DOE has
responsibility for formal finding of
suitability. Under the Nuclear Waste
Policy Act of 1982, the U.S. Department of Energy is required
to make a formal finding of suitability for the Yucca Mountain
site. A second report to be released later this summer, will
serve as the basis for this determination.
DOE
recommendation to president and license application to
NRC. If DOE’s suitability finding is favorable, the
secretary of energy will recommend to the president that the
repository be built. If the president approves the
recommendation, DOE will apply to the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission for a license to build it. At this point, the state
of Nevada can submit a "notice of disapproval," which can be
overruled only by a majority vote in Congress. The secretary
is likely to make this recommendation at the end of the
year.
NRC review of
DOE’s license application. NRC review of DOE’s application
permits the participation of individuals and interested
organizations. The state of Nevada is automatically a party to
the NRC licensing proceeding and has full recourse to the
courts after an NRC determination has been made. NRC approval
is required before DOE can begin building the repository and
will also be required for repository
operation.
