The annotated outlined process for a mined geologic disposal system license application

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is studying Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a potential site for a mined geologic repository for high-level nuclear waste. DOE has the responsibility to license the potential repository; if the site is found suitable, a license application would be submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Current plans are to submit the license application in 2001. To manage development of the license application, DOE has developed the Mined Geologic Disposal System Annotated Outline for License Application (AO). The AO provides a method to verify the site characterization program and to implement the guidance given by the NRC in their draft regulatory guide on the license application. In addition, the AO facilities focused interactions with the NRC and will contribute to the clarification of the regulations. The development of the AO is an interactive process; revisions are produced semiannually, and transmitted to the NRC to provide information and to facilitate NRC's staff guidance to DOE. The AO is an effective method to manage the complex and challenging regulatory and technical information requirements for development of the license application