It has been proposed that calcite veins near the yucca mountain, nevada, proposed nuclear waste repository site were precipitated from upwelling ground water szymanski, 1989. To many, it seemed the only viable solution for the final storage of spent nuclear fuel that has been in temporary. Federal lawmakers made their way to nevada to visit the proposed yucca mountain nuclear waste repository near mercury. The western shoshone national council wsnc challenges the u. Draft supplement to eis for yucca mountain repository nureg2184, august 2015 docket id nrc 20150051 pdf, 100 page state of nevada. While this land has been occupied for thousands of years by the western shoshone and southern paiute indigenous peoples, it was recently the center of a controversy concerning the proposal for a largescale storage of mass amounts of nuclear waste. Department of energy deep geological repository storage facility for spent nuclear reactor fuel and other radioactive waste. What to make of trumps remarks on yucca mountain nuclear. Scientists prepare to debate danger of yucca mountains volcanic neighbors. If development of a permanent repository at yucca mountain moves forward, such information on how the site was evaluated and on the enormous amount of work involved in demonstrating its suitability will prove invaluable once.
At a june hearing, robert halstead, executive director of the nevada agency for nuclear projects, testified on behalf of the state in opposition to the yucca mountain. On this website you will find current news clippings, documents, photos, maps, and much more on the history and current developments at yucca mountain. The state of nevada still strongly opposes yucca mountain and hasnt changed its tune since passage of the nuclear waste policy act amendments in 1987 colloquially known in nevada as the screw nevada bill, which designated yucca mountain as the proposed repository site. In 2008, the nrc issued and adoption determination report adr which concluded that t. There are ten 10 designated affected units of local governments aulgs in relative proximity to yucca mountain. If the plan proceeds, 77,000 tons of hazardous radioactive materials from the 110 u. Department of energy doe released the yucca mountain science and engineering report doe 2001a, which provided a technical summary of the latest scientific and engineering information about the potential repository at yucca mountain, to support public comment on the secretarys consideration of the yucca mountain site.
Map showing the location of the proposed repository at yucca mountain, nevada. It might be possible that the waste destroys the health of the population in the future. In 2002, the president and congress approved yucca mountain in nevada as the site for this repository. Walker translates the issue of nuclear waste history into a contemporary. History of yucca mountain project in decending order 1982 congress passes the nuclear waste policy act, requiring the establishment of a deep geologic repository for nuclear waste storage and isolation. History of yucca mountain lander county repository. Yucca mountain is a mountain in nevada, near its border with california, approximately 100 miles 160 km northwest of las vegas. The legislation stipulates the significance of geologic and hydrologic conditions in selecting a repository site and mandates the consideration of at least five sites in two or more types. Yucca mountain timeline background work on the yucca mountain project began in the early 1980s and lasted about three decades. Trump says administration wants innovative approach to. As way of background, the nuclear waste policy act as amended nwpa designated the yucca mountain site in nevada as the only site to be considered as a geologic repository for disposal of spent.
Department of energys doe yucca mountain project ymp is a scientific endeavor to determine the suitability of yucca mountain for the first longterm, highlevel nuclear waste repository in the united states. Walkers thoughtful and detailed history of the technology and politics of the nuclear waste problem lucidly illustrates why, more than sixty years after the dawn. Jul 09, 2017 this book covers the early history of the yucca mountain project and how it was derailed by radical political and academic forces. Its time for a discussion of yucca mountain nuclear waste.
The legislation stipulates the significance of geologic and hydrologic conditions in selecting a repository site and mandates the. Scientists prepare to debate danger of yucca mountains. The yucca mountain project began in 1982 when congress passed the nuclear waste policy act. Department of energy plans to turn yucca mountain into the nations first highlevel nuclear waste repository, if a study finds the site safe. Yucca mountain, nevadaa proposed geologic repository for. Part of the nato asi series book series asdt, volume 18. Apr 26, 2002 originally, yucca mountain was selected because of its natural characteristics. Despite perrys allocation of funds to restart licensing for the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, the project is facing extreme opposition from nevada officials. Michael voegele, a 30plus year resident of southern nevada, along with coauthor donald vieth, recently released waste of a mountain. The development of radioactive waste policy in the united states 9780520260450. Created as deep volcanic tuff deposited by an extinct supervolcano or caldera, it gradually rises from a height of 4,000 feet. Congress thought it had resolved that question in 1987 when it decided yucca mountain in the nevada desert was the best site. Assessing the safety and viability of a vital national asset.
The book does not pass judgment on the suitability of the site but provides reliable sciencebased information to support open debate and inquiry into its safety. Apr 01, 2020 the nuclear waste policy act of 1982 nwpa codified the u. To be sure, nevada got a raw deal back in the early 1980s, when congress chose yucca mountain as the nations nuclear waste repository. The current status of this longterm project from the construction perspective is described. The yucca mountain repository was the united states designated deep geological repository. Technical bases for yucca mountain standards committee. The department of energy was to begin accepting spent fuel at the yucca mountain repository by january 31, 1998 but has yet to do so because of a series of. In 2002 the department of energy recommended that yucca mountain be designated as the main nuclear waste repository in the united states on the basis that the geographic location, natural barriers, and design of the proposed facility was a unique combination that would ensure safe storage.
Does yucca mountain public internet database, the licensing support network, is ruled complete. Department of energy doe submitted a license application to the u. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, as designated by the nuclear waste policy act. In gold fame citrus, the yucca mountain, which is located in the deserts of nevada, an hour northwest of las vegas, has officially become a nuclear waste depository. The yucca mountain nuclear waste site has always been a. The book does not pass judgment on the suitability of the site but provides reliable sciencebased information to. The department of energy doe is studying yucca mountain as a potential repository repository for radioactive waste. Seismic system composite catalogue and the southern great basin seismic network provide current and historical earthquake information.
Yucca mountain, located in nye county, is the sole candidate site for the nations first highlevel civilian nuclear waste repository. Yucca mountain project history told from the inside pahrump. Geological history of yucca mountain nevada and the problem of. Numerous reasons have caused the delay, including scientific, technological, political, economic and legal problems. A look inside yucca mountains proposed nuclear waste. With a tweet, trump reverses course on yucca mountain. Department of energy doe on june 3, 2008, for a license to construct and operate the nations first geologic repository for highlevel nuclear waste at yucca mountain, nevada. To resolve concerns raised by a department of energy doe staff scientist concerning the potential for ground water to rise 1,000 feet to the level proposed for the repository, doe requested this study to evaluate independently the past history and future potential of large upward excursions of the ground water beneath yucca mountain. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Western shoshone nation opposes yucca mountain nuclear repository. Yucca mountain repository assessment office inyo county.
Nuclear waste repository project office nye county, nv. To some extent, views on yucca mountain were divided along party lines, with republicans in favor and democrats opposed. The repository is located in a desert on federal land adjacent to the nevada test site in nye county, nevada, within yucca mountain, a ridge line in the southcentral part of the u. Yucca mountain is located approximately 90 miles northwest of las vegas. Yucca mountain as a national nuclear waste repository, which according to the most recent information from the u. Yucca mountain in southern nevada is more a ridge than a mountain. The department releases two draft eis documents, one on the repository itself and another on the rail corridor. The yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, as designated by the nuclear waste policy act amendments of 1987, is a proposed deep geological repository storage facility within yucca mountain for spent nuclear fuel and other highlevel radioactive waste in the united states. Fukushima aftermathyucca mountain wikibooks, open books for. Reid keeps new yucca mountain funding at bay reid keeps new yucca mountain funding at bay comments, state of nevada. For decades, the conversation has focused on where to establish a longterm repository for nuclear waste. The yucca mountain repository was supposed to open in 2020 but in 2007 nevada democrat harry reid became senate majority leader, and when barack obama was elected president a year later, his. From the manhattan project through the designation in 1987 of yucca mountain in nevada as a highlevel waste repository, walker thoroughly investigates the approaches adopted by the u. Edward sproat delivered opening remarks at the forum on yucca mountain and the nuclear renaissance.
Department of energy to study yucca mountain as a nuclear waste repository in 1987. With twenty years of provisions, the yucca mountain sanctuary serves as a valuable refuge when a doomsday asteroid, 1989dp onesimus, strikes earth. One day the repository will be filled and it will be sealed and. Knowing this history will be important as america attempts to restart the repository project. Arc2007d254004404 a brief history of the yucca mountain project v list of figures figure 1. Chronology of key political and policy developments regarding. Yucca mountain repository nye, nevada atlas obscura.
Yucca mountain and the proposed nuclear waste storage site. History of yucca mountain project lander county repository. Although nye county did not request such status, it is federally mandated as the candidate site for the yucca mountain repository. After an overview of the historical and regulatory context, the contributors. Yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, nevada bechtel. Hitesh nigam em33 edgard espinosa, gary deleon em33. Department of energys responsibility for developing a geologic repository for used nuclear fuel. Department of energy, will not be ready to accept spent fuel before 2017. The yucca mountain nuclear waste dump, a political hot potato. The current status of this longterm project from the. Site geology the proposed highlevel radioactive waste repository at yucca mountain would be constructed in the thick uz in the topopah spring tuff of the paintbrush group rhyolitic to quartz dacitic tuffs.
In 1999, the united states government took possession of a seemingly dormant and highly radioactive prehistoric spore that was discovered in a cave in the philippines, storing it inside the still indevelopment yucca mountain nuclear waste repository. Department of energy officials was held on july 14 for a dozen congressmen, who all support making the yucca mountain site the nations nuclear waste dump. Mar 22, 2010 the national academy of sciences came out in favor of yucca mountain, but nevada gained the support of influential senators such as hilary clinton, barack obama, and barbara boxer, all of whom came out against the repository. Doe abandons 2017 opening date for yucca mountain, estimating that the facility will not be operational until 2020 at the earliest. From the manhattan project through the designation in 1987 of yucca mountain in nevada as a highlevel waste repository, walker thoroughly investigates the approaches. And the resulting book about a mountain tells the story of yucca and a suicide. These aulgs have been granted authority to provide information and public. The site is located on federal land adjacent to the nevada test site in. Nuclear regulatory commission nrc, seeking authorization to construct a highlevel waste geologic repository at yucca mountain, nevada. Located in the great basin, yucca mountain is east of the amargosa desert, south of the nevada test and training range and in the nevada national security site. Thursdays announcement comes just months after his. Situated some 90 miles from las vegas, nevada yucca mountain is currently the only site that has been studied in detail for geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel and defense highlevel waste. Scientific investigations began at yucca mountain at the end of the 1970s.
Congress passes the nuclear waste policy amendments act of 1987, directing the doe to characterize only yucca mountain as a geologic repository for highlevel radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel disposal. The book does not pass judgment on the suitability of the site but provides. Arc2007d254004404 a brief history of the yucca mountain project iii abstract much hope was placed on the yucca mountain project. Geosciences, environment, and resource commission and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. How yucca mountain was selected, studied, and dumped through nye county press. It required the establishment of a deep geologic repository for nuclear waste storage and isolation.
Chapter 1, repository safety before permanent closure chapter 2, repository safety after permanent closure chapter 3, research and development program to resolve safety questions chapter 4, performance confirmation program chapter 5, management systems. Originally, yucca mountain was selected because of its natural characteristics. Randall meredith, his wife, and their two children are some of the lucky ones able to ride out the effects of the asteroids impact. Christiansen and lipman, 1965, and the geology was known to be uncomplicated. A credible history of yucca mountain cannot be written without incorporation of such variable knowledge and perspectives.
It is the site of the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, which is currently identified by congressional. A look at the attempt to establish yucca mountain in nevada as a site for a nuclear waste repository. This book covers the early history of the yucca mountain project and how it was derailed by radical political and academic forces. Yucca mountain is located in western nevada, near the california border. Voegele said the books cover the history of the united states. It is the site of the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository, which is currently identified by congressional law as the nations spent nuclear waste storage facility. Although many scientists favor geologic disposal of highlevel nuclear waste, there. Department of energy officials was held on july 14 for a dozen congressmen, who all support making the yucca mountain. Jul 08, 2016 the former chief scientist of the yucca mountain project has released a twovolume, 920page book on the history of the project. Scientists voice concerns about yucca mountain repository. Although many scientists favor geologic disposal of highlevel nuclear waste, there are. The book also describes the history of the united states governments actions. Jul 20, 2018 federal lawmakers made their way to nevada to visit the proposed yucca mountain nuclear waste repository near mercury. Obama cuts funds to nuclear waste repository president obama has lived up to a campaign promise by cutting off most funds to develop yucca mountain in nevada as the nations nuclear waste dump.
Robert spencer talked about his book, the truth about muhammad. A bechtelled team studied yucca mountain as the site for the united states first national nuclear waste repository where spentfuel rods from nuclear power plants and solidified highlevel radioactive waste from nuclear defense activities could be stored permanently. Geological history of yucca mountain nevada and the. Coauthor says new book is not pro yucca mountain las vegas. Fukushima aftermathyucca mountain wikibooks, open books. Yucca mountain is a necessary cornerstone of our future hopes for energy self sufficiency.
Yucca mountain project history told from the inside. Walker explores the evolution of how the government has tried to deal with this issue from the time of the manhattan project in world war ii through the designation in 1987 of yucca mountain in nevada as a waste repository. A look inside yucca mountains proposed nuclear waste storage. Inyo county has been participating in licensing activities being conducted by nuclear regulatory commission nrc concerning the proposed repository for high level nuclear waste at yucca mountain for many years. If approved, the site would be the nations first geological repository for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and highlevel radioactive waste. Secondary mineral deposits and evidence of past seismicity. In 2017, the project was again added to president trumps proposed budget, breathing life into repository work that had been essentially dead since 2009. July 26, 2016 eureka county comment letter to the u. Yucca mountain, about 90 miles from las vegas, was in the 1980s identified as the nations potential nuclear storehouse it would take, and hold, some of the most hazardous wastes on the planet. The white bullet trains come in and out thrice daily, soundless, only a slight pressing and unpressing of the air. The outcome of nuclear waste on the long term is obviously still unknown and yucca mountain is located just around 100 miles away from las vegas. Technical bases for yucca mountain standards by national research council staff. The agency filed for a construction permit there in 2008.
Two repositories are to be developed, one on each side of the country, to ensure regional equity. Even though there is no population near yucca mountain, there is a lot of population on the proximities. Congress passes nuclear waste policy act, requiring establishment of a place to store nuclear waste. President donald trump tweeted that his administration is exploring innovative approaches to the yucca mountain nuclear waste repository. Collection history yucca mountain research collection library. Trump is trying to revive the yucca mountain nuclear waste.