An overview of the Department of Energy's program for low-level radioactive waste disposal

The United States National Low-Level Waste Management Program has as its objectives, the demonstration and transfer of waste management treatment and disposal technologies, and the development of the procedures to implement Section 151 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 for transfer of closed disposal sites to the Federal Government. In addition the program provides technical support to states and regions in the development of an effective national low-level radioactive waste management system for the disposal of waste generated in the public sector. This program follows an approach which will establish an appropriate and reliable waste management technology base to allow for a safe institutional control system. A review of the major elements of the current DOE program for low-level radioactive waste is presented along with a preview of the program direction envisioned for the coming years