Department of Energy Plans for Developing a Monitored Retrievable Storage Facility

The U.S. Congress authorized the development of a monitored retrievable storage facility (MRS) as part of the high-level radioactive waste management system. The MRS will be used to receive, store, and stage shipments of intact spent fuel to the permanent repository. Early development of the MRS is crucial to honoring the long-standing Federal commitment to timely and adequate waste acceptance. The Department of Energy's (DO E) objective is initial waste acceptance at the MRS beginning in 1998. DOE's strategy for MRS siting is to support the efforts of the Nuclear Waste Negotiator to find a volunteer host. The major components of the MRS development process include environmental assessment, design development, and licensing. DOE has undertaken a variety of activities in each of these areas to prepare for MRS development and has developed a schedule of major milestones leading to waste acceptance in 1998.