In 2016 the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council’s (USNIC) Backend Working Group issued recommendations for breaking the nuclear waste management impasse. USNIC advocates a comprehensive, durable approach that includes the following elements:

• Complete the Yucca Mountain Repository Project license application process and re-establish a dedicated Department of Energy (DOE) organization for nuclear waste management.

• Pursue options for consolidated interim storage. Private sector solutions should be encouraged, and first priority should be given to used fuel currently residing at sites with no operating reactor.

• Assure shared value for host communities. The federal government should provide the necessary resources for impact assistance, along with incentives that support the long-term mission of the site and its value to the host community.

• Implement management and funding reform. This action should begin with the establishment of a separate, politically independent but accountable federal corporation-type organization. In addition, the Nuclear Waste Fund must be restructured so the new management entity has access to both the fund’s assets and annual receipts, subject to appropriate congressional oversight.

• Prepare for transportation of used fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Near-term work should focus on assuring the availability of necessary infrastructure and capabilities to move used fuel and high-level waste to consolidated storage facilities and repositories.

• Enhance research, development and demonstration. Continued work must enable advanced reactor and backend technologies that offer the promise of improved economics, enhanced safety, improved utilization of energy resources and optimization of waste management and disposal.