Issues to be resolved for the successful implementation of the NWPA - Regulatory viewpoint

This paper presents the regulatory perspective on issues to be resolved for the successful implementation of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA). From the regulatory viewpoint, the key issues are achieving credibility and efficiency in the licensing process. This paper presents a discussion of some of the challenges that faced in licensing a high-level waste repository system and then provides some examples of ways in which NRC trying to make the licensing process credible and efficient -- credible in terms of scientific objectivity, a clear decisionmaking rationale and an acceptable public participation process and efficient in terms of addressing all of the key safety issues early on the streamlining the licensing process so as to meet the statutory time frame for licensing