Nuclear Waste: Status of Actions to Improve DOE User-Fee Assessments.
Abstract
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA), as amended, requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a deep underground repository for the safe, permanent disposal of civilian and government owned nuclear wastes. DOE estimates that the program will, during its nearly 100-year life, cost about $26 billion if one repository is built and $34 billion if two repositories are built (in constant 1988 dollars). You requested that we follow up on the actions taken by DOE to implement the recommendations made in our June 1990 report on DOE's periodic assessments of whether the fees charged to utilities operating nuclear power plants are adequate to cover the costs of the civilian nuclear waste disposal program. In that report we said that DOE'S methods for estimating program costs and revenues and for assessing fee adequacy did not adequately recognize uncertainties, such as inflation, that are inherent in this long term program. This report discusses the results of our follow up review. It also discusses an issue not addressed in our June 1990 report, namely, the need to disclose in the fund's financial statements the possibility that a portion of the one time user fees due from utilities may be uncollectible because of the uncertain financial condition of some utilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA298225
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office