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Alert

Due to a lapse in appropriations, the NRC has ceased normal operations. However, excepted and exempted activities necessary to maintain critical health and safety functions—as well as essential progress on designated critical activities, including those specified in Executive Order 14300—will continue, consistent with the OMB-Approved NRC Lapse Plan.

High-level waste

The highly radioactive materials produced as byproducts of fuel reprocessing or of the reactions that occur inside nuclear reactors. HLW includes:

  • Irradiated spent nuclear fuel discharged from commercial nuclear power reactors
  • The highly radioactive liquid and solid materials resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, which contain fission products in concentration (this includes some reprocessed HLW from defense activities and a small quantity of reprocessed commercial HLW)
  • Other highly radioactive materials that the Commission may determine require permanent isolation

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, March 09, 2021