Key Issues
Yucca Mountain
In 2002, Congress approved Yucca Mountain, Nev., a remote desert location, as the site for a centralized deep geologic repository for used nuclear fuel and other high-level radioactive waste.
Government Mandates Used Nuclear Fuel Repository
Congress passed legislation in 1982 directing the U.S. Department of Energy to build and operate a centralized deep geologic repository for used nuclear fuel and other high-level radioactive waste. Under this legislation—the Nuclear Waste Policy Act—Congress set a deadline of 1998 for DOE to begin moving used nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants. That deadline is long past due.
Based on this comprehensive evaluation, in 2002 Congress and President George W. Bush approved Yucca Mountain, Nev., as the site of the repository. DOE plans to submit a license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2008 to build the repository.
DOE also must complete construction of fuel acceptance facilities at the site and prepare for transportation of used fuel to the site. Because of delays, however, DOE does not expect to open the repository until 2020, 10 years later than originally planned.
Legislation Creates Nuclear Waste Fund
To fund the federal program, the 1982 legislation established the Nuclear Waste Fund. Beginning in 1983, consumers of electricity produced at nuclear power plants have paid a fee into the fund of one-tenth of a cent for every kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. Commitments to the Nuclear Waste Fund, including interest, now total nearly $30 billion.
To fund the federal program, the 1982 legislation established the Nuclear Waste Fund. Beginning in 1983, consumers of electricity produced at nuclear power plants have paid a fee into the fund of one-tenth of a cent for every kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. Commitments to the Nuclear Waste Fund, including interest, now total nearly $30 billion.
Congress Selects Yucca Mountain Site
In 1987, Congress adopted an amendment to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that directed DOE to study Yucca Mountain, Nev.—a remote desert location—as the site for a potential repository for geologic disposal of used nuclear fuel.
DOE’s study of the site was delayed until 1992, partly because Nevada refused to issue the environmental permits needed for surface-disturbing work. After several court cases, the state issued the permits, and DOE began its studies.
In 1994, DOE started building a system of tunnels at the site. Scientists conducted extensive volcanic, seismic, geological, hydrological and geochemical studies in these tunnels to assess how a repository would perform over tens of thousands of years. DOE published the results of these scientific and technical analyses in a comprehensive evaluation of the site that demonstrated a Yucca Mountain repository is capable of protecting public health and safety.
In 2002, Congress approved Yucca Mountain as the repository site. DOE does not expect to open the repository until 2020, 10 years later than originally planned.
Need for Repository
The development and commercialization of recycling technologies is decades away. The pursuit of these technologies does not relieve the federal government of its statutory responsibility to provide a disposal facility. Even when fully operational, recycling technologies will produce byproducts that require a permanent repository.
