Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future – Final Report
The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (2012 Final Report) is a federal advisory report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy. The Commission was created by the President to study the nation’s long-standing failure to develop a workable system for managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, following the Yucca Mountain project’s […]
49 CFR Part 173 Subpart I – Class 7 Radioactive Materials
49 C.F.R. Part 173, Subpart I is a binding federal regulation issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). It governs how radioactive materials (Class 7), including spent nuclear fuel, must be packaged, handled, and transported across the United States. This rule is part of the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations, which apply to anyone who […]
PHMSA Part 173 – Hazardous Materials Regulations (Regulatory Portal)
This webpage provides access to 49 C.F.R. Part 173, a set of binding federal regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Part 173 is part of the broader Hazardous Materials Regulations, which govern how radioactive waste is prepared, packaged, and shipped in the United […]
Consent-Based Siting Consortia (awardees/engagement)
This Department of Energy (DOE) webpage describes the Consent-Based Siting Consortia program, a federally funded initiative that supports outreach and engagement related to nuclear waste storage. The program provides grants (typically around $2 million each) to universities, nonprofits, and other organizations to act as regional “hubs” for public discussion and education about storing spent nuclear […]
DOE Office of Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition (Program Hub)
This Department of Energy (DOE) webpage describes the Office of Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition, a program within DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy. The office is responsible for developing a national strategy for managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including their storage, transportation, and ultimately disposal. The page outlines the office’s structure, […]
EPA: Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste (Overview)
This Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) webpage explains the federal rule known as “Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level, and Transuranic Waste” (40 C.F.R. Part 191). It is a nationwide regulatory standard that sets limits on radiation exposure from nuclear waste activities. The page provides a plain-language summary […]
40 CFR Part 191 – Environmental Radiation Protection Standards
40 C.F.R. Part 191 is a binding federal regulation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It sets nationwide environmental radiation protection standards for how the United States manages and disposes of spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive waste, and transuranic waste. It is part of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), meaning it carries the […]
DOE Announces $16M to Support Consent-Based Siting (September 2022)
This Department of Energy (DOE) article announces a $16 million federal funding initiative to support the government’s “consent-based siting” strategy for nuclear waste. It explains a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) aimed at helping communities learn about and engage in discussions around interim storage of spent nuclear fuel. The funding is distributed to multiple organizations (often […]
GAO-21-603: Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel – Congressional Action Could Help Break the Impasse
GAO-21-603 is a federal oversight report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) in September 2021. The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that audits federal programs and provides advice to Congress. This report examines the nation’s ongoing failure to develop a permanent solution for spent nuclear fuel (high-level radioactive waste). The report draws […]
New Mexico DOJ Press Release: Amicus Brief to Prevent Nuclear Waste Storage in the Permian Basin
This document is an official press release from the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) announcing that the state filed a joint amicus brief (a “friend of the court” brief) with the U.S. Supreme Court. The brief supports a lower court decision that blocked federal licenses for consolidated interim storage of spent nuclear fuel in […]