The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Yucca Mountain is released for public comment in August. 2000 President Clinton again vetoes nuclear waste legislation passed by Congress. The site characterization project continues at Yucca Mountain as DOE prepares the Final Environmental Impact Statement and nears the point where suitability must ultimately be decided. If Yucca Mountain is found suitable by the Secretary of Energy for a permanent nuclear waste repository, the DOE Secretary will issue a site recommendation to the President. 2005 Construction on the repository will begin.
Thermal testing is scheduled to be completed.
2007 Receipt of waste at Yucca Mountain scheduled to begin. 2009 Construction on the repository will be completed. 2010 Waste emplacement will begin.