The viability assessment of a repository at yucca mountain describes the nuclear waste problem and explains why the united states and other nations are considering deep geologic disposal as the solution. Yucca mountain, the nevadabased, scientifically flawed and politically unjust proposed highlevel radioactive waste repository has now been canceled. Viability assessment of a repository at yucca mountain. Yucca mountain s characterization as a nuclear waste repository had received questions from the nuclear regulatory commission in comments on the 1988 u. Yucca mountain archival documents department of energy. Yucca mountain is located in western nevada, near the california border. Yucca mountain archival documents from the former office of civilian radioactive waste management. The scientific basis for the selection of the yucca mountain site continues to be only a marginal consideration. The decision to site yucca mountain as a waste repository was based on politics, not science. Yucca mountain is a mountain in nevada, near its border with california, approximately 100 miles 160 km northwest of las vegas.
The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, located on a piece of land adjoining the nevada test site in nye county, nevada, was designed to be a deep geological repository storage facility for spent nuclear fuel and other high level radioactive waste, as designated by the nuclear waste policy act amendments of 1987. Despite approval by congress and the bush administration and over seven billion dollars already spent, the yucca mountain, nevada, site for disposal of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel is not yet in operation. Apr 01, 2020 the nuclear waste policy act of 1982 nwpa codified the u. President bush signs the joint resolution into law, officially designating yucca mountain as the nations nuclear waste repository site. Yucca mountain and the proposed nuclear waste storage site. Will trump and perry revive proposed yucca mountain nuclear. Washington hosts and oversees the cleanup of nearly twothirds of the nations defenserelated, highlevel radioactive waste at hanford. House committee on energy and commerce, hearings on yucca mountain april 2017. The yucca mountain nuclear waste dump, a political hot potato. Doe and nrc then took steps such as eliminating funding and vacating nrc. It is the site of the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, which is currently identified by.
This website contains the latest news, press coverage, documents, and special reports about the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository in nevada. Senate panel again drops yucca mountain licensing funding. Department of energy to study yucca mountain as a nuclear waste repository in 1987. Effects of a termination of the yucca mountain repository. Future dim for nuclear waste repository the new york times. Yucca mountain is an ideal site for nuclear disposal the.
Yucca mountain approach to nuclear waste results in. Yucca mountain will not meet epa radiation safety standards without a designelement. Yucca mountain site to accommodate the nuclear waste repository. In 2010, doe reversed course and said yucca mountain was no longer a workable option. Energy secretary perry visits yucca mountain, then meets with gov.
The site is located on federal land adjacent to the nevada test site in. The data, however, are not yet available in an accessible and. Congress first approved of using yucca as a nuclear waste repository back in the 1980s, but nevada lawmakers most notably former senate majority leader harry reid d made careers out of. Yucca impact uncertain pdf, 2 pages presidential memo disposal of defense highlevel radioactive waste separate repository pdf, 1 pages. Potential high level nuclear waste storage site for the next 10,000 years and beyond. In june 2008, doe submitted to the nrc a detailed application for a license to construct the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository. Washington hosts and oversees the cleanup of nearly twothirds of the nations defenserelated, highlevel radioactive waste. The disposal of highlevel waste hlw and spent nuclear fuel are governed under the nuclear waste policy act of 1982, as amended nwpa. Nuclear regulatory commission nrc for a license to construct a repository at yucca mountain. That document, entitled viability assessment of a repository at yucca mountain, brings together thousands of technical investigations conducted by federal, state, university.
A bechtelled team studied yucca mountain as the site for the united states first national nuclear waste repositorywhere spentfuel rods from nuclear power plants and solidified highlevel radioactive waste from nuclear defense activities could be stored permanently. As a result, nuclear waste generally remains at the sites where it was generated. This material contains more than 95% of the radioactivity not volume in the dregs of the nuclear age. Power plants in 33 states store nearly 80,000 metric tons of radioactive waste.
The june 22 energy 202 column, push to revive nuclear waste storage at yucca mountain riles lawmakers, reported that the energy department has revived the plan for the highlevel nuclear. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, nevada bechtel. Conceptual considerations of the yucca mountain ground water system with special emphasis on the adequacy of this system to accommodate a highlevel nuclear waste repository unpublished doe report. Geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and highlevel radioactive waste at yucca mountain, nye county, nevada.
Apr 26, 2002 in fact, the nuclear waste policy act amendments of 1987 eliminated alternative sites. In fact, transporting nuclear waste to yucca mountain would require up to six convoys of heavily guarded trucks every day for 24 years. Yucca mountain is debated and passed first in the house of representatives and then more narrowly in the senate. Department of energy doe submitted an application to the u. Additional yucca mountain license applicationrelated documents are available through the nuclear regulatory. The making of an underground laboratory watch this 5 part video series describing how and why the nuclear waste repository laboratory was built into yucca mountain more from the doe about the yucca mountain project. Solving a national problem now on june 3, 2008, the u. The successful challenge, brought by the state of nevada, argued that the u. The site is located on federal land adjacent to the nevada test site in nye county, nevada, about 80 mi km. Continuous and periodic monitoring was performed in a number of deep wells which were drilled in an area of approximately 25km2. Update on yucca mountain repository and transportation. It is the site of the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, which is currently identified by congressional law as the nations spent nuclear waste storage facility.
Additional yucca mountain license applicationrelated documents are available through the nuclear regulatory commissions licensing support network web site. The effects of pluvial climates in the vicinity of yucca mountain. Update on yucca mountain repository and transportation impacts. However, pro nuclear forces in congress have not abandoned yucca and funding is still allocated to the project. The nuclear regulatory commission has found plans for a repository at yucca mountain technologically feasible and safe. Apr 26, 2017 power plants in 33 states store nearly 80,000 metric tons of radioactive waste.
Bush approved the yucca mountain dump site and in 2008 the energy department submitted an application to the nuclear. Doe decided to terminate the yucca mountain repository program because, according to. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository washington state. The reasons for the delay lie not only in citizen and activist opposition to the project but also in the numerous scientific and technical issues that remain unresolved. May 14, 2015 yucca mountain, 100 miles northwest of las vegas in the desolate reaches of the nevada desert, was selected in 1987 as the site of a deep geological repository that would store the nations. Originally, yucca mountain was selected because of its natural characteristics. This report, called a viability assessment, is intended to support decisions on continuing the repository project and authorizing a waste storage facility near yucca mountain that may be made before the department has determined if the site is suitable for a repository. Many of the missions conducted at this location occurred underground to reduce or prevent the impact of radiation coming to the surface. Technical, schedule, and cost uncertainties of the yucca mountain repository project, gao02191, december 21, 2001. Trump halts support for yucca mountain, nevada nuclear. Although does motion to withdraw the yucca mountain license application was denied by the.
Since yucca mountain is on the nevada test site, and since the area is geologically stable, the location is suitable. April 2017 gao17340 united states government accountability office. In 2008, the department of energy applied to the nuclear regulatory commission to build an underground repository for this waste at yucca mountain in nevada. Doe begins work on its application for a license to build and run the repository. Apr 09, 2002 nuclear waste storage president bushs recommendation to develop a nuclear waste repository at yucca mountain in nevada was the subject of a december 19, 2001. The overview describes why the unites states is considering yucca mountain and how a monitored geologic repository would work in the mountain. Congress designated yucca mountain as the location for a national permanent nuclear waste repository back in 1987. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, as designated by the nuclear waste policy act amendments of 1987, is a proposed deep geological repository storage facility within yucca mountain for spent nuclear fuel and other highlevel radioactive waste in the united states. Yucca mountain, mountain in the sw nevada desert about 100 mi 161 km northwest of las vegas.
The nuclear waste policy act of 1982 nwpa calls for disposal of spent nuclear fuel in a deep geologic. In 2002, the president and congress approved yucca mountain in nevada as the site for this repository. Recommendation by the secretary of energy regarding the. Department of energys responsibility for developing a geologic repository for used nuclear fuel. Resuming licensing of the yucca mountain repository would require rebuilding capacity at doe and nrc, among other key steps. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository is situated right next to the nevada test site, which is where the u.
The demise of yucca mountain independent institute. The current national policy of constructing a federal repository to dispose of this waste at yucca mountain which is about 100 miles northwest of las vegas, nevadahas already been delayed more than a decade. Yucca mountain repository nye, nevada atlas obscura. A bechtelled team studied yucca mountain as the site for the united states first national nuclear waste repository where spentfuel rods from nuclear power plants and solidified highlevel radioactive waste from nuclear defense activities could be stored permanently. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, located on a piece of land adjoining the nevada test site in nye county, nevada, was designed to be a deep geological repository storage facility for spent nuclear fuel and other high level radioactive waste, as designated by the nuclear waste policy act amendments of. Sandoval march 2017 gao report on resumption of yucca mountain licensing april 2017 u.
Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository between 1944 and 1989, the us produced plutonium for use in nuclear weapons at the does hanford nuclear reservation in the tricities. However, the repository is designed to a certain capacity of nuclear waste. The presidents fiscal year 2011 budget proposal, released in february 2010, proposed eliminating all funding for the yucca mountain repository program and the doe office responsible for nuclear waste managementthe office of civilian. Additional yucca mountain license applicationrelated documents are available through the nuclear regulatory commissions licensing support network.
Assuming the doe eventually licenses the yucca mountain repository in nevada, this waste will eventually be stored deep underground. The money that is being spent on yucca mountain could only be spent on yucca or a similar repository, as per the nuclear waste policy act. Doe and nrc then took steps such as eliminating funding and vacating. April 2017 commercial nuclear waste resuming licensing of the. In an example of nuclear waste policy by tweet, president trump dropped his funding of the deep geologic nuclear waste repository at the nevada test site last week in an attempt to win nevada in. As it becomes increasingly likely that, despite nevadas protests, president bush will get his wish for yucca mountain to become the nations central nuclear waste repository the house has.
United states, showing approximate locations of surface storage sites for spent nuclear fuel snf from commercial reactors and for other highlevel waste hlw. The site of a proposed repository for highlevel radioactive waste from the nations nuclear power plants is not at risk of gro. Inside the renewed push to site nuclear waste at yucca mountain pdf, 4 pages utilitydrive obama shifts gears on nuclear waste. The licensing of yucca mountain as a deep geological waste repository would set in motion unprecedented numbers of highlevel radioactive waste shipments on roads, rails, and waterways through 45 states and the district of columbia, including hundreds and thousands of.
Environmental protection agency epa had deviated from recommendations of the national research council of the national academy of sciences. Nevada legislature committee on highlevel radioactive waste. The proposed action addressed in this final eis is to construct, operate and monitor, and eventually close a geologic repository at yucca mountain in southern nevada for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and highlevel radioactive waste currently in storage or. It has been proposed that calcite veins near the yucca mountain, nevada, proposed nuclear waste repository site were precipitated from upwelling ground water szymanski, 1989. Yucca mountain as a radioactive waste repository usgs. Located in the great basin, yucca mountain is east of the amargosa desert, south of the nevada test and training range and in the nevada national security site. By 2012, existing waste at reactors exceeded the statutory capacity limit. Bush approved the yucca mountain dump site and in 2008 the energy department submitted an application to the nuclear regulatory commission to build it. It is common sense, and sound science, to site and build a nuclear waste repository to isolate radioactive waste as completely as possible from the human environment for the hazardous lifetime of the waste.
Existing nuclear waste already exceeds the 70,000 metric ton capacity of the proposed yucca mountain repository. President donald trump on thursday said he opposes the longdelayed yucca mountain nuclear waste repository in nevada, reversing his policy on a project on which. The present decision to make yucca mountain a repository for highlevel nuclear waste is a political decision that was presaged by the 1987 nwpaa. President trump has made a uturn on funding the longdelayed and longdebated yucca mountain nuclear waste repository in nevada but its unclear what his decision means for moving the 3. The majority of this nuclear waste is expected to be spent nuclear fuel from commercial operators. Mar 06, 2009 future dim for nuclear waste repository a littleused portal into yucca mountain, the proposed site for a national nuclear power waste facility that now seems unlikely to happen. Commercial nuclear waste resuming licensing of the yucca mountain repository would require rebuilding capacity at doe and nrc, among other key steps what gao found after the department of energy doe submitted its march 2010 motion to withdraw its license appl ication to construct a geologic repository at yucca. While this land has been occupied for thousands of years by the western shoshone and southern paiute indigenous peoples, it was recently the center of a controversy concerning the proposal for a largescale storage of mass amounts of nuclear waste. In an example of nuclear waste policy by tweet, president trump dropped his funding of the deep geologic nuclear waste repository at the nevada test site last week in. Cortez masto grills secretary perry over yucca mountain duration. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, as designated by the nuclear waste policy act. Scientists voice concerns about yucca mountain repository.
However, while licensure of the site through the nuclear regulatory commission is ongoing, political maneuvering led to the site being defunded in 2010. Yucca mountain is located approximately 90 miles northwest of las vegas. The agency filed for a construction permit there in 2008. David howellscorbisgetty images geologist john hartley at the entrance to the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository in nevada. Yucca mountain, nevada article about yucca mountain. View archival yucca mountain documents that were previously posted on the website for the office of civilian radioactive waste management. Technical, schedule, and cost uncertainties of the yucca mountain repository project, unpublished draft.
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