.

Research Organization:
General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (United States). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
OSTI ID:
5538756
Report Number(s):
GAO/RCED-91-67
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English