Dear Governor Miller:

This is in response to your letter dated April 2, 1997, regarding the Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) pilot project that has been considered by the Department of Energy (DOE) Nevada Operations Office. DOE has decided not to pursue the pilot project in Nevada.

To facilitate discussion of DOE system-wide disposal needs as well as state equity issues, potential disposition paths for high activity special case wastes, and potential transfer of GTCC waste between DOE sites are discussed in DOE's "Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 Discussion Draft," a copy of which has been forwarded to you.

Prior to any decision being made concerning the disposition of GTCC wastes, appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews will be conducted. We agree with you that there are advantages to examining both the GTCC and the special case wastes jointly because of similar hazard characteristics, and would consider management options suitable for both types of wastes. The DOE is considering analyzing, in the Yucca Mountain Repository Environmental Impact Statement, the potential impacts of disposing of not only spent nuclear fuel and high level waste, but also other radioactive wastes that may require permanent isolation.

We hope this address your concerns. I request your assistance in making the dialogue on the 2006 Discussion Draft productive and meaningful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, or Ms. Betty Nolan, Director, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, at (202) 586-5373.