Nuclear Waste: Is There a Need for Federal Interm Storage?

The Monitored Retrievable Storage Review Commission herewith submits its<br/>final report as required by the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987,<br/>Public Law 100-203, as amended by Public Law 100-507.<br/>The Congress created the Commission to provide a report on the need for a<br/>Federal monitored retrievable storage facility (MRS) as part of the Nation&#39;s<br/>nuclear waste management system. In essence, Congress asked the Commission to<br/>review the U.S. Secretary of Energy&#39;s proposal to create an MRS, evaluate the<br/>technical need for an MRS, obtain data and comments from affected parties, and<br/>recommend whether such a facility should be included in the nuclear waste<br/>management system.<br/>The Commission concludes that the MRS as presently described in the law,<br/>which links the capacity and schedule of operation of the MRS to a permanent<br/>geologic repository, cannot be justified. The Commission finds, however, that<br/>while no single factor would favor an MRS over the No-MRS option, cumulatively<br/>the advantages of an MRS would justify the building of an MRS if: (1) there<br/>were no linkages between the MRS and the repository; (2) the MRS could be<br/>constructed at an early date; and (3) the opening of the repository were<br/>delayed considerably beyond its presently scheduled date of operation.<br/>The Commission notes that the Congress, for many years, has expressed<br/>concern that an unlinked MRS might be regarded as a de facto repository and<br/>could reduce the impetus for proceeding with permanent geologic disposal. The<br/>Commission recognizes this expression of Congressional will, as well as<br/>similar sentiments voiced during the course of its hearings. Although the<br/>Commission does not believe that there is a technical basis for the linkages,<br/>the Commission concludes that some linkages are justified.<br/>Based on our studies, and the conclusions noted above, the Commission has<br/>decided that some limited interim storage facilities would be in the national<br/>interest to provide for emergencies and other contingencies. The Commission<br/>feels that such facilities would be especially desirable in light of delays<br/>which have already been experienced as well as additional delays that might be<br/>encountered in building a permanent geologic repository. The Commission<br/>therefore recommends that the Congress take the following actions:<br/>1. Authorize construction of a Federal Emergency Storage (FES) facility<br/>with a capacity limit of 2,000 metric tons of uranium.<br/>2. Authorize construction of a User-Funded Interim Storage (UFIS)<br/>facility with a capacity limit of 5,000 metric tons of uranium. Such a<br/>facility would provide only storage, and would be in addition to the FES.<br/>3. Reconsider the subject of interim storage by the year 2000 to: (a)<br/>take into account uncertainties that exist today and that might be resolved or<br/>clarified within ten years; (b) consider developments that cannot be<br/>anticipated today; and (c) evaluate the experience with the two facilities<br/>recommended above.<br/>The Commission believes that these recommendations, together with the<br/>analyses contained in the report, carry out the mandate given the Commission<br/>by the Congress.<br/>We thank you for the opportunity to serve the Congress. It is our hope<br/>that the report will assist the Congress as it continues to deliberate on the<br/>management and disposal of the Nation&#39;s spent nuclear fuel. We stand ready to<br/>assist Congress in any way possible to accomplish this goal.