United States: Experience of radioactive waste (RAW) management and contaminated site cleanup

The federal government of the United States is responsible for the safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The development of policies and practices has evolved over the years to ensure that the waste is managed appropriately. The major agency involved in the implementation of these activities is the Department of Energy (DOE), and the regulatory authority is assigned to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The US waste classification system is divided into two areas -commercial and government owned. Current storage and disposal techniques are described, addressing the different types of waste. The cleanup history and current strategies for these waste types are discussed in detail to provide the reader with an overall understanding of the US national waste management system.