Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Is Missing Opportunities to Apply Lessons
A report by the GAO suggests that the U.S. Department of Energy could significantly reduce the costs and risks of nuclear waste cleanup by adopting strategies used by other nations. The report notes that current international engagement is limited and lacks a strategic, risk-informed approach.
Why it matters
With cleanup costs exceeding $640 billion, improving efficiency in nuclear waste management is a critical fiscal and environmental priority.
Nuclear waste cleanup can be costly, risky, and time consuming. The Department of Energy's cleanup efforts in the U.S. will cost over $640 billion and take decades.
We looked at how several other countries have saved money, reduced risks, and accelerated cleanup efforts.
The UK focused its cleanup efforts based on the environmental and health risks the waste poses, saving over $2.6 billion. Canada prioritized cleanup activities at key waste sites, which will expedite completion at one site by 30 years.
But DOE hasn't fully collaborated with other countries to learn how their approaches could improve its own efforts. We recommended doing so.
This page was updated to correct the photo source line.
Nuclear Waste Cleanup Project in a Former Salt Mine in Germany
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