Yucca Mountain Review Plan

The Yucca Mountain Review Plan provides guidance for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff to evaluate a U.S. Department of Energy license application for a geologic repository. It is not a regulation and does not impose regulatory requirements. The licensing criteria are contained in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 10, Part 63 (10 CFR Part 63), "Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes in a Proposed Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada." The Secretary of Energy has recommended the Yucca Mountain site to the President for the development of a Yucca Mountain repository. The President has notified Congress that he considers the Yucca Mountain site qualified for application for a construction authorization for a repository. Nevada filed a notice of disapproval of the President's recommendation; however, Congress later approved the site recommendation. The U.S. Department of Energy may now submit a license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The principal purpose of the Yucca Mountain Review Plan is to ensure the quality, uniformity, and consistency of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff reviews of the license application and any requested amendments. The Yucca Mountain Review Plan has separate sections for reviews of general information, repository safety before permanent closure, repository safety after permanent closure, the research and development program to resolve safety questions, the performance confirmation program, and administrative and programmatic requirements. Each section addresses determining compliance with specific regulatory requirements from 10 CFR Part 63. The regulations and the Yucca Mountain Review Plan are risk-informed, performance-based to the extent practical.