Audit Report: IG-0727

May 12, 2006

Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel at the Savannah River Site

The Department of Energy's (Department) spent nuclear fuel Operations program at the Savannah River Site (Site) will likely require Extended H-Canyon to be maintained at least two years beyond defined operational needs. The Department committed to maintain H-Canyon operational readiness to provide a disposal path for degraded spent nuclear fuel, which may pose an immediate safety and health risk, until a treatment or packaging capability is available. However, as of January 2006, the Department had not approved a specific technology to prepare the Site's spent nuclear fuel for disposal.