Summary: The Department of Energy (DOE) has given low priority to scientifically assessing Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a possible disposal site for highly radioactive waste, requesting only about half of the funds needed to complete its investigation on schedule. If DOE continues to request and allot limited funds for the investigation, this effort could take at least five to 13 years longer than planned and could boost the disposal program's total cost. To streamline the project, DOE has compressed the time permitted for various scientific studies and is considering similar measures to reduce costs. These actions increase the risk that the site investigations will be inadequate. Moreover, they come at a time when unanticipated technical issues have emerged that could lengthen the investigation. DOE wants to establish a revolving fund to ensure that adequate funds are made available to the disposal program--a move that has implications for the federal deficit, congressional oversight, and the program's long-term financial health.
