Waste management: uncertainties and their implications

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Aware; (United States)

OSTI ID:6235727

Kennedy, R T

There is no shortage of institutional interests involved in waste management: the Department of Energy (DOE), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the States, industry, and the public. Not only are they numerous but their roles are not as clearly defined and distinct as they might be in many instances. The DOE has the agency-management responsibility for carrying out the radioactive waste management program, but it has no authority to enforce schedules for regulatory development of standards and criteria and licensing actions. No single Federal agency has the authority to require other agencies to take action concerning radioactive hazards under their jurisdiction, or even to coordinate interagency activities where there is multiple jurisdiction. The nuclear industry had previously assumed that spent fuel would be reprocessed and that the separated high-level waste would be solidified and ultimately consigned to a repository. In April 1977, President Carter decided to indefinitely defer reprocessing and recycling of commercial reactor spent fuel in support of the nation's non-proliferation goals. Among the greatest of the uncertainties, in the view of many in the public, is the potential for harm in the centuries ahead.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 6235727
• Journal Information: Aware; (United States), Journal Name: Aware; (United States); ISSN AWAEB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050900 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
052000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
ENERGY SOURCES
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUELS
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REGULATIONS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
STORAGE
US DOE
US EPA
US FEA
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES