290 



significant release can occur under most credible accident 

 environments . 



To improve the existing transportation system and enhance public 

 confidence in it, the following actions are being taken: 



• DOE is pursuing a program for testing and evaluating 

 the performance of current and future generation waste 

 packaging systems. 



• The Department of Transportation is being directed to 

 increase its management attention to nuclear waste 

 matters and is completing its rulemaking on the role of 

 Federal and local government bodies an routing of 

 nuclear waste transportation along highways. 



• DOT and NRC are working closely with the States to 

 strengthen the nation's overall capability to respond 

 to any transportation emergencies involving shipment of 

 radioactive wastes. 



• DOT will develop a data bank on shipment statistics and 

 accident experience to be operational by 1982. 



8. Financing. 



The principle that will be applied to financing the cost of 

 nuclear waste management and disposal is that the cost should be 

 paved by the generator of the waste and borne by the beneficiary 

 of the activity generating the waste. Utilities will pay the 

 cost of storage and disposal of waste from power plant operations 

 and pass these costs on to their customers. The government will 

 pay the cost of storage and disposal of wastes from defense and 

 government R&D activities and finance it from tax revenues. 



9. Regulatory Actions. 



The Federal programs for regulating radioactive waste storage, 

 transportation, and disposal are a crucial component of our 

 efforts to ensure health and safety. The following improvements 

 are needed in the regulation of radioactive waste disposal: 



• The current authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Com- 

 mission to license the disposal of high level waste and 

 low level waste in commercial facilities should be 

 extended to also include the storage of spent fuel, as 

 well as disposal of transuranic waste and non-defense 

 low level waste in any new government facilities that 

 might be built. 



• The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for 

 creating general criteria and numerical standards 

 applicable to nuclear waste management activities. The 

 President has directed EPA to accelerate its schedule 



