EPA Yucca Mountain Fact Sheet #4:
Agency Roles in the Approval, Monitoring and
Operation of a Potential Yucca Mountain Repository
Yucca Mountain is the proposed facility for the disposal
of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
The Yucca Mountain facility will only be built if the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission determines that the facility will
meet EPA's standards for protection for human health and
the environment. This fact sheet shows the roles of the
different government agencies involved in the approval
and potential construction of the facility.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Establishes standards for protection of
public health and the environment at
Yucca Mountain. EPA's standards must be
based upon and consistent with NAS
recommendations.
a** RE°% u-s- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Determines if the proposed facility would
1 meet standards outlined by EPA and
/ grants or denies construction authorization
* and a license for operations. Inspects and
monitors the facility, if built.
Commercial Nuclear Power Plants and Federal
Facilities with Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level
Nuclear Waste.
National Academy of Sciences
Wrote technical recommendations EPA must use
in developing public health and environmental
standards for Yucca Mountain.
Congress and the President
Approved the site at Yucca Mountain for
development of a nuclear waste facility.
Passed legislation instructing the EPA to
establish standards for a Yucca
Mountain Facility.
T
U.S. Department of Energy
Submits license application to the NRC.
If approved, designs, constructs and
operates the facility, and manages the
shipping of wastes from locations in
43 states.
Proposed
Yucca Mountain Facility
U.S. Department of Transportation
Would regulate the transportation of waste currently
stored at 126 locations across the United States to the
facility and enforce requirements on shipping contractors,
their routes, and their vehicles.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/radiation/yucca
I Office of Air and Radiation (6608J) I EPA 402-F-05-028 I October 2005
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