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Nuclear Waste: Challenges and Savings Opportunities in DOE's High-Level Waste Cleanup Program

GAO-03-930T Published: Jul 17, 2003. Publicly Released: Jul 17, 2003.
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Highlights

The Department of Energy (DOE) oversees the treatment and disposal of 94 million gallons of highly radioactive nuclear waste from the nation's nuclear weapons program, currently at DOE sites in Washington, Idaho, and South Carolina. In 2002, DOE began an initiative to reduce the estimated $105-billion cost and 70-year time frame of this cleanup. GAO was asked to testify on the status of this initiative, the legal and technical challenges DOE faces in implementation, and any further opportunities to reduce costs or improve program management. GAO's testimony is based on a report (GAO-03-593) released at the hearing.

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Highlights
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Energy
Cost controlNuclear waste disposalNuclear waste managementProgram evaluationProgram managementRadioactive waste disposalStrategic planningNuclear wasteRadioactive wastesCost estimates