U.S. Department of Energy - Historical Engagement with Tribes and States on Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act

This report was developed as part of a knowledge management effort to document past U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) activities related to spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) transportation, storage, and disposal, including policy considerations, and to serve as an information resource in the ongoing planning for an integrated waste management program. This report provides a historical overview of DOE activities conducted between 1983 and 2017 with various DOE supported working groups to examine options for and issues related to future implementation of Section 180(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (NWPA). The purpose of this document is to serve as a resource for DOE personnel, support staff, Tribal and State government representatives who engage with DOE on issues related to transportation of SNF and HLW, such as through DOE’s National Transportation Stakeholders Forum (NTSF), and others who may be interested in this topic.

After a brief introduction to Section 180(c) of the NWPA, the report provides a chronological summary of major issues that have been considered and products that have been produced by DOE related to Section 180(c) in cooperation with various working groups over time. The report concludes with a brief discussion of potential next steps for Section 180(c) planning activities.