Which act supports the use of deep geologic repositories for the safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste?

• A. Atomic Energy Act
• B. Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA)
• C. Environmental Protection Act
• D. Nuclear Energy Act

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how federal law creates a formal program to manage and dispose of high-level radioactive waste in deep geologic formations. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act establishes that program, directing the federal government to develop a comprehensive plan for safely storing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel and other high‑level waste in deep geologic repositories. It sets up the framework for siting, building, and operating such a repository, creates the Nuclear Waste Fund to finance it, and specifies criteria and timelines for selecting a site. This explicit mandate to pursue a deep geologic disposal solution is why the act best fits the question.

The Atomic Energy Act regulates civilian and military nuclear energy generally—licensing, safety standards, and accountability—without tying the program specifically to deep geologic disposal. The Environmental Protection Act isn’t the statute that creates a disposal program (and NEPA, the environmental law often invoked in federal projects, serves a broader environmental review role rather than establishing a dedicated disposal framework). A Nuclear Energy Act isn’t the established framework used for this purpose.