Problems with Law and Policy Surrounding the Storage of Radioactive Waste at the Yucca Mountain Repository

Abstract

In 1957 the US National Academy of Sciences determined that a geological repository is the safest method to permanently store the US’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The Department of Energy (DOE) was chosen to locate, research, and construct a site for the US’s potential geological repository. Along with the DOE, four other government agencies were chosen to help set regulations for the geological repository. After decades of searching, selection of a site for the US’s potential geologic repository was narrowed to Yucca Mountain, Nevada. After researching Yucca Mountain for several more decades, in 2002 President George W. Bush and Congress signed to allow Yucca Mountain to be considered for a geological repository. Though Yucca Mountain has been approved by Congress controversy has surrounded Yucca Mountain since the search for a site was narrowed in the 1980’s. This paper will cover the problems with regard to the agencies that regulate Yucca Mountain, the topography, geology, and hydrogeology of Yucca Mountain, and the lack of regulation implementation while researching, constructing, and opening the Yucca Mountain repository. In addition this paper concludes that the regulation surrounding Yucca Mountain is sufficient, however if the regulation is not implemented properly Yucca Mountain may not be able to safely store the US’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste permanently.