Impacts and mitigation strategies during and after site characterization

There are substantial differences in the types of activities that DOE will be carrying out during, as opposed to after, site characterization. There are also substantial differences in the provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (the Act) for assessing and mitigating socioeconomic impacts during the two periods. This paper discusses, briefly, the differences between the site characterization phase and the repository construction and operation phase, and indicate how those differences may affect impacts and potential mitigation. It also discusses the role of impact assessment and monitoring programs in implementing effective mitigation strategies and the respective roles of DOE and affected parties in carrying out both parallel as well as cooperative efforts to project, identify, avoid and mitigate negative impacts. It concludes that as the level of DOE's site specific activities increases, so should the extent to which it is engaged in close consultation with affected parties about its activities and their potential impacts