EPRI Review of Geologic Disposal for Used Fuel and High Level Radioactive Waste: Volume II--U.S. Regulations for Geologic Disposal

U.S. efforts to site and construct a deep geologic repository for used fuel and high level radioactive waste (HLW) proceeded sporadically over a three-decade period from the late 1950s until 1982, when the U.S. Congress enacted the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) codifying a national approach for developing a deep geologic repository. Amendment of the NWPA in 1987 resulted in a number of dramatic changes in direction for the U.S. program, most notably the selection of Yucca Mountain as the only site of the three remaining candidates for continued investigation. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 further defined the direction of the U.S. repository program, mandating the development of Yucca Mountain specific standards and regulations, 40 CFR 197 and 10 CFR 63. If the United States seeks the development of a repository at a site other than Yucca Mountain, it is likely that the applicable generic regulatory set comprising 40 CFR 191 and 10 CFR 60 will be either significantly revised or replaced by a new regulatory set. This report reviews the evolution of governing standards, regulations, and siting guidelines for U.S. geologic disposal of used fuel and HLW. The resulting observations may prove useful for informing any forthcoming regulatory revision or development for geologic disposal.