Status of the Yucca Mountain project

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is evaluating Yucca Mountain in Nevada to determine if the site would be a safe location for a high-level radioactive waste repository. As mandated by Congress, DOE must study the geology, hydrology, environment and other factors to predict whether a geologic repository about 1,000 feet below Yucca Mountain's surface could isolate high-level waste for 10,000 years. The Yucca Mountain Project has embarked on an broad-based site characterization program designed to examine all factors that could impact the performance of a repository. While there are several site studies under way, an extensive surface-based testing program has not progressed as quickly as originally planned. The DOE is presently involved in litigation with the state of Nevada, which as refused issue environmental permits that are required before new site characterization studies can begin. This paper will examine progress made on the Yucca Mountain Project during the past year, discuss studies that are planned in the near-term, and will describe the prerequisites that must be resolved before new studies can be initiated