DOE Moving Forward with Consent-Based Siting

Good Afternoon,

In March 2015, Secretary Moniz announced that the Department of Energy is moving forward with planning for a repository for defense-generated nuclear waste, while concurrently taking steps toward the siting and licensing of a larger interim storage facility for commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, using a phased, adaptive, consent-based approach.  This announcement followed the President's Memorandum on disposal of Defense High-Level Waste, as well as the 2012 report from the Blue Ribbon Commission for America's Nuclear Future and the subsequent 2013 Administration's Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste.  Further background on these steps can be found on the Department's website.

Today the Department will take additional steps to develop this consent-based approach and create a sustainable solution for managing our nation’s nuclear waste.  As part of today’s actions, the Department is issuing an Invitation for Public Comment in the Federal Register soliciting input on important considerations in designing a fair and effective siting process.  The Federal Register Notice is expected to be published this Wednesday, December 23rd.

As part of this effort, the Department plans to host a series of public meetings around the country in 2016 to hear from the public and stakeholders on important principles, values, and considerations that should guide our thinking as we begin designing a consent-based siting process.  The first of these meetings will take place in Washington, DC in January, 2016.  Subsequent regional meetings will be announced soon.  Input received from these engagements will be collected and published in a report in the fall of 2016.

Please feel free to contact us at consentbasedsiting@hq.doe.gov with any questions, and please visit the Department’s website, energy.gov/consentbasedsiting, for more information and opportunities to engage.

Andrew Richards

Chief of Staff

Office of Nuclear Energy

Department of Energy

DOE Moving Forward with Consent-Based Siting Richards, Andrew Andrew.Richards@nuclear.energy.gov