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LESSONS LEARNED FROM YUCCA MOUNTAIN: HOW TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR DEVELOPING FACILITIES FOR GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL OF USED NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL AND HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE

This white paper offers some suggestions about how to improve the process in the United States for developing facilities for geologic disposal of used nuclear reactor fuel and high-level radioactive waste. These suggestions look toward the future, and build on what I believe are the lessons that should be learned from the troubled Yucca Mountain repository project.

Site Evaluation Process -- Yucca Mountain Examples Presented to BRC -- Disposal Subcommittee

The principal factors that affected the scope of scientific investigations at Yucca Mountain over the last 20 years included both regulatory and technical aspects. Examples of regulatory factors include the regulations themselves as well as the associated quality assurance requirements. Examples of technical factors include the repository and waste package designs, new information that affected the post-closure safety basis, and technical reviews from peers, stakeholders and the regulators.

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