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- Create a new, rational, environmentally-protective system of radioactive waste classification according to longevity and specific activity, so that comparable hazards are managed comparably.
- Coordinate waste management and environmental remediation and make reducing short-term risks compatible with minimizing long-term risks.
- Put an institutional structure into place that is both scientifically and financially accountable and that demonstrably has as its top priority the protection of health and environment, rather than weapons production or perpetuation of Cold War technologies.
- Suspend the politically expedient Yucca Mountain and WIPP repository programs and put in place a scientifically sound program of long-term high-level waste management.
- Provide funds and technical support to communities that have residual contamination so that they can monitor the environment and keep themselves informed.
- Create a rigorous, open, and truly independent procedure for evaluating successes and failures.
- Manage non-radioactive toxic components of waste in ways that do not seriously compromise management of radioactive components.
- Make risk reduction for off-site residents and for workers compatible with minimization of risk for future generations.
- If sound remediation technologies are not available, take interim measures (such as restricting access to sites), make investments in research and development, and create rules that would allow for a future progressive return of sites and resources to general use, if appropriate.
- Make public all information that was created at taxpayer expense relating to health and the environment, including that produced and/or held by contractors and sub-contractors, and create an explicit public right to this information.
- Impose stringent financial accountability on the contractors and institute engineering-based methods to review project budgets and large budget increases.
- Create national clean-up standards and allow state and local governments and Indian tribes to apply stricter clean-up standards.
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Institute for Energy and Environmental Research