NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES STUDY ON MANAGEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OF CERTAIN RADIOACTIVE WASTE STREAMS.

SEC. 3146. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES STUDY ON MANAGEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OF CERTAIN RADIOACTIVE WASTE STREAMS.(a) Study Required.—The Secretary of Energy shall, as soon as practicable, enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to carry out a study of the plans of the Department of Energy to manage those waste streams specified in subsection (b) that—(1) exceed the concentration limits for Class C low-level waste as set out in section 61.55 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations; and(2) the Department plans to dispose of on the sites specified in subsection (b)(3) rather than in a repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste.(b) Covered Waste Streams.—The waste streams referred to in subsection (a) are the streams of waste, from reprocessed spent nuclear fuel, that—(1) exceed the concentration limits for Class C low-level waste as set out in section 61.55 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations;(2) the Department does not plan for disposal in a repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste; and(3) are stored in tanks at the following sites:(A) The Savannah River Site, South Carolina.(B) The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho.(C) The Hanford Reservation, Washington.(c) Matters Included.—The study required by subsection (a) shall evaluate—118 STAT. 2174(1) the state of the Department’s understanding of the physical, chemical, and radiological characteristics of the waste referred to in subsection (b), including an assessment of data uncertainties;(2) any actions additional to those contained in current plans that the Department should consider to ensure that the plans referred to in subsection (a) will comply with the performance objectives of part 61 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations;(3) the adequacy of the Department’s plans for monitoring disposal sites and the surrounding environment to verify compliance with those performance objectives;(4) existing technology alternatives to the plans referred to in subsection (a) and, for each such alternative, an assessment of the cost, consequences for worker safety, and long-term consequences for environmental and human health;(5) any technology gaps that exist to effect improved efficiency in removal and treatment of waste from the tanks referred to in subsection (b)(3); and(6) any other matters that the National Research Council considers appropriate and directly related to the subject matter of the study.(d) Recommendations.—In carrying out the study required by subsection (a), the National Research Council may develop recommendations it considers appropriate and directly related to the subject matter of the study. It is the sense of Congress that the National Research Council should develop recommendations on—(1) improvements to the scientific and technical basis for managing the waste covered by the study, including the identification of technology alternatives and mitigation of technology gaps; and(2) the best means of monitoring any on-site disposal sites from the waste streams referred to in subsection (b), to include soil, groundwater, and surface water monitoring.(e) Reports.—(1) The National Research Council shall submit to the Secretary of Energy and the congressional committees described in paragraph (2)—(A) not later than six months after entering into the arrangement required by subsection (a), an interim report on the study that, with respect to the requirements of subsection (c)(2), specifically addresses any additional actions the Department should consider to ensure that the Department’s plans for the Savannah River Site, including plans for grouting of tanks, will comply with the performance objectives referred to in that subsection in a more effective manner; and(B) not later than one year after entering into the arrangement required by subsection (a), a final report on the study that includes all findings, conclusions, and recommendations.(2) The congressional committees referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows:(A) The Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Armed Services, and Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.(B) The Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.118 STAT. 2175(f) Provision of Information.—The Secretary of Energy shall, in a timely manner, make available to the National Research Council all information that the National Research Council considers necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this section.(g) Rule of Construction.—This section shall not be construed to affect section 3116.(h) Funding.—Of the amounts made available to the Department of Energy pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in section 3102, $1,500,000 shall be available only for carrying out the study required by this section.