Six Overarching Recommendations for How to Move the Nation’s Nuclear Waste Management Program Forward

The goal of this report is to communicate high-level recommendations to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which if adopted, the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Board) members believe will support the creation of a robust, safe, and effective nuclear waste management capability for the nation, including laying the groundwork for a successful geologic repository. The DOE nuclear waste management program encompasses the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW), in addition to the packaging and transportation of SNF and HLW, as well as issues arising from on-site storage of commercial SNF that could affect those activities. Our recommendations and associated action items emphasize the knowledge gained by the current Board members over the last decade reviewing numerous DOE technical programs. They are also informed by the study of and a number of visits to programs and facilities in other countries. The recommendations made in this report are focused on addressing overarching aspects of how the nuclear waste management program is performed and communicated, rather than on individual projects. We strongly believe the progress the nation is making in developing its waste management capability, as well as public and stakeholder acceptance, could be improved with regard to both timeliness and
effectiveness by adopting these recommendations as core principles of the nuclear waste management program.