567 



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part of assessing the overall strategy and to evaluate waste 

 disposal alternatives, in 1979 a Draft Environmental Impact 

 Statement (EIS) was published and comments received. The Final 

 EIS was issued in 1980. Based on this EIS, in April 1981 a 

 Record of Decision was issued by the Department of Energy 

 adopting the mined geologic repository strategy. 



The focal point for siting the first repository is in deep 

 geologic formations in Washington, Nevada, Utah, Texas, 

 Louisiana and Mississippi which contain potential sites for the 

 first geologic repository. In addition, we are conducting 

 literature surveys in the North Central, the Northeastern and 

 the Southeastern areas of the United States to determine 

 whether rock formations found in those areas possess 

 characteristics for further investigation and for consideration 

 in developing a second geologic repository. 



Among the provisions for research and development. Section 222 

 of the Act directs the Secretary to continue and to accelerate 

 research on alternative means and technologies for the 

 permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste from 

 civilian nuclear reactors. 



