Year
1984
Abstract
To date, the Department of Energy (DOE) has focussed considerable effort on implementing the provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA) for screening, nominating, and recommending sites for geologic repositories and for preparation of documents reflecting DOE's repository strategy. In February 1983, nine potentially acceptable sites in three different geologic media (salt, tuff, basalt) were identified. DOE has prepared Siting Guidelines and submitted them to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for concurrence. Preparation of draft environmental assessments (EAs) based on the guidelines to support site nominations is underway; the EAs are expected to be issued for public comment in August 1984. The final EAs which are scheduled to be issued in December 1984 will provide the basis for the recommendation of three sites to the President for site characterization by January 1985, the date mandated by the NWPA. In April 1984, the draft Mission Plan was issued for public comment. The plan discusses repository program objectives and overall strategy and presents the detailed information required by Section 301 of the NWPA. The DOE is also developing a Project Decision Schedule which will reflect the Mission Plan schedules as well as provide a sequence of deadlines for all Federal agency actions required by the NWPA and identify the critical path for repository development.