1981

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• President Ronald Reagan's administration lifts the ban on reprocessing used nuclear fuel and announces a policy that anticipates the need for a high-level radioactive waste storage facility.
• ANS's third journal, Nuclear Technology/Fusion (now Fusion Science and Technology) is started.

1983

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• President Reagan signs into law the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that governs underground disposal of high level waste.
• ANS News is published separate from Nuclear News.

1984

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• ANS releases (in November) its major report on source terms.

1986

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• Chernobyl accident occurs.
• ANS begins exchanges with USSR about reactor safety.

1987

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• Yucca Mountain in Nevada selected for study as first high-level nuclear waste repository site.

1988

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• First plant branch (Diablo Canyon) is formed.