This document summarizes comments received on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Draft Consent-Based Siting Process for Consolidated Storage and Disposal Facilities for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste (referred to throughout this document as the Draft Consent-Based Siting Process). DOE published a request for public comment on the Draft Consent-Based Siting Process in the Federal Register on January 13, 2017 (82 FR 4333).

The successful siting of nuclear waste management facilities, through a consent-based process, is predicated on a robust and transparent dialogue between the Department and its stakeholders. From December 23, 2015 through July 31, 2016, DOE solicited and received public comments and heard input from a wide range of individuals, communities, states, Tribes, and stakeholders through the multiple avenues described above.

The Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste is a framework for moving toward a sustainable program to deploy an integrated system capable of transporting, storing, and disposing of used nuclear fuel1 and high-level radioactive waste from civilian nuclear power generation, defense, national security and other activities. The Strategy addresses several important needs.