| Several
federal agencies are responsible for one or more aspects of the
proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada:
The responsibilities of each agency is
described briefly below. If you have questions or need more
information, please contact
us. Department of
Energy
The U.S.
Department of Energy is responsible for the construction,
management, and operation of the potential geologic repository at
Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
DOE follows Occupational Safety and
Health Administration regulations to ensure the safety and health
of workers on-site. DOE is working with the Department of
Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey on site characterization issues
and activities.
If the site is licensed and approved to
accept radioactive waste, DOE would obtain a license, construct,
operate, monitor, and close the repository.
Before any waste could be transported
to the site, DOE would route the carriers using the Department of
Transportation and Nuclear Regulatory Commission
guidelines.
Environmental Protection
Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency is
responsible for developing site-specific standards for Yucca
Mountain, Nevada. These standards protect public health and the
environment from harmful exposure to the radioactive waste which
would be stored and disposed in the proposed underground geologic
repository. EPA’s standards address all environmental pathways:
air, ground water, and soil.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is
responsible for implementing the standards developed by
EPA.
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
The Nuclear Regulatory
Commission is responsible for determining whether DOE will
receive the necessary licenses to dispose of spent nuclear fuel
and high-level radioactive waste in the potential Yucca Mountain
repository.
Once EPA's standards are finalized, NRC
will revise its regulations to be consistent with EPA's
standards.
If the Yucca Mountain site is approved
to accept waste, shipments by NRC licensees to the site would be
made in accordance with NRC and DOT transportation regulations.
NRC is the approving authority for safeguard and security (theft
and sabotage protection) of spent-fuel
transportation.
Department of
Transportation.
If waste transportation to Yucca
Mountain is authorized, the Department of Transportation would
be charged with ensuring that waste carriers comply with routing
regulations and guidelines. Radioactive waste carrier drivers must
be trained and retrained each year to tackle a variety of
transport conditions and situations, including rough terrain and
severe weather conditions. Drivers must complete a First
Responders Course, to help them prepare for incident prevention
and response. Additional emergency response support is provided by
the Federal Emergency Management Administration which assists
state and local governments in developing emergency response
plans.
Mine
Safety and Health Administration/ Department of
Labor
The Mine
Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor is responsible
for ensuring the health and safety of underground workers at the
Yucca Mountain facility. MSHA provides technical assistance and
consultation services and conducts on-site safety and health
visits at the facility. | 
