NRC SEEKS INPUT ON RESTARTING YUCCA LICENSE REVIEW

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking input from the parties that challenged the Commission’s decision to stop work on the Yucca Mountain license application on how best to restart its review. The NRC’s move, announced late last week, comes in response to a recent ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that granted a mandamus petition aimed at forcing the NRC to complete the licensing process for Yucca Mountain. The petition was filed by parties that included the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners; Nye County, Nev.; the states of South Carolina and Washington; and Aiken County, S.C.

The parties have until Sept. 30 to offer their input on how to move forward with restarting the Commission’s review. “The request will help the Commission ensure the most efficient and productive use of the approximately $11 million the agency has left to resume the licensing process, which was suspended in September 2011,” an NRC release states. The Commission has also asked its staff to gather any applicable budgeting information during the 30-day comment period.