Yucca Mountain is being studied as a potential geologic repository for the disposition of the nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The purpose of the Viability Assessment is to provide the President, the Congress, and the public with information on the progress of analysis at the Yucca Mountain site. The Viability Assessment also identifies the critical issues that need additional study before a decision can be made by the Secretary of Energy in 2001 on whether to recommend the site to the President for development as a repository. These issues include the key natural processes in Yucca Mountain, such as water movement, and the long-term performance of the repository and waste package designs. Before the site can be recommended, DOE will need to demonstrate that a repository can be designed and built at Yucca Mountain that would protect the health and safety of the public and the environment for thousands of years.
Uncertainties still remain.
To address these uncertainties, DOE plans to improve the preliminary design, complete critical tests and analyses and issue draft and final environmental impact statements. Secretary Richardson directed the Department's top scientist, Under Secretary Ernest Moniz, to carry out a technical review of the Viability Assessment prior to its release. Under Secretary Moniz conducted the review with a team of experts within the Administration. During the review, Secretary Richardson met with Nevada State officials and representatives, environmental and industry groups and the Technical Review Board to hear their views prior to finishing the assessment. Secretary Richardson also toured the Yucca Mountain site on two occasions over the past two months and questioned the scientists working on the project at length about their findings to date.