1. Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 by McCurdy Cardwell

2. Nuclear Waste Nuclear wastes experience radioactive decay (when an atomic nucleus emits ionized particles and radiation). Radioactive wastes pose a major health risk to almost all organisims Due to this large threat it the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 is a very important legislation. The United States currently has at least 108 sites it designates as areas that are contaminated and unusable

3. What It Does An Act to provide for the development of repositories for the disposal of high- level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, to establish a program of research, development, and demonstration regarding the disp osal of high- level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and for other.

4. Specific Results A 1.0 mill per kilowatt hour tax on nuclear power has been instituted to help finance depositories. After more than two decades of scientific study, in 2002, Congress and the President approved the development of a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

5. Institutions The Act established the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Duties-to build, operate, and monitor these geologically-mined repositories. It was also charged with developing a transportation system connecting the nuclear power plants and repositories to guarantee the safe transport of nuclear waste A 1987 amendment created the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, composed of ten presidentially-appointed scientists

6. Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Waste_Policy_Act http://epw.senate.gov/nwpa82.pdf http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/documents/nwpa/css/nwpa.htm