Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program - Disposal of Nuclear Ships 

The Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors, designs, builds, operates, maintains, and manages the nuclear-powered ships of the Navy's fleet and the facilities that support those ships. Naval Reactors organic statute, 50 U.S.C. §§ 2406 and 2511, codifying Presidential Executive Order 12344 set forth the total responsibility of Naval Reactors for all aspects of the Navy’s nuclear propulsion, including research, design, construction, testing, operations, maintenance, and ultimate disposal of naval nuclear propulsion plants. 

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is a federal law requiring all federal agencies to consider environmental, cultural, and human impacts when conducting 'major actions'. The NEPA process ensures transparency and informed decision making and encourages public participation. Per 42 U.S.C. Ch 55: National Environmental Policy, federal agencies must consider the health of the environment and human environment when conducting major actions. Documentation of this consideration process is required and can be satisfied with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Environmental Assessment (EA) or a record of use for a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX). The Nuclear Propulsion Program satisfies the legal requirement to protect the human environment by meeting or exceeding all applicable federal, state, and local environmental health and safety laws and regulations, including all requirements of NEPA. 

To accomplish the requirements set forth by Naval Reactors and the NEPA statute, ship disposal is preceded by an analysis for varying disposal methods and their impacts. The NEPA analysis and documentation for projects pertaining to nuclear vessel disposal can be found on this website.