Regulatory Framework for the Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain Nevada, U.S.A

摘要

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).