See below for current update:
1946 Atomic Energy Act established a federal monopoly over the use, control, and ownership of nuclear technology.
1954 Congress amends Atomic Energy Act to allow private ownership of nuclear materials (i.e. fuel) but maintains certain controls over its possession and use in the interest of public health and safety—including the obligation for disposal.
1974 The Energy Reorganization Act specifically charges the Energy Research and Development Agency (the forerunner of DOE) with the responsibility to construct and operate a facility for disposal of civilian high-level nuclear waste (i.e. used nuclear fuel).
1981 After extensively evaluating numerous alternatives, DOE issues a Record of Decision opting for geologic disposal of civilian high level waste.
In 1982, Congress established
a national policy to solve the problem of nuclear waste disposal. This
policy is a federal law called the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Congress
based this policy on what most scientists worldwide agreed is the best
way to dispose of nuclear waste.
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act made the U.S.
Department of Energy responsible for finding a site, building, and
operating an underground disposal facility called a geologic repository.
In 1983, the U.S. Department of Energy selected nine locations in six
states for consideration as potential repository sites. This was based
on data collected for nearly 10 years. The nine sites were studied and
results of these preliminary studies were reported in 1985. Based on
these reports, the president approved three sites for intensive scientific
study called site characterization. The three sites were Hanford, Washington;
Deaf Smith County, Texas; and Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
1986 DOE issues Environmental Assessments for five potential geologic disposal sites, including Yucca Mountain.
In 1987, Congress amended the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and directed U.S. Department of Energy to study only Yucca Mountain.
1998 The federal government defaults on its obligation to begin removing used nuclear fuel from reactor sites by January 31, 1998. DOE issues its Viability Assessment (VA) of Yucca Mountain, drawing upon two decades of scientific research to conclude that a geologic repository capable of protecting public health and safety for thousands of years can be designed and built at Yucca Mountain. The VA also publishes DOE’s schedule for moving forward with such a repository.
1999 NRC and EPA propose regulations for the licensing of Yucca Mountain, should it be selected. DOE issues its Draft Environmental Impact Statement of Yucca Mountain, concluding that the proposed project would have essentially no adverse impact on public health and safety (radiation levels for 10,000 years would be well below EPA & NRC’s proposed limits and less than 1% of natural background in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain).
2001 DOE releases its Science and Engineering report for Yucca Mountain, providing updated scientific results, describing an enhanced design, and opening the public comment period preceding a site recommendation decision.
2001 DOE releases its Preliminary Site Suitability Report comparing its scientific results to site selection criteria and concluding that the proposed repository will be capable of meeting EPA's stringent Radiation Protection Standard. This report is the capstone document of DOE's 20 year, $7 billion scientific site characterization program.
On July 9, 2002, the U.S. Senate cast the final legislative
vote approving the development of a repository at Yucca Mountain.
On July 23, 2002, President Bush signed House Joint Resolution 87, allowing
the DOE to take the next step in establishing a safe repository in which
to store our nation’s nuclear waste.
The Yucca Mountain Project is currently focused on preparing an application
to obtain a license from the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to construct a repository.
To read more about the history of the nuclear waste program in the United
States and steps leading to the Yucca Mountain Project, download Appendix
B of the Program Plan and the current 2002 Documentation
of Program Change.
The following is a timeline or chronology of developments at Yucca mountain, Nevada for a national nuclear waste repository:
1978 -- First test hole is dug at Yucca Mountain in Nevada as part of a nationwide search for a nuclear waste site.
1982 -- Congress orders development of a permanent national disposal site for waste from commercial nuclear power reactors and the government's nuclear weapons program.
1986 -- Government pledges to take responsibility for high-level nuclear waste from commercial plants by 1989 and narrows potential sites to Nevada, Texas and Washington state.
1987 -- Congress designates Yucca Mountain as the only site to be studied.
1994-96 -- Utilities sue the Energy Department for not taking wastes as promised. Federal court sides with industry and says government must pay damages if waste is not taken.
1998 -- Energy Department fails to meet deadline for taking waste.
2001 -- EPA announces proposed radiation standards for Yucca Mountain. The State of Nevada files suit against the EPA, arguing the standards are inadequate. DOE is forced to investigate allegations of collusion between itself, its contractors, and the nuclear power industry to promote the repository. The release of the final Environmental Impact Statement is delayed until late 2001.
2002 Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham recommends Yucca Mountain as a suitable site to President George W. Bush. Bush approves the recommendation. Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn exercises the State's right to veto the Yucca Mountain project. The project moves to Congress, where a simple majority in both houses is needed to overturn Guinn's veto. Yucca Mountain is debated and passed first in the House of Representatives and then more narrowly in the Senate. President Bush signs the joint resolution into law, officially designating Yucca Mountain as the nation's nuclear waste repository site. DOE begins work on its application for a license to build and run the repository. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) identifies 293 technical issues DOE must solve before submitting the license application. The State of Nevada files major lawsuits against DOE, NRC, Bush, and Abraham.
2003 DOE continues work on its license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The project, however, is over-budget and behind schedule. Nevada's lawsuits against the Yucca Mountain repository are set for oral arguments in front of the D.C. Court of Appeals in January 2004. DOE is scheduled to release a nuclear waste transportation plan sometime in the fall.
2004 The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. throws out the EPA's 10,000 year radiation standard for Yucca Mountain, but dismisses Nevada's other lawsuits. The Department of Energy selects the southern Nevada Caliente corridor to build a rail line for shipping waste to Yucca Mountain (Carlin is named the alternative). Nevada files suit over the Caliente Rail Line. An NRC Board rules that DOE's Yucca Mountain public internet database (Licensing Support Network) is incomplete. It is uncertain whether DOE will submit its license application to the NRC in December as planned. An NRC Commissioner and other officials say a 2010 opening is unlikely.
2005 DOE files licensing application to begin repository construction. NRC review will take three to four years. DOE begins work on transportation matters, such as routing, emergency preparedness planning and security. This effort—which will involve significant interaction with state, local and tribal authorities, as well as regional groups—will continue throughout construction of repository.
2006 The Energy Department has set a new schedule for the long-delayed Yucca Mountain repository, projecting a March 2017 date to begin accepting high level nuclear waste at the Nevada site. (as of July 19, 2006)
Early on in the project, a Yucca repository was supposed to begin operations in January 1998 but was repeatedly set back by lawsuits, budget shortages and DOE missteps on quality assurance, document handling and other project aspects. Recent delays were attributed to allegations that hydrologists fabricated research documentation.
The new schedule envisions Yucca Mountain opening 19 years beyond the original date.
DOE officials have said the new schedule was the result of a top to bottom evaluation conducted by new managers who were installed by Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and who put schedule considerations behind fixing problems and getting the job done right.
The new schedule sets a June 30, 2008, date for DOE to submit a license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an important milestone that kicks off a formal review.
DOE appears to be pressing to get a license application to the NRC before President Bush leaves office, in order to have wheels turning before a new president takes over in 2009, said Bob Loux, director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects.
DOE said it formed a "best achievable" construction schedule. It anticipates receiving NRC approval for the repository by Sept. 30, 2011.
Construction of a railroad through Nevada to the site would commence by Oct. 5, 2009, and would be in service almost five years later, by June 30, 2014.
The repository itself would be built by March 30, 2016, and would begin receiving waste by March 31, 2017 after pre-operational testing.
DOE said it formed a "best achievable" construction schedule. It anticipates receiving NRC approval for the repository by Sept. 30, 2011.
Construction of a railroad through Nevada to the site would commence by Oct. 5, 2009, and would be in service almost five years later, by June 30, 2014.
The repository itself would be built by March 30, 2016, and would begin receiving waste by March 31, 2017 after pre-operational testing.
Last fall, the DOE embarked on a major redesign that aims to have spent fuel loaded at nuclear reactors, transported to Yucca Mountain, stored at the site and eventually placed in the repository in special multi-purpose canisters.
DOE also is considering railroad alignments from Eastern Nevada to the site, and recently began reevaluating a route through the western side of the state. See Transportation. Source: Las Vegas Review Journal
2008/9 NRC completes its review of DOE's application for construction permit. If application is approved, DOE will begin construction at Yucca Mountain.
2010 or later DOE amends its license application. After reviewing it, NRC issues license amendment to permit repository loading.
2010 or later Repository construction is complete for shipments to begin arriving at site and for repository loading to begin.
2060 or later DOE applies to the NRC for a license to close the repository, if all requirements for assuring public health and safety for thousands of years into the future are met, NRC will issue a license allowing the repository to be closed. This will be the final decision on geologic disposal of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.
Yucca Mountain Repository Schedule
- July 19, 2006 Milestone Date
- Design for License Application Complete - November 30th, 2007
- Licensing Support Network Certification - December 21, 2007
- Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Issued May 30th, 2008
- Final License Application Verifications Complete - May 30th, 2008
- Final Rail Alignment EIS Issued - June 30th, 2008
- License Application Submittal - June 30th, 2008
- License Application Docketed by NRC - September 30th, 2008
- Start Nevada Rail Construction - October 5th, 2009
- Construction Authorization - September 30th, 2011
- Receive and Possess License Application Submittal to NRC - March 29, 2013
- Rail Access In-Service - June 30th, 2014
- Construction Complete for Initial Operations - March 30th, 2016
- Start up and Pre-Op Testing Complete - December 31st, 2016
- Begin Receipt - March 31st, 2017
- The schedule above is based on factors within the control of DOE, appropriations consistent with optimum Project execution, issuance of an NRC Construction Authorization consistent with the three year period specified in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, and the timely issuance by the NRC of a Receive and Possess license. This schedule also is dependent on the timely issuance of all necessary other authorizations and permits, the absence of litigation related delays and the enactment of pending legislation proposed by the Administration.
Best-Achievable Repository Construction Schedule
DOE Announces Yucca Mountain License Application Schedule
The U.S. Department of Energy (Department) has issued a draft environmental assessment (EA) for 30 days of public comment beginning July 6, 2006. The comment period closes August 7, 2006.
This environmental assessment will support the Department’s proposed action to improve certain facilities, structures, roads, and utilities (collectively called infrastructure) for the Yucca Mountain Project.
Submit comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment. This link will take you to the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste web site.
The Department of Energy is currently preparing a license application for submittal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The license application will be accompanied by DOE’s Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Geological Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada, in support of receiving construction authorization and, ultimately, a license to receive and possess waste.
The NRC is the licensing and regulatory agency that will make the final decision on whether the DOE is allowed to proceed with construction and subsequent licensing to operate the repository.
In July of 2006, the Department
announced plans to submit a license application to the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission by June 30, 2008, and to initiate repository
operations in 2017. This opening date of 2017 is a "best-achievable
schedule" and is predicated upon enactment of new legislation.
Fact Sheet: Contents of the License Application
Fact Sheet: Licensing Support Network
Fact Sheet: Repository Licensing Overview - Source: Department of Energy - Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management
