The yucca mountain nuclear waste dump, a political hot. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it. Washington hosts and oversees the cleanup of nearly twothirds of the nations defenserelated, highlevel radioactive waste at hanford. Yucca mountains characterization as a nuclear waste repository had received questions from the nuclear regulatory commission in comments on the 1988 u. Yucca mountain s characterization as a nuclear waste repository had received questions from the nuclear regulatory commission in comments on the 1988 u.
The nuclear waste policy act of 1982 nwpa required the department of energy doe to investigate a geologic repository for nuclear waste. Nuclear regulatory commission nrc for a license to construct a repository at yucca mountain. The fate of yucca mountain clara druzgalski march 22, 2012 submitted as coursework for ph241, stanford university, winter 2012 the search for a permanent solution. A look at the attempt to establish yucca mountain in nevada as a site for a nuclear waste repository. Yucca mountain is located approximately 90 miles northwest of las vegas. Yucca mountain repository nye, nevada atlas obscura.
Pdf structural geology of the proposed site area for a highlevel. Washington reuters republican lawmakers want to revive a planned underground nuclear waste deposit that was scrapped by the obama. Yucca mountain science and engineering report energy. Numerous reasons have caused the delay, including scientific, technological, political, economic and legal problems. Yucca mountain is located in western nevada, near the california border. This eis concluded that a mined geologic repository was the most preferred5 concept. Originally the chalk mountain route would have run right through the air force. Pdf on jan 1, 2004, christopher potter and others published structural geology of the. Before the first commercial nuclear power plant in the united states had even begun producing energy, scientists were already debating the question of what to do with the resulting nuclear waste. By 2012, existing waste at reactors exceeded the statutory capacity limit. Welcome to the eureka county yucca mountain information office. There are many unresolved scientific issues relative to the suitability of the yucca mountain site.
Few ideas are so bad that they can legitimately be labeled as potentially catastrophic, but that term fits the proposed yucca mountain nuclear waste repository like a brightly glowing glove. Geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and highlevel radioactive waste at yucca mountain, nye county, nevada. This material contains more than 95% of the radioactivity not volume in the dregs of the nuclear age. Presentation on the geology of the proposed yucca mountain site.
The decision to site yucca mountain as a waste repository was based on politics, not science. The repository will combine yucca mountains natural features its. 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. Nuclear waste repository definition of nuclear waste. Feb 16, 2010 governor sanford congressman joe wilson congressman gresham barrett lt. Yucca mountain and the proposed nuclear waste storage site. Proposed yucca mountain nuclear waste repository overview of the storage of highlevel nuclear waste at yucca mountain. The legislation stipulates the significance of geologic and hydrologic conditions in selecting a repository site and mandates the consideration of at least five sites in two or more types. Doe and nrc then took steps such as eliminating funding and vacating nrc. The successful challenge, brought by the state of nevada, argued that the u. Organization act grants the secretary of energy broad authority to create, eliminate, and merge. 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.
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. 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. To construct a repository at yucca mountain would require at least 44 miles of tunnels. Will trump and perry revive proposed yucca mountain. Litigation associated with attempts to abandon the planned nuclear waste repository todd garvey legislative attorney june 4, 2012 congressional research service 75700. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, as designated by the nuclear waste policy act amendments of 1987, is a proposed deep geological repository. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, nevada bechtel.
In 2008, doe submitted a license application for the repository but in march 2010 moved to withdraw it. It is unlikely a better location for the disposal of nuclear waste could be found. Yucca mountain, the proposed site for a nuclear waste repository, is seen from crater flat where dormant cinder cone volcanos dot the desert floor, on monday, may 22, 2017. The department of energy doe had previously evaluated possible rail routes for hauling highlevel nuclear waste to the proposed repository before the project was defunded in 2012.
Yucca mountain archival documents department of energy. Yucca mountain archival documents from the former office of civilian radioactive waste management. Department of energy to study yucca mountain as a nuclear waste repository in 1987. 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. In 1987, congress amended nwpa to direct doe to focus on a repository at yucca mountain, nevada. Calls to use yucca mountain as a nuclear waste site, now. A site where highlevel radioactive waste is to be stored for a prolonged period of time.
Air force secretary critical of nuclear waste routes to. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository jose garcia march 21, 2012 submitted as coursework for ph241, stanford university, winter 2012 nuclear waste. Congress selected yucca mountain in 1987 to become the nations permanent repository for nuclear waste generated by utility power plants and the military. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repositorybetween 1944 and 1989, the us produced plutonium for use in nuclear weapons at the does hanford nuclear reservation in the tricities. Nevada, as a candidate site for disposing of the waste in a geologic repository. Doe and nrc then took steps such as eliminating funding and vacating. Yucca mountain pros and cons aired in series of senate. Nikki haley aiken county councilman scott singer aiken county council chairman.
Department of energys responsibility for developing a geologic repository for used nuclear fuel. Yucca mountain is a mountain in nevada, near its border with california, approximately 100 miles 160 km northwest of las vegas. Although does motion to withdraw the yucca mountain license application was denied. This requires the project to start relying on engineered barriers. In 2002 the department of energy recommended that yucca mountain be designated as the main nuclear waste repository in the united states on the basis that the geographic location, natural barriers, and design of the proposed facility was a unique combination that would ensure safe storage. The states official position is that yucca mountain is a singularly bad site to house the nations highlevel nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel for several reasons. As one of the designated affected units of local government, eureka county maintains this website to keep citizens informed about the decisions concerning the potential transportation and disposal of nuclear waste at yucca mountain, nevadaon this website you will find current news clippings, documents, photos, maps, and much. The agency filed for a construction permit there in 2008. Solving a national problem now on june 3, 2008, the u. Yucca mountain the most studied real estate on the planet. Department of energy, will not be ready to accept spent fuel before 2017. There are ten 10 designated affected units of local governments aulgs in relative proximity to yucca mountain. Nuclear waste is a product of the nuclear power plants and even though we would love not to have it, we still have to deal with it.
A guided tour inside the proposed later killed yucca mountain nuclear waste repository in nye county, nevada. David howellscorbisgetty images geologist john hartley at the entrance to the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository in nevada. Jun 01, 2011 the nuclear waste policy act of 1982 nwpa required the department of energy doe to investigate a geologic repository for nuclear waste. The repository is located in a desert on federal land adjacent to the nevada test site in nye county, nevada, about 80 miles from the las vegas metropolitan area. 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. 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. Further, yucca mountain is located in an extremely active earthquake zone. The energy department selected yucca mountain as one of five candidate sites in 1986, under a procedure laid out by the nuclear waste policy act. 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. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, as designated by. Subcommittee passes bill to make yucca mountain the u.
Apr 26, 2017 power plants in 33 states store nearly 80,000 metric tons of radioactive waste. The deep geologic repository has been transformed into an engineered facility that relies almost exclusively on human built components to keep wastes isolated from people and the environment for tens of thousands of years yucca mountain is not being looked at as a geologic repository at all. It cant just stand in the middle of the streets with us because it wouldnt be healthy for our population and as such, yucca mountain as been proposed as a potential site to bury the nuclear waste. In 1983, yucca mountain was named as a potential site for a nuclear waste repository. Will trump and perry revive proposed yucca mountain nuclear. Burying nuclear waste deep beneath yucca mountain in nevada, as the u. 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. In 2010, doe reversed course and said yucca mountain was no longer a workable option. The nearest commercial establishment is a brothel 15 miles. Washington reuters republican lawmakers want to revive a planned underground nuclear. Despite nevada protests against it, a measure to make yucca mountain the nations nuclear waste repository advanced in a congressional subcommittee thursday morning. The nuclear waste policy act of 1982, as amended, requires the secretary of energy to determine, on the basis of the investigation, if the site is suitable for a repository and, if this determination is positive. Without the repository, waste would not be transported to yucca mountain.
We are pleased to be here today to discuss the department of energys doe project to develop a nuclear waste repository. Jul 23, 2015 nuclear waste is a product of the nuclear power plants and even though we would love not to have it, we still have to deal with it. As required by law, doe has been investigating a site at yucca mountain, nevada, to. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository weldon spring. Situated some 90 miles from las vegas, nevada yucca mountain is currently the only site that has been studied in detail for geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel and defense highlevel waste. It is the site of the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, which is currently identified by. Let us hope that the longneeded yucca mountain repository can proceed to completion. Pdf this paper presents ethnographic, ethnohistorical, and legal. Potential high level nuclear waste storage site for the next 10,000 years and beyond.
Doe decided to terminate the yucca mountain repository program because, according. Transportation of spent nuclear fuel was the topic raised most often as senators heard several days of testimony on establishing a permanent nuclear waste repository at yucca mountain, nevada. Senate panel again drops yucca mountain licensing funding. Governor sanford congressman joe wilson congressman gresham barrett lt. Yucca mountain as a national nuclear waste repository, which according to the most recent information from the u.
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. Its mission is to regulate the nations civilian use of radioactive materials in a way that protects public health and safety and the environment. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository washington state. This water is sure to be contaminated if nuclear waste is stored inside the mountain. Yucca mountain repository is the proposed united states department of energy deep geological repository storage facility for spent nuclear reactor fuel and other radioactive waste. The yucca mountain nuclear waste dump, a political hot potato. Additional yucca mountain license applicationrelated documents are available through the nuclear regulatory commissions licensing support network web site. Scientists prepare to debate danger of yucca mountains. 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.
Environmental protection agency epa had deviated from recommendations of the national research council of the national academy of sciences. Yucca mountain site characterization project website. Apr 01, 2020 the nuclear waste policy act of 1982 nwpa codified the u. Viability assessment of a repository at yucca mountain. The site is located on federal land adjacent to the nevada test site in nye county, nevada, about 80 mi km. In 1996, yucca mountain is found to be lacking the natural geological and hydrological qualities that are needed to be the crucial first barrier of the waste. In 2002, the president and congress approved yucca mountain in nevada as the site for this repository. Currently, the doe controls and manages spent nuclear fuel policy and the yucca mountain repository. Modern day technology has placed energy in high demand. Yucca mountain is an ideal site for nuclear disposal the. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository has been listed as one of the engineering and technology good articles under the good article criteria. Yucca mountain sits on federal land in nevada, not far from death valley, in a remote stretch of desert, 90 miles northwest of las vegas. For instance, the people who live near yucca mountain, in the amargosa valley, depend on the aquifer beneath the mountain for their drinking and irrigation water. Effects of a termination of the yucca mountain repository.
Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, weldon spring, missouri. From this point forward, the problem of highlevel radioactive waste. Roughly 53 million gallons of nuclear waste is stored in 177 large. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository 2002 youtube. Nuclear regulatory commission nrc is an independent agency created by congress. View archival yucca mountain documents that were previously posted on the website for the office of civilian radioactive waste management. The fight against yucca mountain nevada attorney general. Department of energy doe submitted an application to the u. Congress has 90 legislative days, till july 25, to override governor kenny guinns veto. Feb 16, 2010 south carolina governor mark sanford discusses the obama administrations decision to scrap the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository. Current dependence on exhaustible sources, such as fossil fuels, has led man to turn to the use of nuclear energy. Department of energy proposes to do, is neither an urgent necessity nor a rational, longterm solution to the problem of. These aulgs have been granted authority to provide information and public. History of yucca mountain lander county repository.
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