This report, “Proceedings of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board’s 2023 International Workshop on Siting of Radioactive Waste Facilities” (2024) is a federal workshop summary prepared by the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) – an independent federal oversight body created by Congress to review the scientific and technical basis of U.S. nuclear waste policy.
The document compiles presentations and discussions from an international workshop held in August 2023 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where experts from the U.S. and other countries shared experiences on how governments select sites for nuclear waste facilities, especially focusing on “consent-based siting.”
What it does legally:
This report is not a law, regulation, or permit, and it does not approve or deny any project. Instead, it functions as a federal advisory and oversight document:
- It supports the NWTRB’s legal role to review and evaluate federal nuclear waste programs and inform Congress and the Department of Energy (DOE).
- It documents expert testimony, international practices, and policy approaches, which federal agencies may rely on when designing siting processes.
- It contributes to the broader administrative and policy record, which can influence future federal decisions, guidance, and even litigation involving nuclear waste siting.
While not binding, such reports often carry weight because they reflect independent technical review and global experience.
