Regulatory Framework for the Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain Nevada, USA
After years of geologic investigations, Yucca Mountain, Nevada has been recommended by the President of the United States and approved by the U.S. Congress for development as a geologic repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. This significant step forward in implementing national policy for the safe and environmentally sound isolation of radioactive waste was made possible, in part, by the finalization of the regulatory framework for the U.S. repository program. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act, passed in 1982 and amended in 1987, established the roles of three federal agencies responsible for interrelated regulatory aspects of radioactive waste disposal: (1) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (''EPA''; responsible for setting standards for public health and environmental protection); (2) the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (''NRC''; responsible for developing licensing criteria and regulations implementing the EPA's standard); and, (3) the U.S. Department of Energy (''DOE''; responsible for site selection, characterization, recommendation and repository development and operation). These agencies first published their regulations in the 1980's. In the 1992 Energy Policy Act, Congress directed the EPA to develop new public health and safety standards that were specific for Yucca Mountain and directed the NRC to revise its technical requirements and criteria to be consistent with the EPA's new standard. In keeping with this approach, DOE adopted site suitability guidelines to apply to Yucca Mountain. Therefore, with the 2001 finalization of the EPA standard and the NRC and DOE regulations, the regulatory framework for a Yucca Mountain repository is in place.
- Research Organization:
- Yucca Mountain Project, Las Vegas, Nevada (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 802602
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Geology and hydrogeology of the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada and the surrounding area
First report to the US Congress and the US Secretary of Energy
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
ENERGY POLICY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LICENSING
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACTS
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REGULATIONS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SITE SELECTION
US EPA
YUCCA MOUNTAIN