I believe we can help develop a technically sound and very safe disposal system for high-level nuclear wastes. The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board was created by Congress in 1987 as an independent agency responsible for evaluating the scientific and technical validity of DOE activities in the high-level radioactive waste management program. The Board consists of 11 members who are nominated by the National Academy of Sciences for appointment by the President. Bullen is one of six new board appointees named by Clinton. Members are selected on the basis of their distinguished service.
Members serve for four years.
Bullen's expertise is in the area of performance assessments of engineered barrier systems. These systems will ultimately shield the high-level radioactivity emitted by the wastes and are a crucial element in the overall nuclear waste repository. Initial plans for such a repository have focused on Yucca Mountain, Nev., but the final site has not yet been determined. The Board reports its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the U.S. Congress and the Secretary of Energy at least twice a year. Choosing a site and designing a repository for such a long working lifetime makes it an unprecedented engineering challenge.