Consent-Based Siting RFI Summary Report

The “Consent-Based Siting: Request for Information (RFI) Summary and Analysis” (September 2022) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) policy report summarizing public feedback on how the federal government should choose sites for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel. It compiles and analyzes over 200 responses submitted by states, tribes, local governments, industry, and members of the public in response to a 2021 DOE request for input.

The report does not propose a specific site. Instead, it captures public concerns, priorities, and recommendations about the “consent-based siting” approach, a policy idea that emphasizes voluntary community participation.

This document is not a law, regulation, or binding decision. It has no independent legal authority, but it plays an important role in shaping federal action:

• It creates an official administrative record of public input, which DOE can rely on when developing policies or future siting decisions.
• It informs how DOE interprets and uses its existing authority under federal law (such as the Nuclear Waste Policy Act) to pursue interim storage programs.
• It helps guide future federal actions, including funding programs, policy frameworks, and potential site selection processes.