LICENSING A U.S. GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY

1
LICENSING A U.S. GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY

• WILLIAM BORCHARDT
• Executive Director for Operations
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

2
Overview

• Current U.S. Policy
• History
• Process and Timeline
• Technical Review
• Resources
• Conclusion

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Current U.S. Policy and Law

• The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 established
  permanent geological disposal as national policy
  for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive
  waste
• The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible
  for repository design and operation
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has
  regulatory licensing authority
• If Yucca Mountain cannot be licensed, DOE must
  seek new Congressional direction

4
History

• 1987 - Congress amended the Nuclear Waste Policy
  Act to focus resources and licensing on one site,
  Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
• June 2008 - DOE submitted an application to the
  NRC to build a repository at Yucca Mountain.

• February 2009- President Obama announced his
  intent to end the Yucca Mountain repository and
  to establish a Panel to identify alternatives.

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Process and Timeline
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Technical Review

• NRC regulations require that the proposed
  repository
• Protect workers and the public during repository
  operations period
• Rely on a system of multiple natural and
  engineered barriers for long-term performance
• Protect public and the environment after
  permanent closure by
• complying with environmental dose standards
• resisting intrusion
• protecting groundwater
• providing reasonable expectation of safety for up
  to one million years

1. Canisters of waste, sealed in special casks,
are shipped to the site by truck or train. 2.
Shipping casks are removed, and the inner tube
with the waste is placed in a steel, multilayered
storage container. 3. An automated system sends
storage containers underground to the tunnels.
4. Containers are stored along the tunnels, on
their side.
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Technical Review

• Review by NRC staff and an independent contractor
• Technical Experts include
• Geochemists, Hydrologists, Climatologists,
  Structural Geologists, Volcanologists,
  Environmental Scientists, Biologists
• Chemical, Mechanical, Nuclear, Mining, Materials,
  Geological, and Quality Assurance Engineers
• Health Physicists
• Material Control, Emergency Preparedness, and
  Physical Protection Specialists
• Transportation Specialists
• Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice,
  Cultural Resources Specialists

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Resources

• Currently, approx. sixty (60) NRC technical staff
  and fifty (50) contractor staff
• Review progress will be commensurate with
  resource allocation

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Conclusion

• NRCs licensing review and hearing process will
  continue in compliance with existing law and
  commensurate with available funding
• NRC will base its decision on
• NRC staffs comprehensive, independent review
  and,
• The results of a full and fair public hearing
  that follows formal, well-established rules to
  ensure an open, objective decision