General Guidelines for the Recommendation of Sites for Nuclear Waste Repositories; Yucca Mountain Site Suitability Guidelines

DOE hereby amends the policies under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 for evaluating the suitability of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a site for development of a nuclear waste repository. TodayÕs final rule focuses on the criteria and methodology to be used for evaluating relevant geological and other related aspects of the Yucca Mountain site. Consistent with longstanding policy to conform DOE suitability guidelines for its nuclear waste repository program to corresponding regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, DOEÕs criteria and methodology are based on the Nuclear Regulatory CommissionÕs recently final regulations for licensing a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.