National Program Implementation Time Table 1946 Atomic Energy Act established a federal monopoly over the use, control, and ownership of nuclear technology. 1964 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. 1982 The Nuclear Waste Policy Act directs DOE to begin disposing of used nuclear fuel in a geologic repository by January 31, 1998, and prescribes a process for selecting a disposal site. 1986 DOE issues Environmental Assessments for five potential geologic disposal sites, including Yucca Mountain. 1987 The Nuclear Waste Policy Act is amended to direct DOE to study only Yucca Mountain as a potential repository for geologic disposal. 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). 2000 DOE is scheduled to issue its Site Recommendation Consideration Report on Yucca Mountain for public and NRC review to inform the decision-making process. 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 At the end of the year DOE is scheduled to make its final Site Recommendation on Yucca Mountain. If DOE recommends the site, the President would then decide on whether or not to go forward. If the State of Nevada objects to the President’s decision, Congress then must also approve the site for it to move forward. 2003 DOE is scheduled to apply to NRC for a license to construct and operate a repository at Yucca Mountain. 2007 Expected date that NRC would issue a license for construction of a repository at Yucca Mountain, if regulatory requirements for public health and safety protection are satisfied. 2010 Expected date that DOE would complete construction of a repository and NRC license its operation, if regulatory requirements for public health and safety protection are satisfied. 2060 to 2300 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. 12000 10,000 years after being placed in the dry stable geology of Yucca Mountain, waste containers continue to delay release of their contents while the radioactive materials inside are slowly eliminated through the process of radioactive decay. Radiation levels due to the repository are a small fraction of naturally occurring background - well below today's EPA limits.